Moment-angle complexes of pairs \((D^n,S^{n-1})\) and simplicial complexes with vertex-decomposable duals (Q2255263)

In the paper under review, the authors study the generalized moment-angle complex or polyhedral complex \(Z_k(X,A)\) of a simplicial complex \(K\) with respect to a CW-pair \((X,A)\). The main result states that if \(K\) is a simplicial complex with respect to a vertex-decomposable Alexander dual complex \(K^{\circ}\), then the \(n\)-sphere moment-angle complex \(Z_k(D^n, S^{n-1})\) has the homotopy type of a wedge of spheres. The method of proof is combinatorial, using discrete Morse theory to realize critical cells that contribute to a sphere. Basic facts about vertex-decomposable simplicial complexes and polyhedral products are provided in Section 2 while Section 3 reviews discrete Morse theory from the acyclic matching point of view. The final section proves the main result as well as some interesting corollaries.