Pub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-08-18DOI: 10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106101
Yannik Eikmeier, Pamela Fleischmann, Mitja Kulczynski, Dirk Nowotka, Max Wiedenhöft
A prefix normal word is a binary word whose prefixes contain at least as many 1s as any of its factors of the same length. Introduced by Fici and Lipták in 2011, the notion of prefix normality has been, thus far, only defined for words over the binary alphabet. In this work we investigate a generalisation for finite words over arbitrary finite alphabets, namely weighted prefix normality. We prove that weighted prefix normality is more expressive than binary prefix normality. Furthermore, we investigate the existence of a weighted prefix normal form, since weighted prefix normality comes with several new peculiarities that did not already occur in the binary case. We characterise these issues and finally present a standard technique to obtain a generalised prefix normal form for all words over arbitrary, finite alphabets. Additionally, we show a collection of results for the language of those prefix normal forms and extend the connection to Lyndon words and pre-necklaces to the general alphabet.
{"title":"Weighted prefix normal words","authors":"Yannik Eikmeier, Pamela Fleischmann, Mitja Kulczynski, Dirk Nowotka, Max Wiedenhöft","doi":"10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106101","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106101","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A prefix normal word is a binary word whose prefixes contain at least as many 1s as any of its factors of the same length. Introduced by Fici and Lipták in 2011, the notion of prefix normality has been, thus far, only defined for words over the binary alphabet. In this work we investigate a generalisation for finite words over arbitrary finite alphabets, namely weighted prefix normality. We prove that weighted prefix normality is more expressive than binary prefix normality. Furthermore, we investigate the existence of a weighted prefix normal form, since weighted prefix normality comes with several new peculiarities that did not already occur in the binary case. We characterise these issues and finally present a standard technique to obtain a generalised prefix normal form for all words over arbitrary, finite alphabets. Additionally, we show a collection of results for the language of those prefix normal forms and extend the connection to Lyndon words and pre-necklaces to the general alphabet.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50230,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Combinatorial Theory Series A","volume":"217 ","pages":"Article 106101"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144860902","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"数学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-09-02DOI: 10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106106
Renrong Mao
Let denote the smallest parts function associated with . Congruences for modulo 5 are first obtained by Andrews, Dixit and Yee. Later, Wang and Yang established two families of congruences for modulo powers of 5. More recently, Smoot provided another proof of these congruences and both of the two proofs utilize the Atkin operator . In this paper, applying the Hecke operators, we obtain congruences for modulo powers of primes .
{"title":"Congruences for the smallest parts function associated with ω(q)","authors":"Renrong Mao","doi":"10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106106","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106106","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Let <span><math><msub><mrow><mtext>spt</mtext></mrow><mrow><mi>ω</mi></mrow></msub><mo>(</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>)</mo></math></span> denote the smallest parts function associated with <span><math><mi>ω</mi><mo>(</mo><mi>q</mi><mo>)</mo></math></span>. Congruences for <span><math><msub><mrow><mtext>spt</mtext></mrow><mrow><mi>ω</mi></mrow></msub><mo>(</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>)</mo></math></span> modulo 5 are first obtained by Andrews, Dixit and Yee. Later, Wang and Yang established two families of congruences for <span><math><msub><mrow><mtext>spt</mtext></mrow><mrow><mi>ω</mi></mrow></msub><mo>(</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>)</mo></math></span> modulo powers of 5. More recently, Smoot provided another proof of these congruences and both of the two proofs utilize the Atkin operator <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>U</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>5</mn></mrow></msub></math></span>. In this paper, applying the Hecke operators, we obtain congruences for <span><math><msub><mrow><mtext>spt</mtext></mrow><mrow><mi>ω</mi></mrow></msub><mo>(</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>)</mo></math></span> modulo powers of primes <span><math><mi>ℓ</mi><mo>≥</mo><mn>5</mn></math></span>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50230,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Combinatorial Theory Series A","volume":"217 ","pages":"Article 106106"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144924719","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"数学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-06-04DOI: 10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106077
