The main theorem of discrete Morse theory for Morse matchings with finitely many rays (Q387970)

The paper under review is concerned with extending a well-known theorem in discrete Morse theory to the case of infinite CW complexes. This is done from the point of view of discrete Morse matchings as opposed to discrete Morse functions. Let \(X\) be an infinite, regular CW complex and \(M\) an acyclic matching. The author constructs \(\mathcal{H}_M(X)\), a certain digraph obtained from the Hasse diagram of \(X\), and defines a decreasing ray on \(\mathcal{H}_M(X)\) as an infinite, directed simple path. The main result is that if \(\mathcal{H}_M(X)\) contains only finitely many (equivalence classes of) decreasing rays, then there is a CW complex \(X_M\) homotopy equivalent to \(X\) with exactly one cell for each critical cell of \(X\) and one cell for each (equivalence class of) decreasing ray. Versions of the Morse inequalities immediately follow. The author closes with open problems and possible future directions.