Topology-Preserving Meshing of Implicit Scalar Fields via Monotonicity Constraints

Abstract

Topological analysis of scalar fields yields structures such as the Morse-Smale complex (MSC) that summarize salient features across multiple scales. Existing MSC extraction algorithms typically assume an explicit representation of the input field, such as a discretely sampled mesh. However, recent advances in visualization have popularized implicit field representations, for which these assumptions no longer hold. In this work, we address the problem of extracting an MSC from an implicitly defined 2D scalar field. We present a method for constructing a triangulated piecewise-linear (PL) mesh that aims to preserve the critical points of an underlying implicit scalar field. Our central insight is that if all edges are monotonic with respect to the underlying field, then the resulting PL approximation is topologically consistent with respect to critical points. Based on this insight, we introduce a refinement procedure that mitigates monotonicity violations. Requiring only pointwise evaluations and modest mesh refinement, the approach produces PL meshes that are correct with regards to critical points in our experiments. Finally, we demonstrate that additional targeted refinement improves the geometric fidelity of MSC separatrices.