Yanru Chen , Houshan Fu , Suijie Wang , Jinxing Yang
<div><div>This paper primarily investigates a specific type of deformation of the braid arrangement in <span><math><msup><mrow><mi>R</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow></msup></math></span>, denoted by <span><math><msubsup><mrow><mi>A</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>A</mi></mrow></msubsup></math></span>. Let <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>r</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>l</mi></mrow></msub><mo>(</mo><msubsup><mrow><mi>A</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>A</mi></mrow></msubsup><mo>)</mo></math></span> be the number of regions of level <em>l</em> in <span><math><msubsup><mrow><mi>A</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>A</mi></mrow></msubsup></math></span> and <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>R</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>l</mi></mrow></msub><mo>(</mo><mi>A</mi><mo>;</mo><mi>x</mi><mo>)</mo></math></span> the corresponding exponential generating function. Using the weighted digraph model introduced by Hetyei, we establish a bijection between regions of level <em>l</em> in <span><math><msubsup><mrow><mi>A</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>A</mi></mrow></msubsup></math></span> and valid <em>m</em>-acyclic weighted digraphs on the vertex set <span><math><mo>[</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>]</mo></math></span> with exactly <em>l</em> strong components. Based on this bijection, we obtain that the sequence <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>R</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>1</mn></mrow></msub><mo>(</mo><mi>A</mi><mo>;</mo><mi>x</mi><mo>)</mo><mo>,</mo><msub><mrow><mi>R</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></msub><mo>(</mo><mi>A</mi><mo>;</mo><mi>x</mi><mo>)</mo><mo>,</mo><mo>⋯</mo></math></span> is of binomial type. In addition, the values <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>r</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>l</mi></mrow></msub><mo>(</mo><msubsup><mrow><mi>A</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>A</mi></mrow></msubsup><mo>)</mo></math></span> provide a combinatorial interpretation for the coefficients when the characteristic polynomial of <span><math><msubsup><mrow><mi>A</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>A</mi></mrow></msubsup></math></span> is expanded in terms of <span><math><mo>(</mo><mtable><mtr><mtd><mi>t</mi></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mi>l</mi></mtd></mtr></mtable><mo>)</mo></math></span>. In particular, if <span><math><mi>n</mi><mo>≥</mo><mn>2</mn></math></span> and <span><math><mi>A</mi><mo>=</mo><mo>[</mo><mo>−</mo><mi>a</mi><mo>,</mo><mi>b</mi><mo>]</mo><mo>∩</mo><mi>Z</mi></math></span> for non-negative integers <em>a</em> and <em>b</em> with <span><math><mi>b</mi><mo>−</mo><mi>a</mi><mo>≥</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></math></span>, we show that the characteristic polynomial of <span><math><msubsup><mrow><mi>A</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>A</mi></mrow></msubsup></math></span> has a single real root 0 of multiplicity one when <em>n</em> is odd, and has one more real root <span><math><mfrac><mrow><mi>n</mi><mo>(</mo><mi>a</mi><mo>+</mo><mi>b</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>)</mo></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></mfrac></math></span> of multiplicity one whe
{"title":"Level of regions for deformed braid arrangements","authors":"Yanru Chen , Houshan Fu , Suijie Wang , Jinxing Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106077","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106077","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper primarily investigates a specific type of deformation of the braid arrangement in <span><math><msup><mrow><mi>R</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow></msup></math></span>, denoted by <span><math><msubsup><mrow><mi>A</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>A</mi></mrow></msubsup></math></span>. Let <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>r</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>l</mi></mrow></msub><mo>(</mo><msubsup><mrow><mi>A</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>A</mi></mrow></msubsup><mo>)</mo></math></span> be the number of regions of level <em>l</em> in <span><math><msubsup><mrow><mi>A</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>A</mi></mrow></msubsup></math></span> and <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>R</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>l</mi></mrow></msub><mo>(</mo><mi>A</mi><mo>;</mo><mi>x</mi><mo>)</mo></math></span> the corresponding exponential generating function. Using the weighted digraph model introduced by Hetyei, we establish a bijection between