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Wednesday 3 June

Combinatorics

The minimum degree question for the Maker Breaker Domination Game

The Maker Breaker Domination Game is a two player game played on a graph $G$ in which the players take turns to claim a vertex from the graph. The aim of the Dominator is to claim the vertices of a dominating set, and the aim of the Staller is to prevent this. In this paper, we consider the following problem: for a given integer $d$, what is the size of the smallest (with respect to the number of vertices) graph with minimum degree $d$ such that the Dominator loses going first? We write $\beta(d)$ to denote the answer to this question. We determine the precise value of $\beta(d)$ for $d\leq 3$. For general $d$ it was known that $2^{d+1} \leq \beta(d) \leq 2^{d+1}+2d$; the upper bound is due to a construction communicated to us by Valentin Gledel, while the lower bound follows from a simple application of the Erdős-Selfridge Theorem. We improve the lower bound to $\beta(d) \geq 2^{d+1}+2$.
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All authors Jakob Führer, Georg Grasegger, Paul Hametner, Oliver Roche-Newton

Combinatorics

Combinatorial and analytic aspects of independence polynomials of zero divisor graphs

The independence polynomial of a graph encapsulates all independent sets of differing sizes, a task classified as NP-hard in theoretical computer science. This article examines the independence polynomial of zero divisor graphs in commutative rings. We demonstrate that the independent sets, represented as a sequence of coefficients of the independence polynomial, exhibit unimodality and log-concavity. Therefore, for the independence polynomial of some zero divisor graphs, the unimodal conjecture is true. Additionally, the characteristics of the zeros of the independence polynomial are delineated, along with their corresponding annular regions on the plane.
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Combinatorics · Cross-listed from cs.AI

Tree-Based Formalization of Multi-Agent Complementarity in Human-AI Interactions

Complementarity is the case in which a human–AI interaction (HAI) outperforms the best prediction benchmark available among its members. Although this idea is central in HAI research, formal work on complementarity remains limited. Existing frameworks do not model how agents' predictions compose into workflow-sensitive multi-agent protocols. We close this gap by introducing a tree-based formalization of complementarity in multi-agent HAI. An HAI protocol is represented by an ordered agent-role configuration together with a rooted planar binary tree whose leaves are decorated by prediction vectors. A local binary composition rule is evaluated recursively along the tree, yielding a tree-relative complementarity functional relative to a pointwise-min benchmark. We prove four results. First, selector-based HAIs, including reliance, cannot achieve complementarity regardless of task, loss, or prediction quality. Second, in regression under squared loss, complementarity is equivalent to Euclidean distance minimization from the ground-truth vector; for $N=2$, the optimal linear-pooling weight has a closed form and a residual-correction interpretation. Third, under linear local composition, every protocol tree defines a barycentric coordinate chart on the simplex of leaf weights; Tamari-cover reparameterizations of protocol trees preserve complementarity, and for all $N$, any two Tamari paths with the same initial and terminal trees preserve the protocol output and complementarity. Fourth, in binary classification, no internal local composition can achieve complementarity under endpoint-monotone losses, including standard Bregman and many finite Bernoulli $f$-divergence losses; an analogous obstruction holds for multiclass aggregation under cross-entropy. In summary, our framework shows that complementarity is attainable in multi-agent regression, but obstructed in classification.
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Combinatorics

Stacking and Clearing in Directed Graph Pebbling

Suppose that pebbles are distributed on the vertices of a directed graph D. A directed pebbling step u -> v along an arc u -> v removes two pebbles from u and places one pebble on v. We study the stacking number stack(D), the least integer t >= 2 such that every configuration with t pebbles can be transformed by a finite sequence of pebbling steps into a configuration with all pebbles on a single vertex, and the clearing number clear(D), defined analogously by requiring a final configuration with one pebble. Our main result is the formula stack(C_n) = n(2^{n-1}-1)+1 for the directed n-cycle C_n, for n >= 2. We also prove that, for finite simple digraphs with at least two vertices, stack(D) is defined precisely for strongly connected digraphs, and clear(D) is defined precisely for strongly connected digraphs whose directed cycle lengths have greatest common divisor 1.
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Combinatorics

The sorting-Denert statistic

Denert's statistic is a classical Mahonian statistic on permutations. Together with the excedance number, it forms an Euler–Mahonian pair, a result first conjectured by Denert and later proved by Foata and Zeilberger. Motivated by this classical result, we introduce the sorting-Denert statistic, a sorting-index analogue of Denert's statistic. It is obtained by replacing, in Denert's statistic, the inversion number of the non-excedance-letter subsequence with its sorting index. We prove that the sorting-Denert statistic, together with the excedance number, forms a new Euler–Mahonian pair.
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Combinatorics

On Isomorphism theorem of the Comparability Graph of Lattices

In recent years, researchers have actively contributed to the field of graphs associated with algebraic structures and ordered structures. It is a fundamental question to ask whether we infer algebraic or ordered structure from associated graphs and vice versa. In this paper, we gave characterizations about comparability graphs and associated lattices. In particular, we determined some properties of lattices that are preserved under the graph isomorphism. We have also provided a technique to construct non-isomorphic lattices with isomorphic comparability graphs. Also, we find two classes of lattices in which the graph isomorphism gives the lattice isomorphism.
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Combinatorics · Cross-listed from hep-th

