TY - JOUR AB - We study robust properties of zero sets of continuous maps f: X → ℝn. Formally, we analyze the family Z< r(f) := (g-1(0): ||g - f|| < r) of all zero sets of all continuous maps g closer to f than r in the max-norm. All of these sets are outside A := (x: |f(x)| ≥ r) and we claim that Z< r(f) is fully determined by A and an element of a certain cohomotopy group which (by a recent result) is computable whenever the dimension of X is at most 2n - 3. By considering all r > 0 simultaneously, the pointed cohomotopy groups form a persistence module-a structure leading to persistence diagrams as in the case of persistent homology or well groups. Eventually, we get a descriptor of persistent robust properties of zero sets that has better descriptive power (Theorem A) and better computability status (Theorem B) than the established well diagrams. Moreover, if we endow every point of each zero set with gradients of the perturbation, the robust description of the zero sets by elements of cohomotopy groups is in some sense the best possible (Theorem C). AU - Franek, Peter AU - Krcál, Marek ID - 568 IS - 2 JF - Homology, Homotopy and Applications SN - 15320073 TI - Persistence of zero sets VL - 19 ER - TY - JOUR AB - Let X and Y be finite simplicial sets (e.g. finite simplicial complexes), both equipped with a free simplicial action of a finite group G. Assuming that Y is d-connected and dimX≤2d, for some d≥1, we provide an algorithm that computes the set of all equivariant homotopy classes of equivariant continuous maps |X|→|Y|; the existence of such a map can be decided even for dimX≤2d+1. This yields the first algorithm for deciding topological embeddability of a k-dimensional finite simplicial complex into Rn under the condition k≤23n−1. More generally, we present an algorithm that, given a lifting-extension problem satisfying an appropriate stability assumption, computes the set of all homotopy classes of solutions. This result is new even in the non-equivariant situation. AU - Čadek, Martin AU - Krcál, Marek AU - Vokřínek, Lukáš ID - 1073 IS - 4 JF - Discrete & Computational Geometry SN - 01795376 TI - Algorithmic solvability of the lifting extension problem VL - 54 ER - TY - CONF AB - Bitmap images of arbitrary dimension may be formally perceived as unions of m-dimensional boxes aligned with respect to a rectangular grid in ℝm. Cohomology and homology groups are well known topological invariants of such sets. Cohomological operations, such as the cup product, provide higher-order algebraic topological invariants, especially important for digital images of dimension higher than 3. If such an operation is determined at the level of simplicial chains [see e.g. González-Díaz, Real, Homology, Homotopy Appl, 2003, 83-93], then it is effectively computable. However, decomposing a cubical complex into a simplicial one deleteriously affects the efficiency of such an approach. In order to avoid this overhead, a direct cubical approach was applied in [Pilarczyk, Real, Adv. Comput. Math., 2015, 253-275] for the cup product in cohomology, and implemented in the ChainCon software package [http://www.pawelpilarczyk.com/chaincon/]. We establish a formula for the Steenrod square operations [see Steenrod, Annals of Mathematics. Second Series, 1947, 290-320] directly at the level of cubical chains, and we prove the correctness of this formula. An implementation of this formula is programmed in C++ within the ChainCon software framework. We provide a few examples and discuss the effectiveness of this approach. One specific application follows from the fact that Steenrod squares yield tests for the topological extension problem: Can a given map A → Sd to a sphere Sd be extended to a given super-complex X of A? In particular, the ROB-SAT problem, which is to decide for a given function f: X → ℝm and a value r > 0 whether every g: X → ℝm with ∥g - f ∥∞ ≤ r has a root, reduces to the extension problem. AU - Krcál, Marek AU - Pilarczyk, Pawel ID - 1237 TI - Computation of cubical Steenrod squares VL - 9667 ER - TY - JOUR AB - The concept of well group in a special but important case captures homological properties of the zero set of a continuous map (Formula presented.) on a compact space K that are invariant with respect to perturbations of f. The perturbations are arbitrary continuous maps within (Formula presented.) distance r from f for a given (Formula presented.). The main drawback of the approach is that the computability of well groups was shown only when (Formula presented.) or (Formula presented.). Our contribution to the theory of well groups is twofold: on the one hand we improve on the computability issue, but on the other hand we present a range of examples where the well