Gamma-Lines : On the Geometry of Real and Complex Functions

The history of mathematics is, to a considerable extent, connected with the study of solutions of the equation f(x)=a=const for functions f(x) of one real or complex variable. Therefore, it is surprising that we know very little about solutions of u(x,y)=A=const for functions of two real variables. These two solutions, called level of sets, are very important with regard to applications in physics, biology and economics as they make a map of appropriate processes described by the function u(x,y) for given parameters (x,y). This text explores a concept, Gamma-lines, which generalizes the concept of levels of sets and, at the same time, the concept of a-points. The authors provide a book on Gamma-lines for the broad specialist and show the large range of their field of applications. The general methods proposed in this volume are useful for both physicists and engineers.