Persistent homology and microlocal sheaf theory

Abstract

We interpret some results of persistent homology and barcodes (in any dimension) with the language of microlocal sheaf theory. For that purpose we study the derived category of sheaves on a real finite-dimensional vector space V. By using the operation of convolution, we introduce a pseudo-distance on this category and prove in particular a stability result for direct images. Then we assume that V is endowed with a closed convex proper cone $\gamma$ with non empty interior and study $\gamma$-sheaves, that is, constructible sheaves with microsupport contained in the antipodal to the polar cone (equivalently, constructible sheaves for the $\gamma$-topology). We prove that such sheaves may be approximated (for the pseudo-distance) by "piecewise linear" $\gamma$-sheaves. Finally we show that these last sheaves are constant on stratifications by $\gamma$-locally closed sets, an analogue of barcodes in higher dimension.