A combinatorial Lefschetz fixed-point formula

AbstractLet K be any (finite) simplicial complex, and K′ a subdivision of K. Let ϕ: K′ → K be a simplicial map, and, for all j ⩾ 0, let ϕj denote the algebraical number of j-simplices G of K′ such that G ⊃ ϕ(G). From Hopf's alternating trace formula it follows that ϕ0 − ϕ1 + ϕ2 − … = L(ϕ), the Lefschetz number of the simplicial map ϕ: X → X. Here X denotes the space of |K| (or |K′|). A purely combinatorial proof of the case K = a closed simplex (now L(ϕ) = 1) is given, thus solving a problem posed by Ky Fan in 1978

A Brouwer fixed point theorem for graph endomorphisms

We prove a Lefschetz formula for general simple graphs which equates the Lefschetz number L(T) of an endomorphism T with the sum of the degrees i(x) of simplices in G which are fixed by T. The degree i(x) of x with respect to T is defined as a graded sign of the permutation T induces on the simplex x multiplied by -1 if the dimension of x is odd. The Lefschetz number is defined as in the continuum as the super trace of T induced on cohomology. In the special case where T is the identity, the formula becomes the Euler-Poincare formula equating combinatorial and cohomological Euler characteristic. The theorem assures in general that if L(T) is nonzero, then T has a fixed clique. A special case is a discrete Brouwer fixed point theorem for graphs: if T is a graph endomorphism of a connected graph G, which is star-shaped in the sense that only the zeroth cohomology group is nontrivial, like for connected trees or triangularizations of star shaped Euclidean domains, then there is clique x which is fixed by T. Unlike in the continuum, the fixed point theorem proven here looks for fixed cliques, complete subgraphs which play now the role of "points" in the graph. Fixed points can so be vertices, edges, fixed triangles etc. If A denotes the automorphism group of a graph, we also look at the average Lefschetz number L(G) which is the average of L(T) over A. We prove that this is the Euler characteristic of the graph G/A and especially an integer. We also show that as a consequence of the Lefschetz formula, the zeta function zeta(T,z) is a product of two dynamical zeta functions and therefore has an analytic continuation as a rational function which is explicitly given by a product formula involving only the dimension and the signature of prime orbits of simplices in G.Comment: 24 pages, 6 figure

A Hadwiger Theorem for Simplicial Maps

We define the notion of valuation on simplicial maps between geometric realizations of simplicial complexes in $\mathbb{R}^n$. Valuations on simplicial maps are analogous to valuations on sets. In particular, we define the Lefschetz volumes, which are analogous to the intrinsic volumes of subsets of $\mathbb{R}^n$. Our definition not only provides a generalization of the Lefschetz number, but also yields a Hadwiger-style classification theorem for all such valuations.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figure

Remarks on the combinatorial intersection cohomology of fans

We review the theory of combinatorial intersection cohomology of fans developed by Barthel-Brasselet-Fieseler-Kaup, Bressler-Lunts, and Karu. This theory gives a substitute for the intersection cohomology of toric varieties which has all the expected formal properties but makes sense even for non-rational fans, which do not define a toric variety. As a result, a number of interesting results on the toric $g$ and $h$ polynomials have been extended from rational polytopes to general polytopes. We present explicit complexes computing the combinatorial IH in degrees one and two; the degree two complex gives the rigidity complex previously used by Kalai to study $g_2$. We present several new results which follow from these methods, as well as previously unpublished proofs of Kalai that $g_k(P) = 0$ implies $g_k(P^*) = 0$ and $g_{k+1}(P) = 0$.Comment: 34 pages. Typos fixed; final version, to appear in Pure and Applied Math Quarterl

Coxeter group actions on the complement of hyperplanes and special involutions

We consider both standard and twisted action of a (real) Coxeter group G on the complement M_G to the complexified reflection hyperplanes by combining the reflections with complex conjugation. We introduce a natural geometric class of special involutions in G and give explicit formulae which describe both actions on the total cohomology H(M_G,C) in terms of these involutions. As a corollary we prove that the corresponding twisted representation is regular only for the symmetric group S_n, the Weyl groups of type D_{2m+1}, E_6 and dihedral groups I_2 (2k+1) and that the standard action has no anti-invariants. We discuss also the relations with the cohomology of generalised braid groups.Comment: 11 page