Dyck path triangulations and extendability

We introduce the Dyck path triangulation of the cartesian product of two simplices $\Delta_{n-1}\times\Delta_{n-1}$. The maximal simplices of this triangulation are given by Dyck paths, and its construction naturally generalizes to produce triangulations of $\Delta_{r\ n-1}\times\Delta_{n-1}$ using rational Dyck paths. Our study of the Dyck path triangulation is motivated by extendability problems of partial triangulations of products of two simplices. We show that whenever $m\geq k>n$, any triangulation of $\Delta_{m-1}^{(k-1)}\times\Delta_{n-1}$ extends to a unique triangulation of $\Delta_{m-1}\times\Delta_{n-1}$. Moreover, with an explicit construction, we prove that the bound $k>n$ is optimal. We also exhibit interesting interpretations of our results in the language of tropical oriented matroids, which are analogous to classical results in oriented matroid theory.Comment: 15 pages, 14 figures. Comments very welcome

Valuations for matroid polytope subdivisions

We prove that the ranks of the subsets and the activities of the bases of a matroid define valuations for the subdivisions of a matroid polytope into smaller matroid polytopes.Comment: 19 pages. 2 figures; added section 6 + other correction

Splitting Polytopes

A split of a polytope $P$ is a (regular) subdivision with exactly two maximal cells. It turns out that each weight function on the vertices of $P$ admits a unique decomposition as a linear combination of weight functions corresponding to the splits of $P$ (with a split prime remainder). This generalizes a result of Bandelt and Dress [Adv. Math. 92 (1992)] on the decomposition of finite metric spaces. Introducing the concept of compatibility of splits gives rise to a finite simplicial complex associated with any polytope $P$, the split complex of $P$. Complete descriptions of the split complexes of all hypersimplices are obtained. Moreover, it is shown that these complexes arise as subcomplexes of the tropical (pre-)Grassmannians of Speyer and Sturmfels [Adv. Geom. 4 (2004)].Comment: 25 pages, 7 figures; minor corrections and change

Dyck path triangulations and extendability (extended abstract)

International audienceWe introduce the Dyck path triangulation of the cartesian product of two simplices $\Delta_{n-1}\times\Delta_{n-1}$. The maximal simplices of this triangulation are given by Dyck paths, and its construction naturally generalizes to produce triangulations of $\Delta_{r\ n-1}\times\Delta_{n-1}$ using rational Dyck paths. Our study of the Dyck path triangulation is motivated by extendability problems of partial triangulations of products of two simplices. We show that whenever$m\geq k>n$, any triangulations of $\Delta_{m-1}^{(k-1)}\times\Delta_{n-1}$ extends to a unique triangulation of $\Delta_{m-1}\times\Delta_{n-1}$. Moreover, with an explicit construction, we prove that the bound $k>n$ is optimal. We also exhibit interpretations of our results in the language of tropical oriented matroids, which are analogous to classical results in oriented matroid theory.Nous introduisons la triangulation par chemins de Dyck du produit cartésien de deux simplexes $\Delta_{n-1}\times\Delta_{n-1}$. Les simplexes maximaux de cette triangulation sont donnés par des chemins de Dyck, et cette construction se généralise de façon naturelle pour produire des triangulations $\Delta_{r\ n-1}\times\Delta_{n-1}$ qui utilisent des chemins de Dyck rationnels. Notre étude de la triangulation par chemins de Dyck est motivée par des problèmes de prolongement de triangulations partielles de produits de deux simplexes. On montre que $m\geq k>n$ alors toute triangulation de $\Delta_{m-1}^{(k-1)}\times\Delta_{n-1}$ se prolonge en une unique triangulation de $\Delta_{m-1}\times\Delta_{n-1}$. De plus, avec une construction explicite, nous montrons que la borne $k>n$ est optimale. Nous présentons aussi des interprétations de nos résultats dans le langage des matroïdes orientés tropicaux, qui sont analogues aux résultats classiques de la théorie des matroïdes orientés

Tropical Convexity

The notions of convexity and convex polytopes are introduced in the setting of tropical geometry. Combinatorial types of tropical polytopes are shown to be in bijection with regular triangulations of products of two simplices. Applications to phylogenetic trees are discussed. Theorem 29 and Corollary 30 in the paper, relating tropical polytopes to injective hulls, are incorrect. See the erratum at http://www.math.uiuc.edu/documenta/vol-09/vol-09-eng.html .Comment: 20 pages, 6 figure

