Brenti and Welker have shown that for any simplicial complex X, the face vectors of successive barycentric subdivisions of X have roots which converge to fixed values depending only on the dimension of X. We improve and generalize this result here. We begin with an alternative proof based on geometric intuition. We then prove an interesting symmetry of these roots about the real number -2. This symmetry can be seen via a nice algebraic realization of barycentric subdivision as a simple map on formal power series in two variables. Finally, we use this algebraic machinery with some geometric motivation to generalize the combinatorial statements to arbitrary subdivision methods: any subdivision method will exhibit similar limit behavior and symmetry. Our techniques allow us to compute explicit formulas for the values of the limit roots in the case of barycentric subdivision.
We generalize some homotopy calculation techniques such as splittings and matching trees that are introduced for the computations in the case of the independence complexes of graphs to arbitrary simplicial complexes, and exemplify their efficiency on some simplicial complexes, the devoid complexes of graphs, which are simplicial complexes parametrized by graphs. Additionally, we compute the homotopy type of dominance complexes of chordal graphs.
For a simplicial complex K on m vertices and simplicial complexes K1,...,Km a composed simplicial complex K(K1,...,Km) is introduced. This construction generalizes an iterated simplicial wedge construction studied by A. Bahri, M. Bendersky, F. R. Cohen and S. Gitler and allows to describe the combinatorics of generalized joins of polytopes P(P1,...,Pm) defined by G. Agnarsson. The composition defines a structure of an operad on a set of finite simplicial complexes. We prove the following: (1) a composed complex K(K1,...,Km) is a simplicial sphere iff K is a simplicial sphere and Ki are the bou…
We show that coloring properties of a simplicial complex K are reflected by splitting properties of a bundle over the associated Davis-Januszkiewicz space whose Chern classes are given by the elementary symmetric polynomials in the generators of the Stanley-Reisner algebra of K.
The paper surveys recent progress in understanding geometric, topological and combinatorial properties of large simplicial complexes, focusing mainly on ampleness, connectivity and universality. In the first part of the paper we concentrate on $r$-ample simplicial complexes which are high dimensional analogues of the $r$-e.c. graphs introduced originally by Erd\H os and Réniy. The class of $r$-ample complexes is useful for applications since these complexes allow extensions of subcomplexes of certain type in all possible ways; besides, $r$-ample complexes exhibit remarkable robustness properti…
We introduce a method to reduce the study of the topology of a simplicial complex to that of a simpler one. We give some applications of this method to complexes arising from graphs. As a consequence, we answer some questions raised in [R.Ehrenborg, G.Hetyei, European J.Combin.27 (2006), no.6, 906-923] on the independence complex and the dominance complex. The techniques used come mainly from monomial ideal theory.
In the paper we treat Gale diagrams in a combinatorial way. The interpretation allows to describe simplicial complexes which are Alexander dual to boundaries of simplicial polytopes and, more generally, to nerve-complexes of general polytopes. This technique and recent results of N.Yu.Erokhovets are combined to prove the following: Buchstaber invariant $s(P)$ of a convex polytope equals 1 if and only if $P$ is a pyramid. In general, we describe a procedure to construct polytopes with $s_R(P)>k$. The construction has purely combinatorial consequences. We also apply Gale duality to the study of …
We find families of simplicial complexes where the simplicial chromatic polynomials defined by Cooper--de Silva--Sazdanovic \cite{CdSS} are Hilbert series of Stanley--Reisner rings of auxiliary simplicial complexes. As a result, such generalized chromatic polynomials are determined by $h$-vectors of auxiliary simplicial complexes. In addition to generalizing related results on graphs and matroids, the simplicial complexes used allow us to consider problems that are not necessarily analogues of those considered for graphs. Some examples include supports of cyclotomic polynomials, log concavity …
Let $L$ be a simplicial complex. In this paper, we study random sub-hypergraphs and random sub-complexes of $L$. By considering the minimal complex that a sub-hypergraph can be embedded in and the maximal complex that can be embedded in a sub-hypergraph, we define some maps on the space of probability functions on sub-hypergraphs of $L$. We study the compositions of these maps as well as their actions on the space of probability functions.
