2D asymmetric tensor field topology

Abstract

In this chapter we define the topology of two-dimensional (2D) asymmetric tensor fields in terms of two graphs corresponding to the eigenvalue and eigenvector analysis for tensor fields, respectively. Asymmetric tensor field topology can not only yield a concise representation of the field, but also provide a framework for spatial-temporal tracking of field features. Furthermore, inherent topological constraints in asymmetric tensor fields can be identified unambiguously through these graphs. We also describe efficient algorithms to compute the topology of a given 2D asymmetric tensor field. We demonstrate the utility of our graph representations for asymmetric tensor field topology with fluid simulation data sets.