Simplicial degree $d$ self-maps on $n$-spheres

Abstract

The degree of a map between orientable manifolds is a crucial concept in topology, providing deep insights into the structure and properties of the manifolds and the corresponding maps. This concept has been thoroughly investigated, particularly in the realm of simplicial maps between orientable triangulable spaces. In this paper, we concentrate on constructing simplicial degree $d$ self-maps on $n$-spheres. We describe the construction of several such maps, demonstrating that for every $d \in \mathbb{Z} \setminus {0}$, there exists a degree $d$ simplicial map from a triangulated $n$-sphere with $3|d| + n - 1$ vertices to $\mathbb{S}^n_{n+2}$. Further, we prove that, for every $d \in \mathbb{Z} \setminus {0}$, there exists a simplicial map of degree $3 d$ from a triangulated $n$-sphere with $6|d| + n$ vertices, as well as a simplicial map of degree $3d+\frac{d}{|d|}$ from a triangulated $n$-sphere with $6|d|+n+3$ vertices, to $\mathbb{S}^{n}_{n+2}$. Furthermore, we show that for any $|k| \geq 2$ and $n \geq |k|$, a degree $k$ simplicial map exists from a triangulated $n$-sphere $K$ with $|k| + n + 3$ vertices to $\mathbb{S}^n_{n+2}$. We also prove that for $d = 2$ and 3, these constructions produce vertex-minimal degree $d$ self-maps of $n$-spheres. Additionally, for every $n \geq 2$, we construct a degree $n+1$ simplicial map from a triangulated $n$-sphere with $2n + 4$ vertices to $\mathbb{S}^{n}_{n+2}$. We also prove that this construction provides facet minimal degree $n+1$ self-maps of $n$-spheres.