A weighted simplicial complex is a simplicial complex with values (called weights) on the vertices. In this paper, we consider weighted simplicial complexes with $\mathbb{R}^2$-valued weights. We study the weighted homology and the weighted analytic torsion for such weighted simplicial complexes.
Golodness of 2-dimensional simplicial complexes is studied through polyhedral products, and combinatorial and topoogical characterization of Golodness of surface triangulations is given. An answer to the question of Berglund is also given so that there is a 2-dimensional simplicial complex which is rationally Golod but is not Golod over $\mathbb{Z}/p$.
We extend, in significant ways, the theory of truncated boolean representable simplicial complexes introduced in 2015. This theory, which includes all matroids, represents the largest class of finite simplicial complexes for which combinatorial geometry can be meaningfully applied
We develop a theory of limits for sequences of dense abstract simplicial complexes, where a sequence is considered convergent if its homomorphism densities converge. The limiting objects are represented by stacks of measurable [0,1]-valued functions on unit cubes of increasing dimension, each corresponding to a dimension of the abstract simplicial complex. We show that convergence in homomorphism density implies convergence in a cut-metric, and vice versa, as well as showing that simplicial complexes sampled from the limit objects closely resemble its structure. Applying this framework, we als…
For $n \in \mathbb{N}$, let $h(n)$ denote the number of simplicial complexes on $n$ vertices up to homotopy equivalence. Here we prove that $h(n) \geq 2^{2^{0.02n}}$ when $n$ is large enough. Together with the trivial upper bound of $2^{2^n}$ on the number of labeled simplicial complexes on $n$ vertices this proves a conjecture of Kalai that $h(n)$ is doubly exponential in $n$.
We consider a multi-parameter model for randomly constructing simplicial complexes. This model interpolates between random clique complexes and Linial-Meshulam random $k$-dimensional complexes, two models that have been extensively studied. While these models asymptotically exhibit nontrivial cohomology in only one or two dimensions, we show that in this generalized setting nontrivial cohomology can occur in several dimensions simultaneously. We establish upper and lower thresholds for the appearance of nontrivial cohomology in a particular dimension, and in some instances characterize the beh…
There have been several recent articles studying homology of various types of random simplicial complexes. Several theorems have concerned thresholds for vanishing of homology, and in some cases expectations of the Betti numbers. However little seems known so far about limiting distributions of random Betti numbers. In this article we establish Poisson and normal approximation theorems for Betti numbers of different kinds of random simplicial complex: Erdős-Rényi random clique complexes, random Vietoris-Rips complexes, and random Čech complexes. These results may be of practical interest in to…
In 1983 Kalai proved an incredible generalisation of Cayley's formula for the number of trees on a labelled vertex set to a formula for a class of $r$-dimensional simplicial complexes. These simplicial complexes generalise trees by means of being homologically $\Bbb Q$-acyclic. In this text we consider a different generalisation of trees to the class of pure dimensional simplicial complexes that \textit{minimally connect a vertex set} (in the sense that the removal of any top dimensional face disconnects the complex). Our main result provides an upper and lower bound for the number of these mi…
This expository article is based on a lecture from the Stanford Symposium on Algebraic Topology: Application and New Directions, held in honor of Gunnar Carlsson, Ralph Cohen, and Ib Madsen.
We provide a random simplicial complex by applying standard constructions to a Poisson point process in Euclidean space. It is gigantic in the sense that - up to homotopy equivalence - it almost surely contains infinitely many copies of every compact topological manifold, both in isolation and in percolation.
We establish an upper bound on the cardinality of a minimal generating set for the fundamental group of a large family of connected, balanced simplicial complexes and, more generally, simplicial posets.
