Structure on the top homology and related algorithms (Q2219282)

The authors study the top homology of a finite simplicial complex $X$ of dimension $d$. To this end they consider a filtration $X=X_d\supseteq X_{d-1}\supseteq\cdots$, where $X_{k-1}$ collects those $(k-1)$-cells of $X_k$ which are contained in more than two $k$-cells. The connected components of $X_k\setminus X_{k-1}$ are called the \textit{$k$-strata} of $X$. It is shown that the long exact homology sequences of the pairs $(X_k,X_{k-1})$ provide a chain complex whose top homology agrees with the top simplicial homology of $X$. Moreover, it turns out that the set of $k$-strata with chosen orientations has the structure of an oriented matroid. This is then used to give an algorithm for computing the top simplicial homology of $X$.