Morse theory

A Morse function is also an expression for an anharmonic oscillator

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In differential topology, the techniques of Morse theory give a very direct way of analyzing the topology of a manifold by studying differentiable functions on that manifold. According to the basic insights of Marston Morse, a differentiable function on a manifold will, in a typical case, reflect the topology quite directly. Morse theory allows one to find CW structures and handle decompositions on manifolds and to obtain substantial information about their homology. Before Morse, Arthur Cayley and James Clerk Maxwell developed some of the ideas of Morse theory in the context of topography.

Related Topics:
Differential topology - Manifold - Differentiable - Marston Morse - CW structure - Handle decomposition - Homology - Arthur Cayley - James Clerk Maxwell - Topography

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