Homology of configuration spaces of hard squares in a rectangle

DOI10.2140/AGT.2023.23.2593MaRDI QIDQ6148482FDO

Authors Hannah Alpert, Ulrich Bauer, Matthew Kahle, Robert MacPherson, Kelly Spendlove

Publication date 11 January 2024

Published in Algebraic \& Geometric Topology (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/2010.14480

zbMATH Keywords

configuration spaceshomologystatistical mechanics

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Phase transitions (general) in equilibrium statistical mechanics (82B26) Discriminantal varieties and configuration spaces in algebraic topology (55R80) Discrete Morse theory and related ideas in manifold topology (57Q70)

Abstract: We study ordered configuration spaces $C(n;p,q)$ of $n$ hard squares in a $pimesq$ rectangle, a generalization of the well-known "15 Puzzle". Our main interest is in the topology of these spaces. Our first result is to describe a cubical cell complex and prove that is homotopy equivalent to the configuration space. We then focus on determining for which $n$, $j$, $p$, and $q$ the homology group $H_j[C(n;p,q)]$ is nontrivial. We prove three homology-vanishing theorems, based on discrete Morse theory on the cell complex. Then we describe several explicit families of nontrivial cycles, and a method for interpolating between parameters to fill in most of the picture for "large-scale" nontrivial homology.

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Cites work

• A computational framework for connection matrix theory
• Configuration spaces of disks in an infinite strip
• Configuration spaces of squares in a rectangle
• Distributed computation of persistent homology
• Min-type Morse theory for configuration spaces of hard spheres
• Morse theory for cell complexes
• Restricting cohomology classes to disk and segment configuration spaces

Cited in

(2)

• The topological complexity of the ordered configuration space of disks in a strip
• Configuration spaces of disks in a strip, twisted algebras, persistence, and other stories

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