Papers and Preprints

7. On the mass center of the tent map, (with Kuo-chang Chen), (PDF file, PostScript file, DVI file), preprint, last updated on 2/19/2008.

Abstract: It is well known that the time average or the center of mass for generic orbits of the standard tent map is $0.5$. In this paper we show some interesting properties of the exceptional orbits, including periodic orbits, orbits without mass center, and orbits with mass centers different from $0.5$. We prove that for any positive integer $n$, there exist $n$ distinct periodic orbits for the standard tent map with the same center of mass, and the set of mass centers of periodic orbits is a dense subset of $[0,2/3]$. Considering all possible orbits, then the set of mass centers is the interval $[0,2/3]$. Moreover, for every $x$ in $[0,2/3]$, there are uncountably many orbits with mass center $x$. We also show that there are uncountably many orbits without mass center.

6. The bounded complex of a uniform affine oriented matroid is a ball, (PDF file, PostScript file, DVI file), updated version (this is the final version that will appear in J. Combin. Theory Ser. A).

Abstract: Zaslavsky conjectures that the bounded complex of a simple hyperplane arrangement is homeomorphic to a ball. We prove this conjecture for the more general uniform affine oriented matroids.

5. On the bounded complex of an affine oriented matroid, (PDF file, PostScript file, DVI file), Discrete Comput. Geom. 35 (2006), no. 3, 457—471.

Abstract: We prove that the bounded complex of an affine oriented matroid is pure and collapsible. We also generalize Zaslavsky's Central Decomposition Theorem for hyperplane arrangements to affine oriented matroids.

4. Topology of bounded-degree graph complexes, J. of Algebra 262( 2003), no. 2, 287--312.

Abstract: The bounded degree graph complexes were first introduced by Reiner and Roberts. They arise from the finite free resolution of quadratic Veronese rings and modules. We prove various results about the homotopy types of these complexes, and deduce corresponding characteristic-free results about the quadratic Veronese resolutions. In particular, we characterize the set of multidegrees which support at least one higher syzygy in this resolution. The answer turns out to be independent of the field characteristic.

3. Alexander duality for projections of polytopes, Topology 41 (2002), no. 6, 1109--1121.

Abstract: An affine projection $\pi: P^p \rightarrow Q^q$ of convex polytopes induces an inclusion map of the face posets $i: \F(Q) \rightarrow \F(P)$. We define an order-preserving map of posets $h: \F(P) \rightarrow \Susp^{p-q}\F(Q)$ such that for any filter $J$ of $\Susp^{p-q}\F(Q)$, the map $h$ restricts to a homotopy equivalence between the order complexes of $h^{-1}(J)$ and $J$. As applications we prove: (1) A conjecture of Stanley concerning the relation between the homotopy type of two complexes. (2) A conjecture of Reiner which says the order complex of $\F(P)- i(\F(Q))$ has the homotopy type of a $(p-q-1)$-sphere. (3) The non-face posets of a class of regular cell complexes have the homotopy type of spheres, thereby answering a question raised by Reiner, and Edelman and Reiner.

2. Combinatorial Laplacian of the matching complex, (with Michelle Wachs), Electron. J. Combin. 9 (2002), no. 1, R17, 11pp.

Abstract: A striking result of Bouc gives the decomposition of the representation of the symmetric group on the homology of the matching complex into irreducibles that are self-conjugate. We show how the combinatorial Laplacian can be used to give an elegant proof of this result. We also show that the spectrum of the Laplacian is integral.

1. Canonical modules of semigroup rings and a conjecture of Reiner, Geometric combinatorics (San Francisco, CA/Davis, CA, 2000). Discrete Comput. Geom. 27 (2002), no. 1, 85--97.

Abstract: We prove that the homotopy types of two naturally defined simplicial complexes are related in the following way: one is homotopy equivalent to a multiple suspension of the canonical Alexander dual of the other. These simplicial complexes arise in free resolutions of semigroup rings and modules. The relation between their homotopy types was conjectured by Reiner, and was suggested by a homological consequence of a result due independently to Danilov and Stanley on canonical modules of normal semigroup rings. Our proof is purely topological, and gives an alternative proof of their result. We also prove a generalization of result of Hochster saying that these rings are Cohen-Macaulay, and indicate a new proof of Ehrhart's reciprocity law for rational polytopes.


My Ph.D. Thesis

The topology of bounded degree graph complexes and finite free resolutions, Ph.D. Thesis, University of Minnesota (2001)