The Topological Complexity of Finite Models of Spheres

Abstract

In this paper, we examine how topological complexity, simplicial complexity, discrete topological complexity, and combinatorial complexity compare when applied to models of $S^1$. We prove that the topological complexity of non-minimal finite models of $S^1$ can be less-than-or-equal-to 3, and that the TC of the minimal finite model of any $n$-sphere is equal to 4 for $n \geq 1$. We show the former using properties of the LS-category, and we show the latter by proving that the TC of the non-Hausdorff suspension of any finite connected $T_0$ space is equal to 4. We also prove a result about the topological complexity of non-Hausdorff joins of discrete finite spaces, allowing us to exhibit spaces weakly homotopy equivalent to a wedge of circles with arbitrarily high TC.