Multi-entropy in random tensor networks

We study the evaluation of Rényi multi-entropies $S^{(q)}_n$ in Random Tensor Network (RTN) states in the large bond-dimension limit. For the case of Rényi index $n=2$ and arbitrary number of parties $q$, we prove that that multi-entropies are determined by minimal multiway cuts through the network. When the minimal multiway cut is degenerate, we characterize the full minimizer set via compatible families of minimal cuts and give a criterion for all minimizers to come from ordinary cut partitions. For $n=2$, this gives a natural generalization of the minimal cut description of bipartite entanglement to multipartite systems with arbitrarily many parties. For the case of integer $n>2$, we show that the minimal multiway cut conjecture is in general not true by providing explicit counter examples for both the single random tensor and for the network built from isometric tilings. We discuss the implication for our results on the multipartite entanglement structures in RTN and holography.
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Combinatorics

Size Ramsey minimal graphs for uniform star forests

For given graphs $G_{1}, G_{2}, \dots, G_{t}$ and $G$, let $G\rightarrow (G_{1}, G_{2}, \dots, G_{t})$ denote that each $t$-coloring of $E(G)$ yields a monochromatic copy of $G_{i}$ in color $i$ for some $i\in [t]$. The size Ramsey number, $\hat{r}(G_{1}, G_{2}, \dots, G_{t})$ is the minimum size of $G$ such that $G\rightarrow (G_{1}, G_{2}, \dots, G_{t})$. A graph $G$ is a size Ramsey minimal graph for $(G_{1}, G_{2}, \dots, G_{t})$ if $G\rightarrow (G_{1}, G_{2}, \dots, G_{t})$ and $e(G)= \hat{r}(G_{1}, G_{2}, \dots, G_{t})$. A star forest is a vertex-disjoint union of stars, and a uniform star forest is a star forest with the same size of each component. In 1978, Burr, Erdős, Faudree, Rousseau and Schelp, and in 2025, Davoodi, Javadi, Kamranian and Raeisi completely characterized the size Ramsey minimal graphs for uniform star forests. In this paper, we completely characterize the size Ramsey minimal graphs for uniform star forests in multicolors.
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Combinatorics

On linear $k$-graphs with codegree Turán density arbitrarily close to zero

Let $F$ be a $k$-uniform hypergraph, abbreviated as $k$-graph. The codegree Turán density $\pi_{\mathrm{co}}(F)$ is the supremum over all $\gamma \in [0,1)$ such that, for arbitrarily large $n$, there exists an $n$-vertex $F$-free $k$-graph $H$ whose every $(k-1)$-subset of vertices lies in at least $\gamma n$ edges. In this paper, we prove that there is a linear $k$-graph $F$ with $0<\pi_{co}(F) < \varepsilon$ for any $\varepsilon>0$. The special case $k=3$ solve a question proposed by Ding, Lamaison, Liu, Wang and Yang (JLMS, 2025). The main method combines an affine-plane-type incidence structure over a finite field and elementary number-theoretic arguments.
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Combinatorics

Infinitesimal Bialgebra on Planar Binary Trees

We construct a weight-zero infinitesimal bialgebra structure on the $\bk$-module spanned by planar binary trees, using the under product $\backslash$ of Aguiar–Sottileand a root-recursive coproduct $\DeltaLR$. We prove that $\DeltaLR$ is coassociative and satisfies the infinitesimal derivation rule with respect to $\backslash$, hence gives a unitary infinitesimal bialgebra distinct from the usual Loday–Ronco Hopf structure. We also obtain an elementary vertex-cut formula, establish freeness properties for unitary $(\backslash,\vee)$-algebras and unitary infinitesimal $(\backslash,\vee)$-bialgebras, and identify the construction with the infinitesimal coproduct transported from planar rooted forests.
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Combinatorics · Cross-listed from cs.SD

Gauss Circle Lattices with Geometric Convolutions for Synthesizing High Dimensional Image-Source Room Impulse Responses

The image-source model (ISM) is a widely adopted method for efficiently simulating acoustic room impulse responses (RIRs) under specular reflection assumptions. Acoustic paths between source and receiver are traced to lattice points computed from successive reflections over bounding planes of the room. Rectangular rooms bound the total number of image-sources to be polynomial in the RIR's duration or distance $k$ equivalent, with degree equal the number of room dimensions $N$. Direct ISM simulations are therefore compute upper-bound by $O \left ( k^N \right )$, and consider only cases of $N \leq 3$ for tractability and real-world applications. This work proposes an alternative computational method that lowers the asymptotic compute bound to $O \left ( N k^2 \log k \right )$ for integer coordinates and room dimensions via reducing ISM lattice point counting to the classic Gauss circle problem (GCP). We extend the lattice counting model to frequency-dependent and reflection weighted image-sources in higher dimensions, relating solutions between successive dimensions via the convolution operator. Two constructions for realizing RIRs are presented, along with time-frequency controls, error and run-time analysis, and RIR statistics.
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Tuesday 2 June

