Generalized chromatic functions (Q6623552)

In this paper, the authors define vertex-colourings for edge-partitioned digraphs, which unify the theory of \(P\)-partitions and proper vertex-colourings of graphs and use these vertex-colourings to define generalized chromatic functions, which merge the chromatic symmetric and quasisymmetric functions of graphs and generating functions of \(P\)-partitions. Note that many classical bases of symmetric and quasisymmetric functions, both in commuting and noncommuting variables, can be realized as special cases of their generalized chromatic functions. Product and coproduct formulas are established for these functions. It is shown that several bases for symmetric functions in noncommuting variables are the symmetrizations of certain generalized chromatic functions and several bases for quasisymmetric functions in noncommuting variables are given, including their fundamental basis, which contains the fundamental basis of the Malvenuto-Reutenauer Hopf algebra. The authors conclude by showing that the set of \(r\)-quasisymmetric functions in noncommuting variables is a Hopf algebra and constructing the \(r\)-dominant monomial and upper-fundamental bases of the Hopf algebra of \(r\)-quasisymmetric functions in noncommuting variables.