Generalized 1-skeleta and a lifting result (Q393731)

Suppose that \(\Gamma\) is a \(d\)-valent graph. That is, each vertex \(p\) of \(\Gamma\) has exactly \(d\) edges that originate at \(p\). A connection on \(\Gamma\) is a collection of bijections \(\theta_e\), one for each edge \(e=\overline{pq}\), that map an edge originating at \(p\) to an edge originating at \(q\). Let \(\alpha\) be a map that assigns an \(n\)-dimensional vector to each edge of \(\Gamma\). One says that \(\alpha\) is \(k\)-independent if every subset of \(k\) edges that originate from a common vertex maps under \(\alpha\) to a linearly independent set of vectors. The function \(\alpha\) is an axial function for \((\Gamma,\theta)\) if (1) it is two-independent, and (2) for all distinct edges \(e,e^\prime\) that originate from the same vertex, there exists a positive number \(\lambda_e(e^\prime)\) such that the vector \(\alpha(e^\prime)-\lambda_e(e^\prime)\alpha(\theta_e(e^\prime))\) is parallel to \(\alpha(e)\). The numbers \(\lambda_e(e^\prime)\) form a compatibility system, and are uniquely determined by the connection and the axial function. The graph \(\Gamma\) is a 1-skeleton if it is \(d\)-valent and comes equipped with a connection and an axial function. Such graphs arise in the study of GKM manifolds, and were investigated extensively by \textit{V. Guillemin} and \textit{C. Zara} in [Duke Math. J. 107, No. 2, 283--349 (2001; Zbl 1020.57013)]. The author of the article defines a generalized 1-skeleton by removing axiom (1) from the above definition of an axial function, and postulating the existence of a compatibility system. Many of the constructions of Guillemin and Zara [loc. cit.] for 1-skeleta, specifically blow-ups and cross-sections, are extended to generalized 1-skeleta. As an application, necessary and sufficient conditions are given for a \(d\)-valent 1-skeleton to be the projection of a \(d\)-valent 1-skeleton whose axial function is \(d\)-independent. Necessary and sufficient conditions are also given for a \(d\)-valent 1-skeleton to be the 1-skeleton of a projected simple polytope.