regions of level <em>l</em> in <span><math><msubsup><mrow><mi>A</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>A</mi></mrow></msubsup></math></span> and valid <em>m</em>-acyclic weighted digraphs on the vertex set <span><math><mo>[</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>]</mo></math></span> with exactly <em>l</em> strong components. Based on this bijection, we obtain that the sequence <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>R</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>1</mn></mrow></msub><mo>(</mo><mi>A</mi><mo>;</mo><mi>x</mi><mo>)</mo><mo>,</mo><msub><mrow><mi>R</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></msub><mo>(</mo><mi>A</mi><mo>;</mo><mi>x</mi><mo>)</mo><mo>,</mo><mo>⋯</mo></math></span> is of binomial type. In addition, the values <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>r</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>l</mi></mrow></msub><mo>(</mo><msubsup><mrow><mi>A</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>A</mi></mrow></msubsup><mo>)</mo></math></span> provide a combinatorial interpretation for the coefficients when the characteristic polynomial of <span><math><msubsup><mrow><mi>A</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>A</mi></mrow></msubsup></math></span> is expanded in terms of <span><math><mo>(</mo><mtable><mtr><mtd><mi>t</mi></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mi>l</mi></mtd></mtr></mtable><mo>)</mo></math></span>. In particular, if <span><math><mi>n</mi><mo>≥</mo><mn>2</mn></math></span> and <span><math><mi>A</mi><mo>=</mo><mo>[</mo><mo>−</mo><mi>a</mi><mo>,</mo><mi>b</mi><mo>]</mo><mo>∩</mo><mi>Z</mi></math></span> for non-negative integers <em>a</em> and <em>b</em> with <span><math><mi>b</mi><mo>−</mo><mi>a</mi><mo>≥</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></math></span>, we show that the characteristic polynomial of <span><math><msubsup><mrow><mi>A</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>A</mi></mrow></msubsup></math></span> has a single real root 0 of multiplicity one when <em>n</em> is odd, and has one more real root <span><math><mfrac><mrow><mi>n</mi><mo>(</mo><mi>a</mi><mo>+</mo><mi>b</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>)</mo></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></mfrac></math></span> of multiplicity one whe","PeriodicalId":50230,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Combinatorial Theory Series A","volume":"217 ","pages":"Article 106077"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144212707","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"数学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-08-14DOI: 10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106100
Peter Frankl , Jian Wang
Let denote the power set of the n-set . For positive integers , let denote the maximum of for a family satisfying and for all . The exact value of has been known for half a century in the case or . Bang, Sharp and Winkler determined it in the case . The aim of the present paper is to establish the exact value of for and also for .
{"title":"Intersection-union families","authors":"Peter Frankl , Jian Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106100","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106100","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Let <span><math><msup><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow><mrow><mo>[</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>]</mo></mrow></msup></math></span> denote the power set of the <em>n</em>-set <span><math><mo>[</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>]</mo><mo>=</mo><mo>{</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>,</mo><mn>2</mn><mo>,</mo><mo>…</mo><mo>,</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>}</mo></math></span>. For positive integers <span><math><mi>n</mi><mo>,</mo><mi>p</mi><mo>,</mo><mi>q</mi></math></span>, <span><math><mi>n</mi><mo>≥</mo><mi>p</mi><mo>+</mo><mi>q</mi></math></span> let <span><math><mi>m</mi><mo>(</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>,</mo><mi>p</mi><mo>,</mo><mi>q</mi><mo>)</mo></math></span> denote the maximum of <span><math><mo>|</mo><mi>F</mi><mo>|</mo></math></span> for a family <span><math><mi>F</mi><mo>⊂</mo><msup><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow><mrow><mo>[</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>]</mo></mrow></msup></math></span> satisfying <span><math><mo>|</mo><mi>F</mi><mo>∩</mo><mi>G</mi><mo>|</mo><mo>≥</mo><mi>p</mi></math></span> and <span><math><mo>|</mo><mi>F</mi><mo>∪</mo><mi>G</mi><mo>|</mo><mo>≤</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mi>q</mi></math></span> for all <span><math><mi>F</mi><mo>,</mo><mi>G</mi><mo>∈</mo><mi>F</mi></math></span>. The exact value of <span><math><mi>m</mi><mo>(</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>,</mo><mi>p</mi><mo>,</mo><mi>q</mi><mo>)</mo></math></span> has been known for half a century in the case <span><math><mi>p</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>1</mn></math></span> or <span><math><mi>q</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>1</mn></math></span>. Bang, Sharp