On the Subdivision Algebra for the Polytope $\mathcal {U}_{I,\overline{J}}$

Abstract

The polytopes $\mathcal {U}_{I,\overline{J}}$ were introduced by Ceballos, Padrol, and Sarmiento to provide a geometric approach to the study of $(I,\overline{J})$-Tamari lattices. They observed a connection between certain $\mathcal {U}_{I,\overline{J}}$ and acyclic root polytopes, and wondered if Mészáros’ subdivision algebra can be used to subdivide all $\mathcal {U}_{I,\overline{J}}$. We answer this in the affirmative from two perspectives, one using flow polytopes and the other using root polytopes. We show that $\mathcal {U}_{I,\overline{J}}$ is integrally equivalent to a flow polytope that can be subdivided using the subdivision algebra. Alternatively, we find a suitable projection of $\mathcal {U}_{I,\overline{J}}$ to an acyclic root polytope which allows subdivisions of the root polytope to be lifted back to $\mathcal {U}_{I,\overline{J}}$. As a consequence, this implies that subdivisions of $\mathcal {U}_{I,\overline{J}}$ can be obtained with the algebraic interpretation of using reduced forms of monomials in the subdivision algebra. In addition, we show that the $(I,\overline{J})$-Tamari complex can be obtained as a triangulated flow polytope.