Evaluations of topological Tutte polynomials

We find new properties of the topological transition polynomial of embedded graphs, $Q(G)$. We use these properties to explain the striking similarities between certain evaluations of Bollob\'as and Riordan's ribbon graph polynomial, $R(G)$, and the topological Penrose polynomial, $P(G)$. The general framework provided by $Q(G)$ also leads to several other combinatorial interpretations these polynomials. In particular, we express $P(G)$, $R(G)$, and the Tutte polynomial, $T(G)$, as sums of chromatic polynomials of graphs derived from $G$; show that these polynomials count $k$-valuations of medial graphs; show that $R(G)$ counts edge 3-colourings; and reformulate the Four Colour Theorem in terms of $R(G)$. We conclude with a reduction formula for the transition polynomial of the tensor product of two embedded graphs, showing that it leads to additional relations among these polynomials and to further combinatorial interpretations of $P(G)$ and $R(G)$.Comment: V2: major revision, several new results, and improved expositio

A categorification of the chromatic symmetric polynomial

International audienceThe Stanley chromatic polynomial of a graph $G$ is a symmetric function generalization of the chromatic polynomial, and has interesting combinatorial properties. We apply the ideas of Khovanov homology to construct a homology $H$*($G$) of graded $S_n$-modules, whose graded Frobenius series $Frob_G(q,t)$ reduces to the chromatic symmetric function at $q=t=1$. We also obtain analogues of several familiar properties of the chromatic symmetric polynomials in terms of homology.Le polynôme chromatique symétrique d’un graphe $G$ est une généralisation par une fonction symétrique du polynôme chromatique, et possède des propriétés combinatoires intéressantes. Nous appliquons les techniques de l’homologie de Khovanov pour construire une homologie $H$*($G$) de modules gradués $S_n$, dont la série bigraduée de Frobeniusse $Frob_G(q,t)$ réduit au polynôme chromatique symétrique à $q=t=1$. Nous obtenons également des analogies pour plusieurs propriétés connues des polynômes chromatiques en termes d’homologie

A rooted variant of Stanley's chromatic symmetric function

Richard Stanley defined the chromatic symmetric function $X_G$ of a graph $G$ and asked whether there are non-isomorphic trees $T$ and $U$ with $X_T=X_U$. We study variants of the chromatic symmetric function for rooted graphs, where we require the root vertex to either use or avoid a specified color. We present combinatorial identities and recursions satisfied by these rooted chromatic polynomials, explain their relation to pointed chromatic functions and rooted $U$-polynomials, and prove three main theorems. First, for all non-empty connected graphs $G$, Stanley's polynomial $X_G(x_1,\ldots,x_N)$ is irreducible in $\mathbb{Q}[x_1,\ldots,x_N]$ for all large enough $N$. The same result holds for our rooted variant where the root node must avoid a specified color. We prove irreducibility by a novel combinatorial application of Eisenstein's Criterion. Second, we prove the rooted version of Stanley's Conjecture: two rooted trees are isomorphic as rooted graphs if and only if their rooted chromatic polynomials are equal. In fact, we prove that a one-variable specialization of the rooted chromatic polynomial (obtained by setting $x_0=x_1=q$, $x_2=x_3=1$, and $x_n=0$ for $n>3$) already distinguishes rooted trees. Third, we answer a question of Pawlowski by providing a combinatorial interpretation of the monomial expansion of pointed chromatic functions.Comment: 21 pages; v2: added a short algebraic proof to Theorem 2 (now Theorem 15), we also answer a question of Pawlowski about monomial expansions; v3: added additional one-variable specialization results, simplified main proof

Building fences around the chromatic coefficients.

Although these bounding conditions do not allow us to completely predict all chromatic polynomials, they do serve to severely limit the form of polynomials considered to be candidates for the chromatic polynomial of some graph.In general it remains an unsolved problem to determine which polynomials are chromatic. The purpose of this paper is to establish controls over the allowable values and patterns in the coefficients of chromatic polynomials.Associated to each graph G is its chromatic polynomial $f(G, t)$ and we associate to $f(G, t)$ the sequence $\alpha (G)$ of the norms of its coefficients. A stringent partial ordering is established for such sequences. First, we show that if H is a subgraph of G then $\alpha (H) \le \alpha (G).$ The main result is that for any graph G with q edges we have \alpha (R\sb{q}) \le \alpha (G) \le (S\sb{q}), where R\sb{q} and S\sb{q} are specified graphs with q edges. It is also useful to examine the coefficient sequence $\beta (G)$ of a chromatic polynomial $f(G, t)$ which has been expressed in terms of falling factorials. If G has m missing edges we find that \beta (T\sb{\bar m})\le \beta (G)\le \beta (X\sb{\bar m}) where T\sb{\bar m} and X\sb{\bar m} are specified graphs with m missing edges