Quasi-varieties, congruences, and generalized Dowling lattices (Q1898148)

The characteristic function \(\chi_L(\lambda)\) of a finite lattice \(L\) is defined in terms of the Möbius function \(u(x,y)\) of and an integer-valued rank function \(r\) on \(L\) by \[ \chi_L(\lambda) = \sum_{x\in L} u(0,x) \lambda^{r(1)-r(x)} \] where 0 and 1 are the bottom and the top element of \(L\). The results include formulas for the characteristic functions of the congruence lattice of free algebras in various varieties of algebras. Generalized Dowling lattices can be viewed as congruence lattices for certain quasi-varieties. This leads to multivariable polynomials that specialize to characteristic functions when the variables are suitably identified.