A characterization of homology manifolds with \(g_{2}\geq 2\) (Q2403716)

Let \(\Delta\) be a pure simplicial complex of dimension \(d-1\); i.e., a complex whose facets (maximal faces) all have dimension \(d-1\). It is \textit{prime} if it has no missing facets: any subset of vertices with size \(d\) whose proper subsets are all in \(\Delta\) is a facet of \(\Delta\). It is said to be a \textit{normal pseudomanifold} if it is connected, every face of dimension \(d-2\) is contained in exactly two facets, and the link of every face with dimension at most \(d-3\) is connected. The \(g\)-vector \((g_0,\dots,g_{\lfloor d/2\rfloor})\) is defined by \(g_0=0\) and \(g_i=h_i-h_{i-1}\), where \(h_i\) is the \(i\)-th component of the \(h\)-vector of \(\Delta\). It is known that for a normal pseudomanifold one has \(g_2\geq0\), and \(g_2=0\) if and only if it is a stacked \((d-1)\)-sphere: the connected sum of copies of the boundary of a \(d\)-simplex. The author classifies all prime normal pseudomanifolds \(\Delta\) for which \(g_2\leq 2\). In particular if \(g_2=1\), then it is the stellar subdivision of a stacked \((d-1)\)-sphere. And if \(g_2=2\), \(\Delta\) is obtained from a polytopal \((d-1)\)-sphere with \(g_2\in\{0,1\}\) by retriangulating along a stacked subcomplex.