Fat-wedge filtration and decomposition of polyhedral products (Q2312757)

Let \(K\) be a finite simplicial complex with vertex set \([m]=\{1,\dots,m\}\). For a sequence \((X_i,A_i)\) of pairs of spaces indexed by \(i\in[m]\), the polyhedral product \(\mathcal{Z}_K(X,A)\) is defined as \(\bigcup_{\sigma\in K}(X,A)^\sigma\), where \((X,A)^\sigma=Y_1\times\cdots\times Y_m\subset X_1\times\cdots\times X_m\); here \(Y_i=X_i\) if \(i\in\sigma\) and \(Y_i=A_i\) if \(i\not\in\sigma\). This technical construction is interesting since, e.g., moment angle complexes, arrangements of real coordinate subspaces and their complements arise as special cases; moreover, cohomology rings and fundamental groups of polyhedral products occur in commutative algebra and geometric group theory. The authors obtain general structural information about the homotopy types of polyhedral products, strengthening results of Bahri, Bendersky, Cohen, and Gitler [\textit{A. Bahri} et al., Adv. Math. 225, No. 3, 1634--1668 (2010; Zbl 1197.13021)]. The main focus is on the case where each \(X_i\) is a cone over the base space \(A_i\). In a second train of thought the authors investigate what happens if the Alexander dual of \(K\) satisfies certain combinatorial properties (e.g., shellability) which imply (sequential) Cohen-Macaulayness.