Applied and Computational Topology

Math 689-001 (Spring 2025)

Detailed Syllabus

The following table contains the tentative schedule for the course. It will be updated regularly throughout the semester. The Pages column refers to the pages in the notes that are covered each week. Further book recommendations for additional reading can be found at the end of this page.

WeekDatesPagesBook Sections
I. Introduction
1  01/21 - 01/24  1-12  1. Fixed Points and Homeomorphisms
  2. Algebraic Topology in Applications
201/27 - 01/31  13-28    3. Solving a Maze with Topology
  4. Homology of Graphs
II. Complexes
302/03 - 02/0729-36  1. Simplicial Complexes
  2. Abstract Simplicial Complexes
402/10 - 02/1437-42  3. Simplicial Maps and Approximations
02/12   No class! (Snow Day)
502/17 - 02/2143-55  4. Homotopy Equivalence
  5. Convex Set Systems and Nerves
602/24 - 02/2856-71  6. Point Clouds and the Cech Complex
  7. Vietoris-Rips Complexes
  8. Delaunay Complexes
  9. Alpha Complexes
III. Homology
703/03 - 03/0772-80  1. Homology of Chain Complexes
  2. Simplicial Homology
803/10 - 03/14   No class! (Spring Break)
903/17 - 03/2181-90  3. The Universal Coefficient Theorem
1003/24 - 03/2891-102  4. Cubical Homology
  5. Relative Homology and Excision
1103/31 - 04/04103-114  6. Lefschetz Complexes
  7. Chain Maps and Chain Homotopies
1204/07 - 04/11115-  8. Homology of Maps and the Degree
  9. Exact Sequences
IV. Persistence
  1. Topology of Sublevel Sets
  2. Persistent Homology Groups
  3. Persistence Diagrams
  4. Computing Persistence
  5. Stability Theorems
V. Combinatorial Topological Dynamics
  1. Discrete Morse Theory
  2. Multivector Fields
  3. Conley Theory
  4. Connection Matrices
  5. Application to Classical Dynamics
16  05/05  Student Presentations

In addition, the following books might be useful as secondary reading:

For information on Julia, please see the following books. All of them are available via the library’s ebook subscription.