The algebraic geometry of Kazhdan-Lusztig-Stanley polynomials (Q1755916)

Kazhdan-Lusztig-polynomials \(P_{x,y}(t)\) are associated with two elements \(x,y\) of a given Coxeter group. They find interpretations in combinatorics (poset-recursion), algebra (entries of a transition matrix between two natural bases of the associated Hecke algebra), geometry (Poincaré polynomial of a stalk of the intersection cohomology sheaf on a Schubert variety in the corresponding flag variety), representation theory (the coefficients are the dimensions of certain Ext groups). The combinatorial definition of Kazhdan-Lusztig polynomials is generalized to more general posets by Stanley, the resulting polynomial is called the Kazhdan-Lusztig-Stanley polynomial. The paper under review is an accessible, beautifully written survey of these polynomials, and their role in geometry. More precisely, consider the following two classes of KLS polynomials: the \(g\)-polynomial of a rational polytope, and the KL polynomial of a hyperplane arrangement. These have geometric interpretations as Poincaré polynomials of stalks of certain intersection cohomology sheafs of an associated geometric object. This result has been known before, but this paper gives a unified proof, which also clarifies which ingredients are needed for the proof. Moreover, the author introduces a generalization of KLS polynomials called Z-polynomials. They take into account the poset structure as well as the opposite poset structure, or in other words, both right and left KLS polynomials. Geometric interpretations of Z-polynomials analogous to the ones mentioned above for KLS polynomials are proved.