Reeb graphs of circle-valued functions: a survey and basic facts (Q6044499)

The author systematizes in a nice and useful way the existing results on the Reeb graphs of circle-valued functions and generalizes some of them to wider classes of functions or spaces. The paper is organized into seven sections as follows: Introduction, Reeb graph of a circle-valued function, Homotopy classes of functions and Reeb graphs (properties of null-homotopic circle-valued functions, Reeb graphs of null-homotopic circle-valued functions), Cycle rank of a Reeb graph (lower bound for not null-homotopic functions, upper bound on the cycle rank, co-rank of the fundamental group), When the Reeb graph is a finite graph?, Reeb graphs of Morse circle-valued functions (circle-valued functions and foliations of closed one-forms, bound on \(b_1(R_f )\) in terms of critical points of a Morse function, contours of a Morse circle-valued function, cycle ranks of the Reeb graphs of close Morse functions, Reeb graph of a given genus of a Morse function on a surface), Realization problem in the class of circle-valued functions (simple Morse circle-valued function, simple Morse-Bott circle-valued functions, Morse circle-valued functions). Other papers by the author directly connected to this topic are [Czech. Math. J. 59, No. 1, 207--220 (2009; Zbl 1224.57010); Differ. Geom. Appl. 29, No. 4, 473--492 (2011; Zbl 1223.57022); Czech. Math. J. 63, No. 2, 515--528 (2013; Zbl 1289.57009); Math. Slovaca 63, No. 2, 331--348 (2013; Zbl 1324.57004); Czech. Math. J. 65, No. 2, 565--567 (2015; Zbl 1363.20034); Math. Slovaca 67, No. 3, 645--656 (2017; Zbl 1424.14003); Discrete Comput. Geom. 59, No. 4, 843--863 (2018; Zbl 1391.05144); Filomat 33, No. 7, 2031--2049 (2019; \url{https://doi.org/10.2298/FIL1907031G}); Math. Slovaca 71, No. 3, 757--772 (2021; Zbl 1478.58005); Filomat 37, No. 11, 3575--3590 (2023; \url{https://doi.org/10.2298/FIL2311575G})].