Strong placement games (SP-games) are a class of combinatorial games whose structure allows one to describe the game via simplicial complexes. A natural question is whether well-known invariants of combinatorial games, such as "game value", appear as invariants of the simplicial complexes. This paper is the first step in that direction. We show that every simplicial complex encodes a certain type of SP-game (called an "invariant SP-game") whose ruleset is independent of the board it is played on. We also show that in the class of SP-games isomorphic simplicial complexes correspond to isomorphi…
The Linial-Meshulam complex model is a natural higher-dimensional analog of the Erdős-Rényi graph model. In recent years, Linial and Peled established a limit theorem for Betti numbers of Linial-Meshulam complexes with an appropriate scaling of the underlying parameter. The present paper aims to extend that result to more-general random simplicial complex models. We introduce a class of homogeneous and spatially independent random simplicial complexes, including the Linial-Meshulam complex model and the random clique complex model as special cases, and we study the asymptotic behavior of their…
In this note we introduce the concept of the trade space of a latin square. Computations using Sage and the GAP package Simplicial Homology are presented.
Bergman complexes are polyhedral complexes associated to matroids. Faces of these complexes are certain matroids, called matroid types, too. In order to understand the structure of these faces we decompose matroid types into direct summands. Ardila/Klivans proved that the Bergman Complex of a matroid can be subdivided into the order complex of the proper part of its lattice of flats. Beyond that Feichtner/Sturmfels showed that the Bergman complex can even be subdivided to the even coarser nested set complex. We will give a much shorter and more general proof of this fact. Generalizing formulas…
Given a finite CAT(0) cubical complex, we define a flag simplicial complex associated to it, called the crossing complex. We show that the crossing complex holds much of the combinatorial information of the original cubical complex: for example, hyperplanes in the cubical complex correspond to vertex links in the crossing complex, and the crossing complex is balanced if and only if the cubical complex is cubically balanced. The most significant result is that the sets of $f$-vectors of CAT(0) cubical complexes and flag simplicial complexes are equal, up to an invertible linear transformation.
Let $ρ:(D^2)^m\to I^m$ be the orbit map for the diagonal action of the torus $T^m$ on the unit poly-disk $(D^2)^m$, $I^m=[0,1]^m$ is the unit cube. Let $C$ be a cubical subcomplex in $I^m$. The moment-angle complex $\ma(C)$ is a $T^m$-invariant bigraded cellular decomposition of the subset $ρ^{-1}(C)\subset(D^2)^m$ with cells corresponding to the faces of $C$. Different combinatorial problems concerning cubical complexes and related combinatorial objects can be treated by studying the equivariant topology of corresponding moment-angle complexes. Here we consider moment-angle complexes defined …
Buchstaber invariant is a numerical characteristic of a simplicial complex, arising from torus actions on moment-angle complexes. In the paper we study the relation between Buchstaber invariants and classical invariants of simplicial complexes such as bigraded Betti numbers and chromatic invariants. The following two statements are proved. (1) There exists a simplicial complex U with different real and ordinary Buchstaber invariants. (2) There exist two simplicial complexes with equal bigraded Betti numbers and chromatic numbers, but different Buchstaber invariants. To prove the first theorem …
We show that the size of the largest simple d-cycle in a simplicial d-complex $K$ is at least a square root of $K$'s density. This generalizes a well-known classical result of Erdős and Gallai \cite{EG59} for graphs. We use methods from matroid theory applied to combinatorial simplicial complexes.
The random $2$-dimensional simplicial complex process starts with a complete graph on $n$ vertices, and in every step a new $2$-dimensional face, chosen uniformly at random, is added. We prove that with probability tending to $1$ as $n\to\infty$, the first homology group over $\mathbb Z$ vanishes at the very moment when all the edges are covered by triangular faces.
We show that the $h$-vector of a $2$-dimensional PS ear-decomposable simplicial complex is a pure $\mathcal{O}$-sequence. This provides a strengthening of Stanley's conjecture for matroid $h$-vectors in rank $3$. Our approach modifies the approach of combinatorial shifting for arbitrary simplicial complexes to the setting of $2$-dimensional PS ear-decomposable complexes, which allows us to greedily construct a corresponding pure multicomplex.
We verify the Upper Bound Conjecture (UBC) for a class of odd-dimensional simplicial complexes that in particular includes all Eulerian simplicial complexes with isolated singularities. The proof relies on a new invariant of simplicial complexes -- a short simplicial h-vector.
