On posets and Hopf algebras (Q1915391)

Given the collection of types \(\overline{P}\) of finite posets \(P\) with elements \(\widehat{0}\) and \(\widehat{1}\), the linear space \(I\) over a field \(K\) whose basis is the set of types is in a natural way an algebra, if \(\overline{P}\otimes\overline{Q}=\overline{P\otimes Q}\), where \(P\otimes Q\) is the product poset, extended linearly. If \(\Delta:I\to I\otimes I\) is defined as \(\Delta(\overline{P})=\sum_{x\in P}[\widehat{o},x]\otimes\overline{[x,\widehat{i}]}=\sum_{\overline{P}}\overline{P}_{(1)}\otimes\overline{P}_{(2)}\), with \([a,b]=\{x\in P\mid a\leq x\leq b\}\) and if \(\varepsilon(\overline{P})=1\) if \(\overline{P}=1\) (i.e., \(\widehat{0}=\widehat{1}\)), \(\varepsilon(\overline{P})=0\) otherwise, then it is a bialgebra, where if \(S:I\to I\) is recursively defined by \(\varepsilon(\overline{P})\otimes 1=\sum_{P}S(\overline{P}_{(1)})\otimes\overline{P}_{(2)}\), the resulting structure is a Hopf algebra where \(\mu(P)\), the Moebius function of \(P\) is \(\varphi(S(\overline{P}))\), when \(\varphi(\overline{P})=1\) for all types, extended linearly over the entire algebra \(I\) of course. The construction suggests \(I\) should be combinatorially nice and the author's observations support this assertion. Thus, he introduces a second Hopf algebra of quasisymmetric functions and an assignment \(P\to F(P)\) as well as another assignment \(P\to\omega(F(P))=\widetilde{F}(P)\), where \(\omega\) is an involution homomorphism. Furthermore, \(K[x]\) is a Hopf-algebra by \(\Delta(p(x))=p(x\otimes 1+1\otimes x)\), \(\varepsilon(p(x))=p(0)\), \(S(p(x))=p(-x)\), and \(\Psi(F(P))=Z(P)\), the well-known Zeta polynomial of \(P\) via another natural Hopf algebra homomorphism \(\Psi\) from the quasisymmetric functions (and not \(I\)) to \(K[x]\). It is shown that the set of ideas and constructions above may be extended in a natural way to the class of hierarchical simplicial complexes. The arguments presented once again provide supporting evidence of the importance of Hopf algebras in formalizing important aspects of algebraic combinatorics in the tradition of Rota, Stanley and others.