AReeb graph[1] (named after Georges ReebbyRené Thom) is a mathematical object reflecting the evolution of the level sets of a real-valued function on a manifold.[2]
According to [3] a similar concept was introduced by G.M. Adelson-Velskii and A.S. Kronrod and applied to analysis of Hilbert's thirteenth problem.[4] Proposed by G. Reeb as a tool in Morse theory,[5] Reeb graphs are the natural tool to study multivalued functional relationships between 2D scalar fields , , and arising from the conditions
and , because these relationships are single-valued when restricted to a region associated with an individual edge of the Reeb graph. This general principle was first used to study neutral surfacesinoceanography.[6]
Generally, this quotient space does not have the structure of a finite graph. Even for a smooth function on a smooth manifold, the Reeb graph can be not one-dimensional and even non-Hausdorff space.[16]
In fact, the compactness of the manifold is crucial: The Reeb graph of a smooth function on a closed manifold is a one-dimensional Peano continuum that is homotopy equivalent to a finite graph.[16]
In particular, the Reeb graph of a smooth function on a closed manifold with a finite number of critical values---which is the case of Morse functions, Morse-Bott functions or functions with isolated critical points---has the structure of a finite graph.[17]
Iff is a Morse function with distinct critical values, the Reeb graph can be described more explicitly. Its nodes, or vertices, correspond to the critical level sets f−1(c). The pattern in which the arcs, or edges, meet at the nodes/vertices reflects the change in topology of the level set f−1(t) as t passes through the critical value c. For example, if c is a minimum or a maximum of f, a component is created or destroyed; consequently, an arc originates or terminates at the corresponding node, which has degree 1. If c is a saddle point of index 1 and two components of f−1(t) merge at t = cast increases, the corresponding vertex of the Reeb graph has degree 3 and looks like the letter "Y"; the same reasoning applies if the index of c is dim X−1 and a component of f−1(c) splits into two.
^ abGorban, Alexander N. (2013). "Thermodynamic Tree: The Space of Admissible Paths". SIAM Journal on Applied Dynamical Systems. 12 (1): 246–278. arXiv:1201.6315. doi:10.1137/120866919. S2CID5706376.
^G. M. Adelson-Velskii, A. S. Kronrod, About level sets of continuous functions with partial derivatives, Dokl. Akad. Nauk SSSR, 49 (4) (1945), pp. 239–241.
^G. Reeb, Sur les points singuliers d'une forme de Pfaff complètement intégrable ou d'une fonction numérique, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris 222 (1946) 847–849
^M. Hilaga, Y. Shinagawa, T. Kohmura and T.L. Kunii, 2001, August. Topology matching for fully automatic similarity estimation of 3D shapes. In Proceedings of the 28th annual conference on Computer graphics and interactive techniques (pp. 203-212). ACM.