Skip to main content
Log in

Abstract

We study the picture space \({\mathcal{X}^d(G)}\) of all embeddings of a finite graph G as point-and-line arrangements in an arbitrary-dimensional projective space, continuing previous work on the planar case. The picture space admits a natural decomposition into smooth quasiprojective subvarieties called cellules, indexed by partitions of the vertex set of G, and the irreducible components of \({\mathcal{X}^d(G)}\) correspond to cellules that are maximal with respect to a partial order on partitions that is in general weaker than refinement. We study both general properties of this partial order and its characterization for specific graphs. Our results include complete combinatorial descriptions of the irreducible components of the picture spaces of complete graphs and complete multipartite graphs, for any ambient dimension d. In addition, we give two graph-theoretic formulas for the minimum ambient dimension in which the directions of edges in an embedding of G are mutually constrained.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Brylawski, T., Oxley, J.: The Tutte polynomial and its applications, matroid applications, Encyclopedia Math. Appl., vol. 40, pp. 123–225. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (1992)

    Google Scholar 

  • Develin M., Martin J.L., Reiner V.: Rigidity theory for matroids. Comment. Math. Helv. 82(1), 197–233 (2007)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Edmonds J.: Minimum partition of a matroid into independent subsets. J. Res. Nat. Bur. Standards Sect. B 69, 67–72 (1965)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Frank, A.: Connectivity and network flows Handbook of combinatorics, vol. 1, 2, pp. 111–177. Elsevier, Amsterdam (1995).

    Google Scholar 

  • Graver J., Servatius B., Servatius H.: Combinatorial rigidity, graduate studies in Mathematics, vol. 2. American Mathematical Society, Providence (1993)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartshorne R.: Algebraic geometry, graduate texts in Mathematics, vol. 52. Springer, New York (1977)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Laman G.: On graphs and rigidity of plane skeletal structures. J. Eng. Math. 4, 331–340 (1970)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Martin, J.L.: Geometry of graph varieties, Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 355(10), 4151–4169 (2003) (electronic)

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Martin J.L.: On the topology of graph picture spaces. Adv. Math. 191(2), 312–338 (2005)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Martin J.L.: The slopes determined by n points in the plane. Duke Math. J. 131(1), 119–165 (2006)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Oxley J.G.: Matroid theory. Oxford Science Publications, The Clarendon Press Oxford University Press, New York (1992)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Servatius B.: On the rigidity of Ramanujan graphs. Ann. Univ. Sci. Budapest. Eötvös Sect. Math. 43(2000), 165–170 (2001)

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Stanley R.P.: An introduction to hyperplane arrangements, Geometric combinatorics, IAS/Park City Math. Ser., vol. 13, pp. 389–496. American Mathematical Society, Providence (2007)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jeremy L. Martin.

Additional information

J. L. Martin’s research is partially supported by an NSA Young Investigators Grant.

T. Enkosky and J. L. Martin are contributed equally to this paper.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Enkosky, T., Martin, J.L. Graph varieties in high dimension. Beitr Algebra Geom 54, 1–12 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13366-011-0064-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13366-011-0064-4

Keywords

Mathematics Subject Classification (2000)

Navigation