Integral homology of random simplicial complexes (Q1702348)

From MaRDI portal
scientific article
Language Label Description Also known as
English
Integral homology of random simplicial complexes
scientific article

    Statements

    Integral homology of random simplicial complexes (English)
    0 references
    0 references
    0 references
    28 February 2018
    0 references
    The authors prove that the 1-dimensional homology over \(\mathbb Z\) of the random 2-dimensional simplicial complex on \(n\) vertices vanishes asymptotically almost surely (a.a.s.), i.e. with probability 1 as \( n \rightarrow \infty\), at the moment when each edge is covered by a triangular face. The complex in question is constructed from the complete graph on \(n\) vertices by adding a new triangular face uniformly with probability \(p\). This extends a result of \textit{M. Kahle} and \textit{B. Pittel} [Random Struct. Algorithms 48, No. 1, 102--124 (2016; Zbl 1333.05272)] who proved the analogous result for the 1-dimensional homology over \(\mathbb Z_2\). The desired property is equivalent to the vanishing of the homology over \(\mathbb Z_p\) for each prime. The authors first observe that a result of \textit{G. Kalai} [Isr. J. Math. 45, 337--351 (1983; Zbl 0535.57011)] allows them to restrict their attention to only a finite set of primes \(p\). They then observe that the desired result is equivalent to the property that each triangular face has a null-homotopic boundary. They then carefully study the set of such triangles, the so-called shadow, and show that with very high probability, the size of the shadow increases quickly in the random complex. This result allows them to completely conclude their desired result.
    0 references
    0 references
    random simplicial complex
    0 references
    integral homology
    0 references
    homology shadow
    0 references
    hitting time
    0 references
    0 references
    0 references