Imposing a strong condition on the linear order of shellable complexes, we introduce strong shellability. Basic properties, including the existence of dimension-decreasing strong shelling orders, are developed with respect to nonpure strongly shellable complexes. Meanwhile, pure strongly shellable complexes can be characterized by the corresponding codimension one graphs. In addition, we show that the facet ideals of pure strongly shellable complexes have linear quotients.
This article surveys some of the work done in recent years on random simplicial complexes. We mostly consider higher-dimensional analogs of the well known phase transition in $G(n, p)$ theory that occurs at $p = \frac 1n$ . Our main objective is to provide a more streamlined and unified perspective of some of the papers in this area.
Given a graph $G$, the number of nowhere-zero $\ZZ_q$-flows $ϕ_G(q)$ is known to be a polynomial in $q$. We extend the definition of nowhere-zero $\ZZ_q$-flows to simplicial complexes $Δ$ of dimension greater than one, and prove the polynomiality of the corresponding function $ϕ_Δ(q)$ for certain $q$ and certain subclasses of simplicial complexes.
Denham, Suciu and Panov, Ray computed ranks of homotopy groups and Poincaré series of a moment-angle-complex $\mathcal Z(\mathcal K$) / Davis-Januzskiewicz space $DJ(\mathcal K)$ associated to a flag simplicial complex $\mathcal K$. In this note we revisit these results and interpret them as polynomial bounds on the face numbers of an arbitrary simplicial flag complex.
We introduce the notion of a quasi-matroidal class of ordered simplicial complexes: an approximation to the idea of a matroid cryptomorphism in the landscape of ordered simplicial complexes. A quasi-matroidal class contains pure shifted simplicial complexes and ordered matroid independence complexes. The essential property is that if a fixed simplicial complex belongs to this class for every ordering of its vertex set, then it is a matroid independence complex. Some examples of such classes appear implicitly in the matroid theory literature. We introduce various such classes that highlight dif…
We consider the random hypergraph on a finite vertex set by choosing each set of vertices as an hyperedge independently at random. We express the probability distributions of the (lower-)associated simplicial complex and the (lower-)associated independence hypergraph of the random hypergraph in terms of the probability distributions of certain random simplicial complex and certain random independence hypergraph of Erdös-Rényi type. We construct a graded structure of the map algebra explicitly and give algorithms to generate random hypergraphs and random simplicial complexes.
We introduce t-uniform simplicial complexes and we show that the lengths of spheres in such complexes are the terms of certain Lucas sequences. We find optimal constants for the linear isoperimetric inequality in the hyperbolic case.
The class of $(d-1)$-dimensional Buchsbaum* simplicial complexes is studied. It is shown that the rank-selected subcomplexes of a (completely) balanced Buchsbaum* simplicial complex are also Buchsbaum*. Using this result, lower bounds on the $h$-numbers of balanced Buchsbaum* simplicial complexes are established. In addition, sharp lower bounds on the $h$-numbers of flag $m$-Buchsbaum* simplicial complexes are derived, and the case of equality is treated.
We consider closed simplicial and cubical $n$-complexes in terms of link of their $(n-2)$-faces. Especially, we consider the case, when this link has size 3 or 4, i.e., every $(n-2)$-face is contained in 3 or 4 $n$-faces. Such simplicial complexes with {\em short} (i.e. of length 3 or 4) links are completely classified by their {\em characteristic partition}. We consider also embedding into hypercubes of the skeletons of simplicial and cubical complexes.
We study the simplicial complex that arises from non-attacking rook placements on a subclass of Ferrers boards that have $a_i$ rows of length $i$ where $a_i>0$ and $i\leq n$ for some positive integer $n$. In particular, we will investigate enumerative properties of their facets, their homotopy type, and homology.
In this paper we inititate the study of abstract simplicial complexes which are initial segments of qualitative probability orders. This is a natural class that contains the threshold complexes and is contained in the shifted complexes, but is equal to neither. In particular we construct a qualitative probability order on 26 atoms that has an initial segment which is not a threshold simplicial complex. Although 26 is probably not the minimal number for which such example exists we provide some evidence that it cannot be much smaller. We prove some necessary conditions for this class and make a…
