Topology of random 2-complexes (Q664546): Difference between revisions

There is a probability space on which one can study the topology of random two-dimensional complexes. It is defined on the so-called Linial-Meshulam model of random 2-complexes, introduced in [\textit{N. Linial} and \textit{R. Meshulam}, Combinatorica 26, No. 4, 475--487 (2006; Zbl 1121.55013)] as a higher-dimensional analogue of the Erdös-Rényi model for random graphs [\textit{P. Erdös} and \textit{A. Rényi}, Publ. Math. Inst. Hung. Acad. Sci., Ser. A 5, 17--61 (1960; Zbl 0103.16301)]. In the paper under review, the authors study the probability measure on the Linial-Meshulam model. They prove that under some condition on the probability parameter, a random 2-complex collapses to a graph. They also give a precise threshold for the collapsibility of a random 2-complex to a graph in a prescribed number of steps. They then give a sufficient condition on the probability parameter under which an arbitrary finite 2-dimensional simplicial complex admits a topological embedding into a random 2-complex.