Almost Settling the Hardness of Noncommutative Determinant

In this paper, we study the complexity of computing the determinant of a matrix over a non-commutative algebra. In particular, we ask the question, "over which algebras, is the determinant easier to compute than the permanent?" Towards resolving this question, we show the following hardness and easiness of noncommutative determinant computation. * [Hardness] Computing the determinant of an n \times n matrix whose entries are themselves 2 \times 2 matrices over a field is as hard as computing the permanent over the field. This extends the recent result of Arvind and Srinivasan, who proved a similar result which however required the entries to be of linear dimension. * [Easiness] Determinant of an n \times n matrix whose entries are themselves d \times d upper triangular matrices can be computed in poly(n^d) time. Combining the above with the decomposition theorem of finite dimensional algebras (in particular exploiting the simple structure of 2 \times 2 matrix algebras), we can extend the above hardness and easiness statements to more general algebras as follows. Let A be a finite dimensional algebra over a finite field with radical R(A). * [Hardness] If the quotient A/R(A) is non-commutative, then computing the determinant over the algebra A is as hard as computing the permanent. * [Easiness] If the quotient A/R(A) is commutative and furthermore, R(A) has nilpotency index d (i.e., the smallest d such that R(A)d = 0), then there exists a poly(n^d)-time algorithm that computes determinants over the algebra A. In particular, for any constant dimensional algebra A over a finite field, since the nilpotency index of R(A) is at most a constant, we have the following dichotomy theorem: if A/R(A) is commutative, then efficient determinant computation is feasible and otherwise determinant is as hard as permanent.Comment: 20 pages, 3 figure

Persistence Modules on Commutative Ladders of Finite Type

We study persistence modules defined on commutative ladders. This class of persistence modules frequently appears in topological data analysis, and the theory and algorithm proposed in this paper can be applied to these practical problems. A new algebraic framework deals with persistence modules as representations on associative algebras and the Auslander-Reiten theory is applied to develop the theoretical and algorithmic foundations. In particular, we prove that the commutative ladders of length less than 5 are representation-finite and explicitly show their Auslander-Reiten quivers. Furthermore, a generalization of persistence diagrams is introduced by using Auslander-Reiten quivers. We provide an algorithm for computing persistence diagrams for the commutative ladders of length 3 by using the structure of Auslander-Reiten quivers.Comment: 48 page

Finite Boolean Algebras for Solid Geometry using Julia's Sparse Arrays

The goal of this paper is to introduce a new method in computer-aided geometry of solid modeling. We put forth a novel algebraic technique to evaluate any variadic expression between polyhedral d-solids (d = 2, 3) with regularized operators of union, intersection, and difference, i.e., any CSG tree. The result is obtained in three steps: first, by computing an independent set of generators for the d-space partition induced by the input; then, by reducing the solid expression to an equivalent logical formula between Boolean terms made by zeros and ones; and, finally, by evaluating this expression using bitwise operators. This method is implemented in Julia using sparse arrays. The computational evaluation of every possible solid expression, usually denoted as CSG (Constructive Solid Geometry), is reduced to an equivalent logical expression of a finite set algebra over the cells of a space partition, and solved by native bitwise operators.Comment: revised version submitted to Computer-Aided Geometric Desig

The T-algebra spectral sequence: Comparisons and applications

In previous work with Niles Johnson the author constructed a spectral sequence for computing homotopy groups of spaces of maps between structured objects such as G-spaces and E_n-ring spectra. In this paper we study special cases of this spectral sequence in detail. Under certain assumptions, we show that the Goerss-Hopkins spectral sequence and the T-algebra spectral sequence agree. Under further assumptions, we can apply a variation of an argument due to Jennifer French and show that these spectral sequences agree with the unstable Adams spectral sequence. From these equivalences we obtain information about filtration and differentials. Using these equivalences we construct the homological and cohomological Bockstein spectral sequences topologically. We apply these spectral sequences to show that Hirzebruch genera can be lifted to E_\infty-ring maps and that the forgetful functor from E_\infty-algebras in H\overline{F}_p-modules to H_\infty-algebras is neither full nor faithful.Comment: Minor revisions and more than a few typo corrections. To appear in Algebraic and Geometric Topolog