Collapse (topology)

In topology, a branch of mathematics, a collapse reduces a simplicial complex (or more generally, a CW complex) to a homotopy-equivalent subcomplex. Collapses, like CW complexes themselves, were invented by J. H. C. Whitehead.[1] Collapses find applications in computational homology.[2]

Definition

Let be an abstract simplicial complex.

Suppose that are two simplices of such that the following two conditions are satisfied:

  1. in particular
  2. is a maximal face of and no other maximal face of contains

then is called a free face.

A simplicial collapse of is the removal of all simplices such that where is a free face. If additionally we have then this is called an elementary collapse.

A simplicial complex that has a sequence of collapses leading to a point is called collapsible. Every collapsible complex is contractible, but the converse is not true.

This definition can be extended to CW-complexes and is the basis for the concept of simple-homotopy equivalence.[3]

Examples

See also

References

  1. Whitehead, J.H.C. (1938). "Simplicial spaces, nuclei and m-groups". Proceedings of the London Mathematical Society. 45: 243–327.
  2. Kaczynski, Tomasz (2004). Computational homology. Mischaikow, Konstantin Michael, Mrozek, Marian. New York: Springer. ISBN 9780387215976. OCLC 55897585.
  3. Cohen, Marshall M. (1973) A Course in Simple-Homotopy Theory, Springer-Verlag New York
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