\(m\)-homotopic distance (Q6053453)

Recall that the topological distance \(D(f,g)\) between two maps \(f,g): X\to Y\) is the least integer such that \(X\) has an open cover \(U_0, \dots , U_k\) where each \(U_j\) has the property that \(f\) and \(g\) are homotopic when restricted to each \(U_j\). This concept was introduced by the first and second author, see [Math. Proc. Camb. Philos. Soc. 172, No. 1, 73--93 (2022; Zbl 1485.55005)]. In the paper at hand, the authors introduce the invariant \(D_m(f,g)\) as follows. Given two maps \(f, g : X \to Y \), define \(D_m(f, g) = k\) if \(k \geq 0\) is the least integer \(k\) such that \(X\) has an open cover \(U_0, \ldots, U_k\) where each \(U_j\) has the property that, for each \(U_j\), any map \(h : P \to U_j\) from an \(m\)-dimensional complex \(P\) the compositions \(f\circ h\) and \(g\circ h\) are homotopic. Clearly, \(D_m(f,g)\) turns into \(D(f,g)\) if we replace \(m\)-dimensional complexes by arbitrary spaces. Hence, many properties of \(D(f,g)\) (product formula, \(D\)-complexity, etc.) can be transmitted to \(D_m\). For example, \(D_m(f,g)\leq \operatorname{cat}_m(X)\). For the definition of \(\operatorname{cat}_m\) see [\textit{R. H. Fox}, Ann. Math. (2) 42, 333--370 (1941; Zbl 0027.43104)]. Also, for the inclusions \(i_1, i_2: X\to X\times X\) we have \(D_m(i_1,i_2)=\operatorname{cat}_m (X)\) (Theorem 2.11). Furthermore, the authors introduce \(m\)-categorical complexity \(\operatorname{TC}^m(X):=D_m(p_1,p_2)\) where \(p_1,p_2: X\times X \to X\) are the projections, and prove the inequality \(\operatorname{cat}_m(X)\leq \operatorname{TC}^m(X)\leq \operatorname{cat}_m(X\times X)\) (Theorem 2.15).