On independent GKM-graphs without nontrivial extensions (Q6070437)

A GKM manifold \(M^{2n}\) is a manifold with an effective action of a torus \(T^k\) such that \begin{itemize} \item[1.] The torus action is equivariantly formal. \item[2.] The fixed point set consists of isolated points. \item[3.] The weights of the isotropy representations at the fixed points are \(j\)-independent for some \(j\geq 2\), i.e. any \(j\) of them are linearly independent. \end{itemize} To such a torus action one can associate a so called \(j\)-independent \((n,k)\)-type GKM graph. By results in [\textit{M. Goresky} et al., Invent. Math. 131, No. 1, 25--83 (1998; Zbl 0897.22009)] this graph determines the equivariant cohomology ring of \(M\). When the GKM graph is \(j\)-independent, then the fixed point components \(N\) of every codimension-\((j-1)\) subtorus of \(T^k\) is a torus manifold of dimension atmost \(2j-2\). In particular, the orbit space \(N/T\) is acyclic. The orbit space \(N/T\) is also called a face of the orbit space \(M/T\). There is also the notion of an abstract \(j\)-independent \((n,k)\)-type GKM graph (see [\textit{V. Guillemin} and \textit{C. Zara}, Duke Math. J. 107, No. 2, 283--349 (2001; Zbl 1020.57013)]). The main result of the paper is as follows. Theorem. For any \(n\geq k\geq 2\) there is an abstract \((n,k)\)-type GKM graph \(\Gamma\) such that \begin{itemize} \item[1.] \(\Gamma\) is \(k\)-independent. \item[2.] \(\Gamma\) does not have a non-trivial extension in the sense of Kuroki. \item[3.] \(\Gamma\) cannot be realized by a GKM-action on a manifold if \(n=k=3\) or \(n\geq k\geq 4\). \end{itemize} These graphs are constructed explicitly. Property (1) follows directly from the construction. Condition (2) is detected by finding a face of the graph with a chord, i.e. an edge which is transversal to the face and connects to vertices of the face. Condition (3) is proved by computing the Euler characteristic of a face of the orbit space of a potential realization from combinatorial data.