Deletion and contraction in configuration spaces of graphs (Q2070109)

For every graph \(\Gamma\) (a finite 1-dimensional CW-complex), denote the configuration space of \(n\) distinct points on \(\Gamma\) by \[ Conf_n(\Gamma):=\{(x_1,\dots,x_n)\in \Gamma^n\mid x_i\ne x_j \mbox{ for all } i<j \}. \] The authors provide space level maps between such configuration spaces corresponding to deletion and contraction of edges in the graph, and discuss some applications of these constructions.\par Here is a list of applications, and some results or conjectures made by the authors. \textbf{Application 1. Long Exact Sequence in K-theory and generalized cohomology} Here the authors get the theorem: \textbf{Theorem:} Let \(\gamma\) be a graph and fix a vertex \(v\in V(\Gamma)\) along with a set of half edges \(H=\{h_1,\dots,h_r\}\) incident on \(v\). For every generalized cohomology theory \(E\), one has a long exact sequence, compatible with cohomology operations and natural with respect to graph embeddings and automorphisms \begin{align*} \cdots\rightarrow E^i(\text{UConf}_n(\Gamma\setminus \bigcup H))&\xrightarrow{\oplus(add_v^*-add_h^*)}E^i(\text{UConf}_{n-1}(\Gamma\setminus\{v\}))^{\oplus |H|}\\ &\xrightarrow{d}E^{i+1}(\text{UConf}_n(\Gamma))\xrightarrow{\iota_H^*}E^{i+1}(\text{UConf}_n(\Gamma\setminus\bigcup H)))\rightarrow\cdots \end{align*} \textbf{Application 2: Contraction maps on graph braid groups} The edge contraction maps between configuration spaces are associated with well defined homomorphisms between the respective fundamental groups -- the so-called graph braid groups. The author's explicit space level construction of maps provides a way to study the induced maps on \(\pi_1\) directly. \textbf{Problem:} Describe the edge contraction homomorphism between graph braid groups, e.g. with respect to the Farley-Sabalka presentation of tree braid groups. \textbf{Conjecture (finite generation of LCS quotients)} Every successive quotient of the \textit{LCS}, \(\gamma_i\pi(-)\setminus\gamma_{i+1}\pi(-)\), forms a finitely generated representation of the opposite graph-minor category. \textbf{Application 3: Finite generation for generalized homology theories} \textbf{Theorem:} Let \(E\) be any connective multiplicative generalized homology theory such that its coefficient ring \(E_*\) is Noetherian. Then, for every \(i\in \mathbb{Z}\), the functor \[ \Gamma\mapsto E_i(UConf_n(\Gamma)) \] is a finitely generated representation of the opposite graph-minor category. \textbf{Conjecture:} For every fixed \(n\), the dual of the Grothendieck group of vector bundles over configuration spaces of graphs \[ \Gamma\mapsto Hom_{\mathbb{Z}}(K^0(UConf_n(\Gamma)),\mathbb{Z}) \] is generated by finitely many functions on vector bundles under deletion and contraction.