Flag-symmetric and locally rank-symmetric partially ordered sets (Q1918881)

If \(P\) is a finite graded rank \(n\) poset with \(\rho(\widehat 0)=1\), \(\rho(\widehat 1)=n\), \(\rho(s,t)=\rho(t)-\rho(s)\), when \(s\leq t\) in \(P\), then \(F_p(x)=\sum x^{\rho(t_0,t_1)}\cdots x^{\rho(t_{k-1}t_k)}\) for \(\widehat 0=t_1\leq t_2\leq\cdots\leq t_{k-1}\leq t_k=\widehat 1\) can be used to encode much information about \(P\) which may be recovered in its manipulation. If \(F_p(x)\) is a symmetric function of \(x\), then \(P\) is a flag-symmetric poset, since in particular \(F_p(x)=\sum\alpha_p(S_\lambda)m_\lambda\), where if \(\lambda=\{\lambda_1,\dots,\lambda_l\}\) partitions \(n\), \(S_\lambda=\{\lambda_1,\lambda_2,\dots,n-\lambda_l\}\), \(\alpha_p\) is the flag \(f\)-vector of \(P\) and \(m_\lambda\) denotes the monomial symmetric function corresponding to \(\lambda\). Thus, e.g., if \(L\) is a finite distributive lattice then \(L\) is flag-symmetric iff it is locally self-dual, iff it is locally rank-symmetric, iff it is a product of chains. If \(\widetilde\Delta(P)\) is the reduced order complex of \(P\), and if \(\Gamma\) is a subcomplex (corresponding to ideal), then \(\widetilde\Delta(P)/\Gamma\) is defined by excision as \(\{T\in \widetilde\Delta(P)\mid T\not\in\Gamma\}\) and \(F_{p/\Gamma}\), \(\alpha_{p/G}\) are defined in a natural way by restricting chains and counts to \(\widetilde\Delta(P)/\Gamma\). Then, it follows that a locally rank-symmetric simple \(P\)-cocomplex \(P/G_X\) is flag-symmetric and it is conjectured (via strong evidence) that if \(P/\Gamma\) is flag-symmetric and (locally) Cohen-Macaulay, then \(F_{p/\Gamma}\) is Schur-positive, i.e., \(F_{p/\Gamma}=\sum c_\lambda s_\lambda\) with \(c_\lambda>0\), and the \(s_\lambda\) are Schur functions, noting that this is related to the notion of being rank positive as well. Applying these results to special classes of lattices and other posets, e.g., finite modular lattices, \(q\)-primary lattices, and Eulerian posets (including face lattices of convex polytopes), allows the reconstruction of new results and others obtained elsewhere, including another definition of Kostka polynomials. Furthermore, local theory and a theory of relative lexicographic shellability fall quite naturally into this context, leading to alternative or shortened proofs of several other known results as well as a passel of interesting techniques and questions for those laboring in this rather fascinating portion of the mathematical garden.