A positivity phenomenon in Elser's Gaussian-cluster percolation model
Department
Mathematics
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
4-1-2021
Abstract
Veit Elser proposed a random graph model for percolation in which physical dimension appears as a parameter. Studying this model combinatorially leads naturally to the consideration of numerical graph invariants which we call Elser numbers elsk(G), where G is a connected graph and k a nonnegative integer. Elser had proven that els1(G)=0 for all G. By interpreting the Elser numbers as reduced Euler characteristics of appropriate simplicial complexes called nucleus complexes, we prove that for all graphs G, they are nonpositive when k=0 and nonnegative for k⩾2. The last result confirms a conjecture of Elser. Furthermore, we give necessary and sufficient conditions, in terms of the 2-connected structure of G, for the nonvanishing of the Elser numbers.
Journal Title
Journal of Combinatorial Theory. Series A
Journal ISSN
00973165
Volume
179
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.1016/j.jcta.2020.105364