Algebraic Structure of Diffeomorphism Groups of One-Manifolds

Abstract

It is a celebrated result of Mather that the group of $C^k$--diffeomorphisms of an $n$--manifold is simple, provided that a mild isotopy condition is satisfied, with the possible exception of $k=n+1$. The purpose of this article is mostly expository, and in it we give a detailed account of Mather's proof in the case when $n=1$.