Separating maps of the lattice \(E_8\) and triangulations of the eight-dimensional torus (Q1569854)

\textit{W. Kühnel} and \textit{G. Lassmann} constructed in [Discrete Comput. Geom. 3, 169-176 (1988; Zbl 0634.52008)] a series of combinatorial \(d\)-tori with \(2^{d+1}-1\) vertices. For \(d=2\) their example is Möbius's unique minimal \(7\)-vertex triangulation of the \(2\)-dimensional torus. In higher dimensions it is not clear whether \(2^{d+1}-1\) vertices is best possible for a triangulation of \({\mathbb T}^d\). However, the second author showed in [Geom. Dedicata 69, No. 2, 121-139 (1998; Zbl 0898.52005)] that there is a second triangulation of the \(4\)-dimensional torus with \(31\) vertices, different from that by Kühnel and Lassmann. In this paper, the authors give new triangulations of the \(8\)-torus with \(511\) vertices. Their construction is based on the lattice \(E_8\) and on so-called separating maps, i.e., particular group homomorphisms from the lattice to \({\mathbb Z}/511{\mathbb Z}\) that take distinct values on the elements of the root system. For every separating map the corresponding quotient determines a polyhedral decomposition of the \(8\)-torus with \(511\) vertices and with simplical and crosspolytopal facets. By computer enumeration the authors found 26 separating maps, and for 25 of them it is possible to get induced triangulations of \({\mathbb T}^8\).