and Winkler determined it in the case <span><math><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mi>p</mi><mo>−</mo><mi>q</mi><mo>≤</mo><mn>3</mn></math></span>. The aim of the present paper is to establish the exact value of <span><math><mi>m</mi><mo>(</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>,</mo><mi>p</mi><mo>,</mo><mi>q</mi><mo>)</mo></math></span> for <span><math><mi>n</mi><mo>≥</mo><msup><mrow><mo>(</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mi>p</mi><mo>−</mo><mi>q</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>)</mo></mrow><mrow><mn>3</mn></mrow></msup></math></span> and also for <span><math><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mi>p</mi><mo>−</mo><mi>q</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>4</mn></math></span>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50230,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Combinatorial Theory Series A","volume":"217 ","pages":"Article 106100"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144831268","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"数学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-08-14DOI: 10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106098
Philipp Heering , Jesse Lansdown , Klaus Metsch
<div><div>A chamber of the vector space <span><math><msubsup><mrow><mi>F</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>q</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow></msubsup></math></span> is a set <span><math><mo>{</mo><msub><mrow><mi>S</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>1</mn></mrow></msub><mo>,</mo><mo>…</mo><mo>,</mo><msub><mrow><mi>S</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msub><mo>}</mo></math></span> of subspaces of <span><math><msubsup><mrow><mi>F</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>q</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow></msubsup></math></span> where <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>S</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>1</mn></mrow></msub><mo>⊂</mo><msub><mrow><mi>S</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></msub><mo>⊂</mo><mo>…</mo><mo>⊂</mo><msub><mrow><mi>S</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msub></math></span> and <span><math><mi>dim</mi><mo></mo><mo>(</mo><msub><mrow><mi>S</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>i</mi></mrow></msub><mo>)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>i</mi></math></span> for <span><math><mi>i</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>,</mo><mo>…</mo><mo>,</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></math></span>. By <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>Γ</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow></msub><mo>(</mo><mi>q</mi><mo>)</mo></math></span> we denote the graph whose vertices are the chambers of <span><math><msubsup><mrow><mi>F</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>q</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow></msubsup></math></span> with two chambers <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>C</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>1</mn></mrow></msub><mo>=</mo><mo>{</mo><msub><mrow><mi>S</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>1</mn></mrow></msub><mo>,</mo><mo>…</mo><mo>,</mo><msub><mrow><mi>S</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msub><mo>}</mo></math></span> and <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>C</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></msub><mo>=</mo><mo>{</mo><msub><mrow><mi>T</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>1</mn></mrow></msub><mo>,</mo><mo>…</mo><mo>,</mo><msub><mrow><mi>T</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msub><mo>}</mo></math></span> adjacent in <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>Γ</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow></msub><mo>(</mo><mi>q</mi><mo>)</mo></math></span>, if <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>S</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>i</mi></mrow></msub><mo>∩</mo><msub><mrow><mi>T</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mi>i</mi></mrow></msub><mo>=</mo><mo>{</mo><mn>0</mn><mo>}</mo></math></span> for <span><math><mi>i</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>,</mo><mo>…</mo><mo>,</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></math></span>. The Erdős-Ko-Rado problem on chambers is equivalent to determining the structure of independent sets of <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>Γ</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow></msub><mo>(</mo><mi>q</mi><mo>)</mo></math></span>. The independence number of this graph was determined in <span><span>[5]</span></span> for <em>n</em> even and given a subspace <em>P</em> of dimension one, the set of all chambers whose subspaces of dimension <span><math><mfrac><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></mfrac></math></span> contain <em>P</em> attains the bound. The dual example of course also attains th
