Degenerate Curve Bifurcations in 3D Linear Symmetric Tensor Fields

Abstract3D symmetric tensor fields have a wide range of applications in medicine, science, and engineering. The topology of tensor fields can provide key insight into their structures. In this paper we study the number of possible topological bifurcations in 3D linear tensor fields. Using the linearity/planarity classification and wedge/trisector classification, we explore four types of bifurcations that can change the number and connectivity in the degenerate curves as well as the number and location of transition points on these degenerate curves. This leads to four types of bifurcations among nine scenarios of 3D linear tensor fields.