Asymmetric structures, types, and indicator polynomials (Q1313380)

The author considers asymmetric combinatorial structures, i.e. with trivial automorphism groups (identity). A family of such structures is counted with an asymmetry indicator series; formal power series operations on asymmetry indicator series correspond to combinatorial operations performed on related families of structures. The coefficients of the asymmetry indicator series are computed explicitly by applying Möbius inversion techniques on lattices related to the group action. Furthermore, connections between asymmetry indicator series and cycle indicator series are explained; to compute the coefficients of the cycle indicator series the generalized \(\Phi\)-function is used instead of the Möbius valuation. The paper combines the species-theoretic and categorical methods of Joyal and Labelle with the Möbius-theoretic and lattice-theoretic techniques of Rota and Smith and is a valuable contribution to the asymmetric indicator theory.