{"title":"Maximum Erdős-Ko-Rado sets of chambers and their antidesigns in vector-spaces of even dimension","authors":"Philipp Heering , Jesse Lansdown , Klaus Metsch","doi":"10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106098","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106098","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A chamber of the vector space <span><math><msubsup><mrow><mi>F</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>q</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow></msubsup></math></span> is a set <span><math><mo>{</mo><msub><mrow><mi>S</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>1</mn></mrow></msub><mo>,</mo><mo>…</mo><mo>,</mo><msub><mrow><mi>S</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msub><mo>}</mo></math></span> of subspaces of <span><math><msubsup><mrow><mi>F</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>q</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow></msubsup></math></span> where <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>S</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>1</mn></mrow></msub><mo>⊂</mo><msub><mrow><mi>S</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></msub><mo>⊂</mo><mo>…</mo><mo>⊂</mo><msub><mrow><mi>S</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msub></math></span> and <span><math><mi>dim</mi><mo></mo><mo>(</mo><msub><mrow><mi>S</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>i</mi></mrow></msub><mo>)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>i</mi></math></span> for <span><math><mi>i</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>,</mo><mo>…</mo><mo>,</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></math></span>. By <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>Γ</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow></msub><mo>(</mo><mi>q</mi><mo>)</mo></math></span> we denote the graph whose vertices are the chambers of <span><math><msubsup><mrow><mi>F</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>q</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow></msubsup></math></span> with two chambers <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>C</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>1</mn></mrow></msub><mo>=</mo><mo>{</mo><msub><mrow><mi>S</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>1</mn></mrow></msub><mo>,</mo><mo>…</mo><mo>,</mo><msub><mrow><mi>S</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msub><mo>}</mo></math></span> and <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>C</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></msub><mo>=</mo><mo>{</mo><msub><mrow><mi>T</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>1</mn></mrow></msub><mo>,</mo><mo>…</mo><mo>,</mo><msub><mrow><mi>T</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msub><mo>}</mo></math></span> adjacent in <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>Γ</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow></msub><mo>(</mo><mi>q</mi><mo>)</mo></math></span>, if <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>S</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>i</mi></mrow></msub><mo>∩</mo><msub><mrow><mi>T</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mi>i</mi></mrow></msub><mo>=</mo><mo>{</mo><mn>0</mn><mo>}</mo></math></span> for <span><math><mi>i</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>,</mo><mo>…</mo><mo>,</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></math></span>. The Erdős-Ko-Rado problem on chambers is equivalent to determining the structure of independent sets of <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>Γ</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow></msub><mo>(</mo><mi>q</mi><mo>)</mo></math></span>. The independence number of this graph was determined in <span><span>[5]</span></span> for <em>n</em> even and given a subspace <em>P</em> of dimension one, the set of all chambers whose subspaces of dimension <span><math><mfrac><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></mfrac></math></span> contain <em>P</em> attains the bound. The dual example of course also attains th","PeriodicalId":50230,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Combinatorial Theory Series A","volume":"217 ","pages":"Article 106098"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144831267","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"数学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-06-18DOI: 10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106091
Xiongfeng Zhan, Xueyi Huang, Huiqiu Lin
As a generalization of graph Laplacians to higher dimensions, the combinatorial Laplacians of simplicial complexes have garnered increasing attention. Let X be a simplicial complex on n vertices, and let denote the set of all k-dimensional simplices of X. The k-th spectral gap is the smallest eigenvalue of the reduced k-dimensional Laplacian of X. For any , Lew (2020) [24] established a lower bound for : where and d denote the degree of σ in X and the maximal dimension of a missing face of X, respectively. In this paper, we identify the unique simplicial complex that achieves the lower bound of the k-th spectral gap, , for some k, thereby confirming a conjecture proposed by Lew.
