Topology for Computing
The emerging field of computational topology utilizes theory from topology and the power of computing to solve problems in diverse fields. Recent applications include computer graphics, computer-aided design (CAD), and structural biology, all of which involve understanding the intrinsic shape of some real or abstract space. A primary goal of this book is to present basic concepts from topology and Morse theory to enable a non-specialist to grasp and participate in current research in computational topology. The author gives a self-contained presentation of the mathematical concepts from a computer scientist's point of view, combining point set topology, algebraic topology, group theory, differential manifolds, and Morse theory. He also presents some recent advances in the area, including topological persistence and hierarchical Morse complexes. Throughout, the focus is on computational challenges and on presenting algorithms and data structures when appropriate.
- Presents classical topological subject of Morse theory in a computer science context
- Material is widely used within computation geometry and computer graphics
Reviews & endorsements
'In my knowledge, it is the first book covering these topics.' Numerical Algorithms
Product details
November 2010Paperback
9780521136099
260 pages
226 × 152 × 15 mm
0.36kg
118 b/w illus. 2 colour illus.
Available
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- Part I. Mathematics:
- 2. Spaces and filtrations
- 3. Group theory
- 4. Homology
- 5. Morse theory
- 6. New results
- Part II. Algorithms:
- 7. The persistence algorithms
- 8. Topological simplification
- 9. The Morse–Smale algorithm
- 10. The linking number algorithm
- Part III. Applications:
- 11. Software
- 12. Experiments
- 13. Applications.