Vanishing homology

Abstract

In this paper we introduce a new homology theory devoted to the study of families such as semi-algebraic or subanalytic families and in general to any family definable in an o-minimal structure (such as Denjoy-Carleman definable or $ln-exp$ definable sets). The idea is to study the cycles which are vanishing when we approach a special fiber. This also enables us to derive local metric invariants for germs of definable sets. We prove that the homology groups are finitely generated.