Cambrian triangulations and their tropical realizations

This paper develops a Cambrian extension of the work of C. Ceballos, A. Padrol and C. Sarmiento on $\nu$-Tamari lattices and their tropical realizations. For any signature $\varepsilon \in \{\pm\}^n$, we consider a family of $\varepsilon$-trees in bijection with the triangulations of the $\varepsilon$-polygon. These $\varepsilon$-trees define a flag regular triangulation $\mathcal{T}^\varepsilon$ of the subpolytope $\operatorname{conv} \{(\mathbf{e}_{i_\bullet}, \mathbf{e}_{j_\circ}) \, | \, 0 \le i_\bullet < j_\circ \le n+1 \}$ of the product of simplices $\triangle_{\{0_\bullet, \dots, n_\bullet\}} \times \triangle_{\{1_\circ, \dots, (n+1)_\circ\}}$. The oriented dual graph of the triangulation $\mathcal{T}^\varepsilon$ is the Hasse diagram of the (type $A$) $\varepsilon$-Cambrian lattice of N. Reading. For any $I_\bullet \subseteq \{0_\bullet, \dots, n_\bullet\}$ and $J_\circ \subseteq \{1_\circ, \dots, (n+1)_\circ\}$, we consider the restriction $\mathcal{T}^\varepsilon_{I_\bullet, J_\circ}$ of the triangulation $\mathcal{T}^\varepsilon$ to the face $\triangle_{I_\bullet} \times \triangle_{J_\circ}$. Its dual graph is naturally interpreted as the increasing flip graph on certain $(\varepsilon, I_\bullet, J_\circ)$-trees, which is shown to be a lattice generalizing in particular the $\nu$-Tamari lattices in the Cambrian setting. Finally, we present an alternative geometric realization of $\mathcal{T}^\varepsilon_{I_\bullet, J_\circ}$ as a polyhedral complex induced by a tropical hyperplane arrangement.Comment: 16 pages, 11 figure

Planarity in Generalized Scattering Amplitudes: PK Polytope, Generalized Root Systems and Worldsheet Associahedra

In this paper we study the role of planarity in generalized scattering amplitudes, through several closely interacting structures in combinatorics, algebraic and tropical geometry. The generalized biadjoint scalar amplitude, introduced recently by Cachazo-Early-Guevara-Mizera (CEGM), is a rational function of homogeneous degree $-(k-1)(n-k-1)$ in $\binom{n}{k}-n$ independent variables; its poles can be constructed directly from the rays of the positive tropical Grassmannian. We introduce for each pair of integers $(k,n)$ with $2\le k\le n-2$ a system of generalized positive roots which arises as a specialization of the planar basis of kinematic invariants. We prove that the higher root polytope $\mathcal{R}^{(k)}_{n-k}$ has volume the k-dimensional Catalan number $C^{(k)}_{n-k}$, via a flag unimodular triangulation into simplices, in bijection with noncrossing collections of $k$-element subsets. We also give a bijection between certain positroidal subdivisions, called tripods, of the hypersimplex $\Delta_{3,n}$ and noncrossing pairs of 3-element subsets that are not weakly separated. We show that the facets of the Planar Kinematics (PK) polytope, introduced recently by Cachazo and the author, are exactly the $\binom{n}{k}-n$ generalized positive roots. We show that the PK specialization of the generalized biadjoint amplitude evaluates to $C^{(k)}_{n-k}$. Looking forward, we give defining equations and conjecture explicit solutions using $(\mathbb{CP}^{n-k-1})^{\times (k-1)}$ via a notion of compatibility degree for noncrossing collections, for a two parameter family of generalized worldsheet associahedra $\mathcal{W}^+_{k,n}$. These specialize when $k=2$ to a certain dihedrally invariant partial compactification of the configuration space $M_{0,n}$ of $n$ distinct points in $\mathbb{CP}^{1}$. Many detailed examples are given throughout to motivate future work.Comment: 75 pages, 19 figure

Palm phytoliths of mid-elevation Andean forests

Palms are one of the most common tropical plant groups. They are widespread across lowland tropical forests, but many are found in higher altitudes have more constrained environmental ranges. The limited range of these species makes them particularly useful in paleoecological and paleoclimate reconstructions. Palms produce phytoliths, or silica structures, which are found in their vegetative parts (e.g., wood, leaves, etc.). Recent research has shown that several palms in the lowland tropical forests produce phytoliths that are diagnostic to the sub-family or genus-level. Here we characterize Andean palm phytoliths, and determine whether many of these species can also be identified by their silica structures. All of our sampled Andean palm species produced phytoliths, and we were able to characterize several previously unclassified morphotypes. Some species contained unique phytoliths that did not occur in other species, particularly Ceroxylon alpinium, which is indicative of specific climatic conditions. The differences in the morphologies of the Andean species indicate that palm phytolith analysis is particularly useful in paleoecological reconstructions. Future phytolith analyses will allow researchers to track how these palm species with limited environmental ranges have migrated up and down the Andean slopes as a result of past climatic change. The phytolith analyses can track local-scale vegetation dynamics, whereas pollen, which is commonly used in paleoecological reconstructions, reflects regional-scale vegetation change