groups are incomplete invariants, that is, fail to capture certain important robust properties of the zero set. For the first part, we identify a computable subgroup of the well group that is obtained by cap product with the pullback of the orientation of (Formula presented.) by f. In other words, well groups can be algorithmically approximated from below. When f is smooth and (Formula presented.), our approximation of the (Formula presented.)th well group is exact. For the second part, we find examples of maps (Formula presented.) with all well groups isomorphic but whose perturbations have different zero sets. We discuss on a possible replacement of the well groups of vector valued maps by an invariant of a better descriptive power and computability status. AU - Franek, Peter AU - Krcál, Marek ID - 1408 IS - 1 JF - Discrete & Computational Geometry TI - On computability and triviality of well groups VL - 56 ER - TY - CONF AB - The concept of well group in a special but important case captures homological properties of the zero set of a continuous map f from K to R^n on a compact space K that are invariant with respect to perturbations of f. The perturbations are arbitrary continuous maps within L_infty distance r from f for a given r > 0. The main drawback of the approach is that the computability of well groups was shown only when dim K = n or n = 1. Our contribution to the theory of well groups is twofold: on the one hand we improve on the computability issue, but on the other hand we present a range of examples where the well groups are incomplete invariants, that is, fail to capture certain important robust properties of the zero set. For the first part, we identify a computable subgroup of the well group that is obtained by cap product with the pullback of the orientation of R^n by f. In other words, well groups can be algorithmically approximated from below. When f is smooth and dim K < 2n-2, our approximation of the (dim K-n)th well group is exact. For the second part, we find examples of maps f, f' from K to R^n with all well groups isomorphic but whose perturbations have different zero sets. We discuss on a possible replacement of the well groups of vector valued maps by an invariant of a better descriptive power and computability status. AU - Franek, Peter AU - Krcál, Marek ID - 1510 TI - On computability and triviality of well groups VL - 34 ER - TY - JOUR AB - We study the problem of robust satisfiability of systems of nonlinear equations, namely, whether for a given continuous function f:K→ ℝn on a finite simplicial complex K and α > 0, it holds that each function g: K → ℝn such that ||g - f || ∞ < α, has a root in K. Via a reduction to the extension problem of maps into a sphere, we particularly show that this problem is decidable in polynomial time for every fixed n, assuming dimK ≤ 2n - 3. This is a substantial extension of previous computational applications of topological degree and related concepts in numerical and interval analysis. Via a reverse reduction, we prove that the problem is undecidable when dim K > 2n - 2, where the threshold comes from the stable range in homotopy theory. For the lucidity of our exposition, we focus on the setting when f is simplexwise linear. Such functions can approximate general continuous functions, and thus we get approximation schemes and undecidability of the robust satisfiability in other possible settings. AU - Franek, Peter AU - Krcál, Marek ID - 1682 IS - 4 JF - Journal of the ACM TI - Robust satisfiability of systems of equations VL - 62 ER - TY - JOUR AB - We prove polynomial upper bounds of geometric Ramsey numbers of pathwidth-2 outerplanar triangulations in both convex and general cases. We also prove that the geometric Ramsey numbers of the ladder graph on 2n vertices are bounded by O(n3) and O(n10), in the convex and general case, respectively. We then apply similar methods to prove an (Formula presented.) upper bound on the Ramsey number of a path with n ordered vertices. AU - Cibulka, Josef AU - Gao, Pu AU - Krcál, Marek AU - Valla, Tomáš AU - Valtr, Pavel ID - 1842 IS - 1 JF - Discrete & Computational Geometry TI - On the geometric ramsey number of outerplanar graphs VL - 53 ER - TY - JOUR AB - Given topological spaces X,Y, a fundamental problem of algebraic topology is understanding the structure of all continuous maps X→ Y. We consider a computational version, where X,Y are given as finite simplicial complexes, and the goal is to compute [X,Y], that is, all homotopy classes of suchmaps.We solve this problem in the stable range, where for some d ≥ 2, we have dim X ≤ 2d-2 and Y is (d-1)-connected; in particular, Y can be the d-dimensional sphere Sd. The algorithm combines classical tools and ideas