We know that Form(X, µf) has the same homology as it’s underlying space X.
Given that CCW
∗ (Form(X, µf);Z) is generated by Crit(µf), the p-th Betti number
βp :=Rank(Hp(X;Z))
must provide a lower bound for cp, the number of p-dimension cells in Crit(µf)
Definition A.10. (Perfect Discrete Morse Function) A discrete morse function is perfect if
cp =βp
91 The existence of a discrete Morse function can be obstructed by the shape of the underlying space.
Proposition A.11. There exist spaces which do not admit any perfect discrete morse functions
In general, any complex that is collapsible but not contractable will contain non-cancellable persistence pairs. To see this connection, we need to prove the following lemma:
Lemma A.12. A complex is collapsible if and only if there exists a perfect discrete morse function with one critical 0-cell.
Proof. Suppose a complex is collapsible onto a pointx. So there exists a sequence of free pairs
(e1, u1),(e2, u2), . . . ,(en, un)
by which the complex collapses ontox, with the collection of pairs covering X−x. Define an acyclic partial matching by
µ:D→U
ei →ui.
By construction, every V-path is then a sequence of simple homotopy expansions
σi1 > τi1 < σi2 > . . . < σim
with i1 > i2 > . . . > im. As simple homotopy expansions can only grow into
free faces, there cannot be any non-trivial closed V-paths; hence, V is a discrete gradient vector field and defines a discrete Morse function. Further, xis the only unpaired cell and, hence, a critical point.
Now suppose that a space admits a perfect discrete Morse function with only one-critical 0-cell. By the Morse homology theorem, the space must be connected. As the space has only one connected component, we can grow it from the critical zero cell by simple homotopy expanding along the V-paths. As there is only one critical cell, all other cells lie in a vector field pair, so these expansions cover the whole space. As there are no non-trivial closed V-paths, eachV-path ends with a free face and can be collapsed back down. Hence, the space is collapsible.
We can provide an explicit example confirming proposition 4.4 in the form of the dunce hat. The figure below shows the delta complex construction of the dunce hat and it regular, barycentric subdivision:
a a a b b a a a b
As the attaching map of the two cell in Figure (a) is homotopic to the identity map, the dunce hat is homotopy equivalent to the disk and, hence, contractible. However, after the quotient operation, the space has no free faces, and cannot be collapsible.
This means that the dunce hat has homotopy type of a point. A perfect discrete Morse function would then generate only one essential 0-cycle in its persistence diagram.
Question A.13. What does the Forman Complex re-formulation of close pairs tell us about simplification?
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