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After surveying classical notions of PL topology of the Seventies, we clarify the relation between Morse theory and its discretization by Forman. We show that PL handles theory and discrete Morse theory are equivalent, in the sense that…
We prove that the space of smooth Riemannian metrics on the three-ball with non-negative Ricci curvature and strictly convex boundary is path connected; and, moreover, that the associated moduli space (i.e., modulo orientation-preserving…
Discrete Morse theory emerged as an essential tool for computational geometry and topology. Its core structures are discrete gradient fields, defined as acyclic matchings on a complex $C$, from which topological and geometrical informations…
Let $(M, \partial M)$ be a compact 3-manifold with boundary which admits a complete, convex co-compact hyperbolic metric. For each hyperbolic metric $g$ on $M$ such that $\dr M$ is smooth and strictly convex, the induced metric on $\dr M$…
Topology and geometry are deeply intertwined in the study of surfaces, though their interaction manifests differently in smooth and discrete settings. In the smooth category, a classical result asserts that any closed smooth surface…
We present an algorithm for the following problem. Given a triangulated 3-manifold M and a (possibly non-simple) closed curve on the boundary of M, decide whether this curve is contractible in M. Our algorithm runs in space polynomial in…
The notions Golodness and tightness for simplicial complexes come from algebra and geometry, respectively. We prove these two notions are equivalent for 3-manifold triangulations, through a topological characterization of a polyhedral…
The simple loop conjecture for 3-manifolds states that every 2-sided immersion of a closed surface into a 3-manifold is either injective on fundamental groups or admits a compression. This can be viewed as a generalization of the Loop…
In this paper, we consider constructibility of simplicial 3-balls. In many cases, examining 1-dimensional subcomplexes of a simplicial 3-ball is efficient to solve the decision problem whether the simplicial 3-ball is constructible or not.…
Associated to an embedded surface in the $3$-sphere, we construct a diagram of fundamental groups, and prove that it is a complete invariant, wherefrom we deduce complete invariants of handlebody links, tunnels of handlebody links, and…
In this thesis, we use normal surface theory to understand certain properties of minimal triangulations of compact orientable 3-manifolds. We describe the collapsing process of normal 2-spheres and disks. Using some geometrical…
We disprove a long-standing open conjecture due to Simon stating that all skeleta of simplices are extendably shellable. In particular, for every $d \geq 3$ we provide a pure $d$-dimensional shellable simplicial complex which is not…
It is conjectured that all decomposable (i.e. interior can be triangulated without adding new vertices) polyhedra with vertices in convex position are infinitesimally rigid and only recently has it been shown that this is indeed true under…
A celebrated result concerning triangulations of a given closed 3-manifold is that any two triangulations with the same number of vertices are connected by a sequence of so-called 2-3 and 3-2 moves. A similar result is known for ideal…
The shape of homogeneous, generic, smooth convex bodies as described by the Euclidean distance with nondegenerate critical points, measured from the center of mass represents a rather restricted class M_C of Morse-Smale functions on S^2.…
A special spine of a three-manifold is said to be poor if it does not contain proper simple subpolyhedra. Using the Turaev-Viro invariants, we establish that every compact three-dimensional manifold M with connected nonempty boundary has a…
We investigate the collapsibility of systolic finite simplicial complexes of arbitrary dimension. The main tool we use in the proof is discrete Morse theory. We shall consider a convex subcomplex of the complex and project any simplex of…
We show that the simplicial volume of a contractible 3-manifold not homeomorphic to $\mathbb{R}^3$ is infinite. As a consequence, the Euclidean space may be characterized as the unique contractible $3$-manifold with vanishing minimal…
A peculiarity of the geometry of the euclidean 3-sphere $\S3$ is that it allows for the existence of compact without boundary minimally immersed surfaces. Despite a wealthy of examples of such surfaces, the only known tori minimally…
This paper studies closed 3-manifolds which are the attractors of a system of finitely many affine contractions that tile $\mathbb{R}^3$. Such attractors are called self-affine tiles. Effective characterization and recognition theorems for…