We use the theory of hyperplane arrangements to construct natural bases for
the homology of partition lattices of types A, B and D. This extends and
explains the "splitting basis" for the homology of the partition lattice given
in [Wa96], thus answering a question asked by R. Stanley. More explicitly, the
following general technique is presented and utilized. Let A be a central and
essential hyperplane arrangement in R^d. Let R_1,...,R_k be the bounded regions
of a generic hyperplane section of A. We show that there are induced polytopal
cycles \rho_{R_i} in the homology of the proper part \bar{L_A} of the
intersection lattice such that {\rho_{R_i}}_{i=1,...,k} is a basis for \tilde
H_{d-2}(\bar{L_A}). This geometric method for constructing combinatorial
homology bases is applied to the Coxeter arrangements of types A, B and D, and
to some interpolating arrangements.Comment: 29 pages, 4 figure
