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Homeomorphism

1895
  • Henri Poincaré

A homeomorphism is a continuous function between two topological spaces that has a continuous inverse function. Two topological spaces are called homeomorphic if such a function exists. From a topological viewpoint, homeomorphic spaces are identical. This concept captures the idea that an object can be stretched, bent, or deformed into another without tearing or gluing, like a coffee mug into a donut.

More formally, a function \(f: X \to Y\) between two topological spaces \((X, \tau_X)\) and \((Y, \tau_Y)\) is a homeomorphism if it is a bijection, it is continuous, and its inverse \(f^{-1}: Y \to X\) is also continuous. The condition that the inverse must also be continuous is crucial. For example, the function \(f: [0, 2\pi) \to S^1\) defined by \(f(t) = (\cos(t), \sin(t))\) is a continuous bijection from a half-open interval to a circle, but its inverse is not continuous at the point (1,0), so it is not a homeomorphism. Homeomorphism is an equivalence relation on the class of all topological spaces. The resulting equivalence classes are called homeomorphism classes. The central problem in topology is to determine whether two given topological spaces are homeomorphic. To do this, topologists find topological invariants—properties of spaces that are preserved under homeomorphisms. If two spaces do not share an invariant, they cannot be homeomorphic. Examples of topological invariants include connectedness, compactness, and the fundamental group.

UNESCO Nomenclature: 1209
– Topology

Type

Abstract System

Disruption

Foundational

Usage

Widespread Use

Precursors

  • Leonhard Euler’s work on graph theory and polyhedra
  • August Ferdinand Möbius’s discovery of the Möbius strip
  • Felix Klein’s Erlangen program
  • The development of continuous functions by Cauchy and Weierstrass

Applications

  • classification of geometric objects
  • knot theory
  • topological data analysis
  • computer graphics and 3d modeling
  • robotics and motion planning

Patents:

NA

Potential Innovations Ideas

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Related to: homeomorphism, continuous deformation, topological equivalence, donut, coffee mug, topological invariant, bijection, continuous function

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Historical Context

(if date is unknown or not relevant, e.g. "fluid mechanics", a rounded estimation of its notable emergence is provided)

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