{"title":"Proof of Lew's conjecture on the spectral gaps of simplicial complexes","authors":"Xiongfeng Zhan, Xueyi Huang, Huiqiu Lin","doi":"10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106091","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106091","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As a generalization of graph Laplacians to higher dimensions, the combinatorial Laplacians of simplicial complexes have garnered increasing attention. Let <em>X</em> be a simplicial complex on <em>n</em> vertices, and let <span><math><mi>X</mi><mo>(</mo><mi>k</mi><mo>)</mo></math></span> denote the set of all <em>k</em>-dimensional simplices of <em>X</em>. The <em>k</em>-th spectral gap <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>μ</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>k</mi></mrow></msub><mo>(</mo><mi>X</mi><mo>)</mo></math></span> is the smallest eigenvalue of the reduced <em>k</em>-dimensional Laplacian of <em>X</em>. For any <span><math><mi>k</mi><mo>≥</mo><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></math></span>, Lew (2020) <span><span>[24]</span></span> established a lower bound for <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>μ</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>k</mi></mrow></msub><mo>(</mo><mi>X</mi><mo>)</mo></math></span>:<span><span><span><math><msub><mrow><mi>μ</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>k</mi></mrow></msub><mo>(</mo><mi>X</mi><mo>)</mo><mo>≥</mo><mo>(</mo><mi>d</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>)</mo><mrow><mo>(</mo><munder><mi>min</mi><mrow><mi>σ</mi><mo>∈</mo><mi>X</mi><mo>(</mo><mi>k</mi><mo>)</mo></mrow></munder><mo></mo><msub><mrow><mi>deg</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>X</mi></mrow></msub><mo></mo><mo>(</mo><mi>σ</mi><mo>)</mo><mo>+</mo><mi>k</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>)</mo></mrow><mo>−</mo><mi>d</mi><mi>n</mi><mo>≥</mo><mo>(</mo><mi>d</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>)</mo><mo>(</mo><mi>k</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>)</mo><mo>−</mo><mi>d</mi><mi>n</mi><mo>,</mo></math></span></span></span> where <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>deg</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>X</mi></mrow></msub><mo></mo><mo>(</mo><mi>σ</mi><mo>)</mo></math></span> and <em>d</em> denote the degree of <em>σ</em> in <em>X</em> and the maximal dimension of a missing face of <em>X</em>, respectively. In this paper, we identify the unique simplicial complex that achieves the lower bound of the <em>k</em>-th spectral gap, <span><math><mo>(</mo><mi>d</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>)</mo><mo>(</mo><mi>k</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>)</mo><mo>−</mo><mi>d</mi><mi>n</mi></math></span>, for some <em>k</em>, thereby confirming a conjecture proposed by Lew.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50230,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Combinatorial Theory Series A","volume":"217 ","pages":"Article 106091"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144306865","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"数学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-06-12DOI: 10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106080
Gabriel Currier , Kenneth Moore , Chi Hoi Yip
We provide a general framework to construct colorings avoiding short monochromatic arithmetic progressions in Euclidean Ramsey theory. Specifically, if denotes m collinear points with consecutive points of distance one apart, we say that if there is a red/blue coloring of n-dimensional Euclidean space that avoids red congruent copies of and blue congruent copies of . We show that , improving the best-known result by Führer and Tóth, and also establish and in the spirit of the classical result due to Erdős et al. We also show a number of similar 3-coloring results, as well as , where α is an arbitrary positive real number. This final result answers a question of Führer and Tóth in the positive.
