Discrete one-forms on meshes and applications to 3D mesh parameterization (Q2581306)

The authors describe how some simple properties of discrete one-forms [see \textit{I. Benjamini} and \textit{L. Lovász}, J. Geom. 76, No. 1--2, 3--15 (2003; Zbl 1028.31005), \textit{C. Mercat}, Commun. Math. Phys. 218, No. 1, 177-216 (2001; Zbl 1043.82005)] (the concept is identical to a one-cochain from simplicial cohomology) directly relate to some old and new results concerning the parameterization of 3D mesh data. The first result is an easy proof of Tutte's celebrated ``spring-embedding'' theorem for planar graphs, which is widely used for parameterizing meshes with the topology of a disk as a planar embedding with a convex boundary. The second result generalizes the first, dealing with the case where the mesh contains multiple boundaries, which are free to be nonconvex in the embedding. The authors characterize when it is still possible to achieve an embedding, despite these boundaries being nonconvex. The third result is an analogous embedding theorem for meshes with genus 1 (topologically equivalent to the torus). Applications of these results to the parameterization of meshes with disk and toroidal topologies are demonstrated. Extensions to higher genus meshes are discussed.