On the Lusternik-Schnirelmann category of a simplicial map (Q729837)

The Lusternik-Schnirelmann category (or just the LS category, for short) of a space \(X\), \(\text{cat}(X),\) is the least nonnegative integer \(n\) such that \(X\) has a cover constituted by \(n+1\) open subsets that are contractible in \(X.\) The original motivation of this numerical homotopy invariant is that, for any compact smooth manifold \(X\), \(\text{cat}(X)\) provides a lower bound of the number of critical points of any smooth map \(f:X\rightarrow \mathbb{R}.\) Unfortunately, LS category is very hard to handle and compute. In order to try to overcome this drawback a useful technique is to consider other numerical homotopy invariants, coming from different settings, that approximate the LS category. In this direction there have been several recent works concerning simplicial and discrete versions of LS category: see the papers by \textit{S. Aaronson} and \textit{N. A. Scoville} [Ill. J. Math. 57, No. 3, 743--753 (2013; Zbl 1302.55004)], \textit{D. Fernández-Ternero} et al. [Topology Appl. 194, 37--50 (2015; Zbl 1327.55004)] and \textit{K. Tanaka} [Ill. J. Math. 59, No. 3, 623--636 (2015; Zbl 1362.55005)]. In the paper under review the authors continue the work initiated by D. Fernández-Ternero et al. by developing what is called the simplicial LS category of a simplicial map \(f:K\rightarrow L\) (denoted by \(\text{scat}(f)\)). This number turns out to be invariant for simplicial maps that are in the same contiguity class. Several basic properties, which are analogous to those given in the classical case, are analyzed. We can also mention a study of the simplicial LS category of a product map and of a simplicial fibration, as well as a study of a simplicial version of category weight. Finally, considering the order complex and the face poset functors, which relates (finite) simplicial complexes and \(T_0\)-finite spaces, the authors also give a comparison between classical and simplicial LS category for maps.