{"title":"Avoiding short progressions in Euclidean Ramsey theory","authors":"Gabriel Currier , Kenneth Moore , Chi Hoi Yip","doi":"10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106080","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106080","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We provide a general framework to construct colorings avoiding short monochromatic arithmetic progressions in Euclidean Ramsey theory. Specifically, if <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>ℓ</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>m</mi></mrow></msub></math></span> denotes <em>m</em> collinear points with consecutive points of distance one apart, we say that <span><math><msup><mrow><mi>E</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow></msup><mo>↛</mo><mo>(</mo><msub><mrow><mi>ℓ</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>r</mi></mrow></msub><mo>,</mo><msub><mrow><mi>ℓ</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>s</mi></mrow></msub><mo>)</mo></math></span> if there is a red/blue coloring of <em>n</em>-dimensional Euclidean space that avoids red congruent copies of <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>ℓ</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>r</mi></mrow></msub></math></span> and blue congruent copies of <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>ℓ</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>s</mi></mrow></msub></math></span>. We show that <span><math><msup><mrow><mi>E</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow></msup><mo>↛</mo><mo>(</mo><msub><mrow><mi>ℓ</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>3</mn></mrow></msub><mo>,</mo><msub><mrow><mi>ℓ</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>20</mn></mrow></msub><mo>)</mo></math></span>, improving the best-known result <span><math><msup><mrow><mi>E</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow></msup><mo>↛</mo><mo>(</mo><msub><mrow><mi>ℓ</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>3</mn></mrow></msub><mo>,</mo><msub><mrow><mi>ℓ</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>1177</mn></mrow></msub><mo>)</mo></math></span> by Führer and Tóth, and also establish <span><math><msup><mrow><mi>E</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow></msup><mo>↛</mo><mo>(</mo><msub><mrow><mi>ℓ</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>4</mn></mrow></msub><mo>,</mo><msub><mrow><mi>ℓ</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>14</mn></mrow></msub><mo>)</mo></math></span> and <span><math><msup><mrow><mi>E</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow></msup><mo>↛</mo><mo>(</mo><msub><mrow><mi>ℓ</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>5</mn></mrow></msub><mo>,</mo><msub><mrow><mi>ℓ</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>8</mn></mrow></msub><mo>)</mo></math></span> in the spirit of the classical result <span><math><msup><mrow><mi>E</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow></msup><mo>↛</mo><mo>(</mo><msub><mrow><mi>ℓ</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>6</mn></mrow></msub><mo>,</mo><msub><mrow><mi>ℓ</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>6</mn></mrow></msub><mo>)</mo></math></span> due to Erdős et al. We also show a number of similar 3-coloring results, as well as <span><math><msup><mrow><mi>E</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow></msup><mo>↛</mo><mo>(</mo><msub><mrow><mi>ℓ</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>3</mn></mrow></msub><mo>,</mo><mi>α</mi><msub><mrow><mi>ℓ</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>6889</mn></mrow></msub><mo>)</mo></math></span>, where <em>α</em> is an arbitrary positive real number. This final result answers a question of Führer and Tóth in the positive.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50230,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Combinatorial Theory Series A","volume":"217 ","pages":"Article 106080"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144262859","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"数学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-08-26DOI: 10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106102
Suyoung Choi, Younghan Yoon
This paper investigates the rational Betti numbers of real toric manifolds associated with chordal nestohedra. We consider the poset topology of a specific poset induced from a chordal building set, and show its EL-shellability. Based on this, we present an explicit description using alternating -permutations for a chordal building set , transforming the computing Betti numbers into a counting problem. This approach allows us to compute the a-number of a finite simple graph through permutation counting when the graph is chordal. In addition, we provide detailed computations for specific cases such as real Hochschild varieties corresponding to Hochschild polytopes.
{"title":"Real toric manifolds associated with chordal nestohedra","authors":"Suyoung Choi, Younghan Yoon","doi":"10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106102","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106102","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper investigates the rational Betti numbers of real toric manifolds associated with chordal nestohedra. We consider the poset topology of a specific poset induced from a chordal building set, and show its EL-shellability. Based on this, we present an explicit description using alternating <span><math><mi>B</mi></math></span>-permutations for a chordal building set <span><math><mi>B</mi></math></span>, transforming the computing Betti numbers into a counting problem. This approach allows us to compute the <em>a</em>-number of a finite simple graph through permutation counting when the graph is chordal. In addition, we provide detailed computations for specific cases such as real Hochschild varieties corresponding to Hochschild polytopes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50230,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Combinatorial Theory Series A","volume":"217 ","pages":"Article 106102"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144896676","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"数学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-06-05DOI: 10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106078
Gennian Ge , Zixiang Xu , Chi Hoi Yip , Shengtong Zhang , Xiaochen Zhao
For any positive integers , what is the maximum size of a -uniform set system in with VC-dimension at most d? In 1984, Frankl and Pach initiated the study of this fundamental problem and provided an upper bound via an elegant algebraic proof. Surprisingly, in 2007, Mubayi and Zhao showed that when n is sufficiently large and d is a prime power, the Frankl-Pach upper bound is not tight. They also remarked that their method requires d to be a prime power, and asked for new ideas to improve the Frankl-Pach upper bound without extra assumptions on n and d.
