On the classification of discrete conformal structures on surfaces (Q7028248)

In this paper, triangulated connected closed surfaces \(M\) with triangulation \(\mathcal{T}=(V,E,F)\) are considered, where \(V,E,F\) represent the sets of vertices, edges, faces respectively and \(V\) is a finite set. If a map \(l:E\rightarrow (0,+\infty )\) assigns a length to every edge in such a way that every triangle, with the prescribed lengths of its sides, can be embedded in \(\mathbb{G}\) \((\mathbb{G}=\mathbb{E}^{2},\mathbb{H}^{2},\) or \(\mathbb{S}^{2}),\) then \((M,\mathcal{T},l)\) is referred to as a piecewise \(\mathbb{G}\) surface and \(l:E\rightarrow (0,+\infty )\) is called a \(\mathbb{G}\) polyhedral metric. For such a piecewise \(\mathbb{G}\) surface \((M,\mathcal{T},l)\) the definition of a discrete conformal structure is given in detail in the Definitions 1.1 and 1.2 of the paper. Actually, the notion of discrete conformal structures was defined by \textit{D. Glickenstein} [J. Differ. Geom. 87, No. 2, 201--238 (2011; Zbl 1243.52014)] and \textit{D. Glickenstein} and \textit{J. Thomas} [Adv. Math. 320, 250--278 (2017; Zbl 1379.52025)]. These papers presented an axiomatic approach to discrete conformal structures and investigated the classification of such structures. However, the classification given by Glickenstein and Thomas [loc. cit.] was not complete in the hyperbolic and spherical background. So in the present paper, a full classification of discrete conformal structures on surfaces is given. As a result, some new classes of discrete conformal structures on surfaces, including some of the generalized circle packing metrics are found. Finally, the relationship between discrete conformal structures on surfaces and 3-dimensional hyperbolic geometry is also discussed.