from homotopy theory (obstruction theory, Postnikov systems, and simplicial sets) with algorithmic tools from effective algebraic topology (locally effective simplicial sets and objects with effective homology). In contrast, [X,Y] is known to be uncomputable for general X,Y, since for X = S1 it includes a well known undecidable problem: testing triviality of the fundamental group of Y. In follow-up papers, the algorithm is shown to run in polynomial time for d fixed, and extended to other problems, such as the extension problem, where we are given a subspace A ⊂ X and a map A→ Y and ask whether it extends to a map X → Y, or computing the Z2-index-everything in the stable range. Outside the stable range, the extension problem is undecidable. AU - Čadek, Martin AU - Krcál, Marek AU - Matoušek, Jiří AU - Sergeraert, Francis AU - Vokřínek, Lukáš AU - Wagner, Uli ID - 2184 IS - 3 JF - Journal of the ACM TI - Computing all maps into a sphere VL - 61 ER - TY - CONF AB - We consider several basic problems of algebraic topology, with connections to combinatorial and geometric questions, from the point of view of computational complexity. The extension problem asks, given topological spaces X; Y , a subspace A ⊆ X, and a (continuous) map f : A → Y , whether f can be extended to a map X → Y . For computational purposes, we assume that X and Y are represented as finite simplicial complexes, A is a subcomplex of X, and f is given as a simplicial map. In this generality the problem is undecidable, as follows from Novikov's result from the 1950s on uncomputability of the fundamental group π1(Y ). We thus study the problem under the assumption that, for some k ≥ 2, Y is (k - 1)-connected; informally, this means that Y has \no holes up to dimension k-1" (a basic example of such a Y is the sphere Sk). We prove that, on the one hand, this problem is still undecidable for dimX = 2k. On the other hand, for every fixed k ≥ 2, we obtain an algorithm that solves the extension problem in polynomial time assuming Y (k - 1)-connected and dimX ≤ 2k - 1. For dimX ≤ 2k - 2, the algorithm also provides a classification of all extensions up to homotopy (continuous deformation). This relies on results of our SODA 2012 paper, and the main new ingredient is a machinery of objects with polynomial-time homology, which is a polynomial-time analog of objects with effective homology developed earlier by Sergeraert et al. We also consider the computation of the higher homotopy groups πk(Y ), k ≥ 2, for a 1-connected Y . Their computability was established by Brown in 1957; we show that πk(Y ) can be computed in polynomial time for every fixed k ≥ 2. On the other hand, Anick proved in 1989 that computing πk(Y ) is #P-hard if k is a part of input, where Y is a cell complex with certain rather compact encoding. We strengthen his result to #P-hardness for Y given as a simplicial complex. AU - Čadek, Martin AU - Krcál, Marek AU - Matoušek, Jiří AU - Vokřínek, Lukáš AU - Wagner, Uli ID - 2807 T2 - 45th Annual ACM Symposium on theory of computing TI - Extending continuous maps: Polynomiality and undecidability ER - TY - CONF AB - We present an algorithm for computing [X, Y], i.e., all homotopy classes of continuous maps X → Y, where X, Y are topological spaces given as finite simplicial complexes, Y is (d - 1)-connected for some d ≥ 2 (for example, Y can be the d-dimensional sphere S d), and dim X ≤ 2d - 2. These conditions on X, Y guarantee that [X, Y] has a natural structure of a finitely generated Abelian group, and the algorithm finds generators and relations for it. We combine several tools and ideas from homotopy theory (such as Postnikov systems, simplicial sets, and obstruction theory) with algorithmic tools from effective algebraic topology (objects with effective homology). We hope that a further extension of the methods developed here will yield an algorithm for computing, in some cases of interest, the ℤ 2-index, which is a quantity playing a prominent role in Borsuk-Ulam style applications of topology in combinatorics and geometry, e.g., in topological lower bounds for the chromatic number of a graph. In a certain range of dimensions, deciding the embeddability of a simplicial complex into ℝ d also amounts to a ℤ 2-index computation. This is the main motivation of our work. We believe that investigating the computational complexity of questions in homotopy theory and similar areas presents a fascinating research area, and we hope that our work may help bridge the cultural gap between algebraic topology and theoretical computer science. AU - Čadek, Martin AU - Marek Krcál AU - Matoušek, Jiří AU - Sergeraert, Francis AU - Vokřínek, Lukáš AU - Uli Wagner ID - 2440 TI - Computing all maps into a sphere ER -