In this paper, we provide an improvement for any and , which demonstrates that the long-standing Frankl-Pach upper bound is not tight for any uniformity. Our proof combines a simple yet powerful polynomial method and structural analysis.
{"title":"The Frankl-Pach upper bound is not tight for any uniformity","authors":"Gennian Ge , Zixiang Xu , Chi Hoi Yip , Shengtong Zhang , Xiaochen Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106078","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106078","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>For any positive integers <span><math><mi>n</mi><mo>≥</mo><mi>d</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>≥</mo><mn>3</mn></math></span>, what is the maximum size of a <span><math><mo>(</mo><mi>d</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>)</mo></math></span>-uniform set system in <span><math><mo>[</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>]</mo></math></span> with VC-dimension at most <em>d</em>? In 1984, Frankl and Pach initiated the study of this fundamental problem and provided an upper bound <span><math><mo>(</mo><mtable><mtr><mtd><mi>n</mi></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mi>d</mi></mtd></mtr></mtable><mo>)</mo></math></span> via an elegant algebraic proof. Surprisingly, in 2007, Mubayi and Zhao showed that when <em>n</em> is sufficiently large and <em>d</em> is a prime power, the Frankl-Pach upper bound is not tight. They also remarked that their method requires <em>d</em> to be a prime power, and asked for new ideas to improve the Frankl-Pach upper bound without extra assumptions on <em>n</em> and <em>d</em>.</div><div>In this paper, we provide an improvement for any <span><math><mi>d</mi><mo>≥</mo><mn>2</mn></math></span> and <span><math><mi>n</mi><mo>≥</mo><mn>2</mn><mi>d</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>2</mn></math></span>, which demonstrates that the long-standing Frankl-Pach upper bound <span><math><mo>(</mo><mtable><mtr><mtd><mi>n</mi></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mi>d</mi></mtd></mtr></mtable><mo>)</mo></math></span> is not tight for any uniformity. Our proof combines a simple yet powerful polynomial method and structural analysis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50230,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Combinatorial Theory Series A","volume":"217 ","pages":"Article 106078"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144212706","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"数学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-06-11DOI: 10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106079
Yan Wang, Kai Yuan, Jian-Xun Li
A bi-Cayley graph is a graph that has a semiregular group H of automorphisms having exactly two orbits on vertices, and it is called an algebraically Cayley graph if its full automorphism group contains a regular subgroup G such that H is a subgroup of G. An independent vertex subset of a graph is called a perfect code if each vertex outside of this subset is adjacent to exactly one vertex in it. In this paper, we give a necessary and sufficient condition for a bi-Cayley graph to be an algebraically Cayley graph, and perfect codes of such bi-Cayley graphs can be determined by the theory of perfect codes in Cayley graphs. Equivalent conditions for subsets to be perfect codes of regular (in terms of graph theory) bi-Cayley graphs are also given.
{"title":"Perfect codes of bi-Cayley graphs","authors":"Yan Wang, Kai Yuan, Jian-Xun Li","doi":"10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106079","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106079","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A bi-Cayley graph is a graph that has a semiregular group <em>H</em> of automorphisms having exactly two orbits on vertices, and it is called an algebraically Cayley graph if its full automorphism group contains a regular subgroup <em>G</em> such that <em>H</em> is a subgroup of <em>G</em>. An independent vertex subset of a graph is called a perfect code if each vertex outside of this subset is adjacent to exactly one vertex in it. In this paper, we give a necessary and sufficient condition for a bi-Cayley graph to be an algebraically Cayley graph, and perfect codes of such bi-Cayley graphs can be determined by the theory of perfect codes in Cayley graphs. Equivalent conditions for subsets to be perfect codes of regular (in terms of graph theory) bi-Cayley graphs are also given.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50230,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Combinatorial Theory Series A","volume":"217 ","pages":"Article 106079"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144254272","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"数学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}