On \(\gamma \)-vectors satisfying the Kruskal-Katona inequalities (Q633200)

The Dehn-Sommerville equations for a \((d-1)\)-dimensional boundary complex \(\Delta\) of a simplicial \(d\)-polytope state that the \(h\)-vector \(\tilde{h} = (h_0,h_1,\ldots,h_d)\) of \(\Delta\) is symmetric, that is \(h_i = h_{d-i}\) for each \(i\in \{0,1,\ldots, d\}\). The symmetry of \(\tilde{h}\) implies that the \(h\)-polynomial \(h(t) = \sum_{i=0}^dh_it^i\) can be written as \(h(t) = \sum_{1=0}^{\lfloor d/2\rfloor}\gamma_it^i(1+t)^{d-2i}\) where \(\tilde{\gamma} = (\gamma_0, \gamma_1,\ldots, \gamma_{\lfloor d/2\rfloor})\) is an integer vector, called the \textit{\(\gamma\)-vector} of \(\Delta\). One of the main results of this paper states that if \(\Delta\) is a {\parindent=7mm \begin{itemize}\item[(i)]Coxeter complex, \item[(ii)]the simplicial complex dual to the associahedron, or \item[(iii)]the simplicial complex dual to the cyclohedron, \end{itemize}} then the \(\gamma\)-vector of \(\Delta\) satisfies the \textit{Kruskal-Katona inequalities}, that is \(\gamma_0 = 1\), \(\gamma_i\geq 0\) and \(\gamma_{i+1}\leq \gamma_i^{(i)}\) for all \(i\). (\textit{Note!} The paper defines the \(f\)-vector in a non-standard way; hence this non-standard form of the Kruskal-Katona inequalities.) This is shown by constructing for each such \(\Delta\) a simplicial complex whose faces correspond to the combinatorial objects enumerated by \(\tilde{\gamma}\). These three mentioned types of simplicial complexes are each a special type of \textit{flag homology spheres}. The other main result of this paper is that if \(\Delta\) is a \((d-1)\)-dimensional flag homology sphere with at most \(2d+3\) vertices (i.e., \(\gamma_1\leq 3\)), then \(\tilde{\gamma}\) satisfies the Kruskal-Katona inequalities. Moreover all possible polynomials \(\sum_{i=0}^{\lfloor d/2\rfloor}\gamma_it^i\) with \(\gamma_1\leq 3\), except for \(1+3t+3t^2\), are \(\gamma\)-polynomials \(\sum_{i=0}^{\lfloor d/2\rfloor}\gamma_i(\Delta)t^i\) for some flag sphere \(\Delta\). Using a result of \textit{A. Frohmader}, [``Face vectors of flag complexes'', Isr. J. Math. 164, 153--164 (2008; Zbl 1246.05115)] a strengthening of the first main result can be obtained to show that for each of the three types of simplicial complexes (i), (ii), and (iii) mentioned here above, the \(\gamma\)-vector satisfies the stronger \textit{Frank-Füredi-Kalai inequalities} [\textit{P. Frankl, Z. Füredi} and \textit{G. Kalai}, ``Shadows of colored complexes'', Math. Scand. 63, No.~2, 169--178 (1988; Zbl 0651.05003)]. The authors then conjecture that the \(\gamma\)-vector of flag homology spheres always satisfies the Frank-Füredi-Kalai inequalities.