Combinatorics

On the Duke–Erdős–Rödl Problem at the One-Third Threshold

Let $G$ be an $n$-vertex graph with $e(G)\ge n^2/k$. We prove a self-contained internal short-cycle core theorem at the threshold $k\le n^{1/3}$: the graph $G$ contains a subgraph $H_6$ with $\Omega(n^2/k^3)$ edges in which every two distinct edges lie together on a cycle of length at most $6$ contained in $H_6$, and a subgraph $H_8$ with $\Omega(n^2/k^2)$ edges in which every two distinct edges lie together on a cycle of length at most $8$ contained in $H_8$. In density notation $\rho=e(G)/n^2$, this gives internal cores of sizes $\Omega(\rho^3n^2)$ and $\Omega(\rho^2n^2)$ throughout the range $\rho\ge n^{-1/3}$. The $C_{\le6}$ conclusion above is an edge-connected statement and does not impose the adjacent-edge $C_4$ condition appearing in the strongest Duke–Erdős–Rödl formulation. We also include two complementary results clarifying this distinction. First, under the ambient-witness convention, every graph with at least $n^2/k$ edges and $k=o(n^{1/2})$ contains $\Omega(n^2/k^3)$ selected edges whose pairs are witnessed by ambient cycles of length at most $6$, with adjacent pairs witnessed by ambient $C_4$'s. Second, under the standard internal strong $C_6$ convention, for every fixed $\beta\in[1/3,1/2)$ there is an infinite sequence of bipartite graphs $G$ with $n\to\infty$ and $e(G)=\Theta_\beta(n^{2-\beta})$ such that every internally strongly $C_6$-connected subgraph has only $O_\beta(\rho(G)^3n^2/(\log n)^2)$ edges. The obstruction is a random cyclic shift-lift of $K_{q,q}$, together with an occupancy estimate excluding large aligned two-covers.
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Combinatorics · Cross-listed from math.NT

Enumeration of modular forms for $\Gamma_1(N)$

This paper considers holomorphic modular forms for $\Gamma_1(N)$ of integral weight of the form $$f^{(N)}_{\mathbf a}(\tau) =q^{s} (q^{N};q^{N})_{\infty}^{a_0}\prod_{j=1}^{\lfloor N/2 \rfloor}(q^j,q^{N-j};q^N)_\infty^{a_j}, \quad \mathbf a = (a_1, \ldots, a_{\lfloor N/2 \rfloor}),$$ for fixed $a_0=2k \in 2 \Bbb Z_{\ge 0}$. We show that the number of relevant exponent vectors $\mathbf a$ is finite and characterize them in terms of the $\mathbb{Q}$-rational cuspidal divisor class group of $X_{1}(N)$. Effective procedures are given for counting the admissible exponents by enumerating the corresponding polytopes. This leads to formulas for the number of exponent vectors in terms of quasipolynomials in $k$.
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Combinatorics

Monochromatic Paths and a Topological Approach to Norine's Conjecture

Motivated by Norine's conjecture, this paper investigates monochromatic antipodal paths in $2$-edge-coloured hypercubes and simplicial complexes. Our main method relies on a topological criterion applied to triangulated $2$-skeleta. We show that any antipodal colouring of a centrally symmetric, simply connected $2$-complex yields a monochromatic path linking an antipodal pair of vertices. By symmetrically triangulating opposite square faces in certain classes of colourings, we obtain a topological verification of Norine's conjecture for these classes. We also establish quantitative bounds for cases in which only a limited number of square faces present structural obstructions.
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Combinatorics

A Structural Approach to Burning Number

Graph burning is a deterministic discrete-time process that models the propagation of information within a network as a set of fires that spread in a graph. The associated graph parameter, the burning number, measures the speed of that spread. The smaller the burning number of a graph is, the faster information spreads in the corresponding network. In this paper, we mainly study the burning number from a structural point of view. In particular, we structurally characterize all graphs with burning number 2. We then proceed to compute the burning number of split graphs and $\{ K_2+2K_1, P_4, C_4\}$-free graphs. In particular, we show that connected split graphs and connected $\{ K_2+2K_1, P_4, C_4\}$-free graphs are well-burnable. Lastly, we provide a blueprint on how to investigate the burning number of a given social network.
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Combinatorics

Cubic graphs, $S$-minors and conformal minors

It is well-known that any class of simple graphs, that is characterized by finitely many forbidden minors, also admits a characterization by finitely many forbidden topological minors; furthermore, the list of forbidden topological minors may be derived from the list of forbidden minors. We prove a similar result in Matching Theory. Our Main Theorem states that any class of matching covered graphs, that is characterized by finitely many forbidden $S$-minors that are cubic, also admits a characterization by finitely many forbidden conformal minors that are cubic as well; once again, the list of forbidden conformal minors may be derived from the list of forbidden $S$-minors. In order to establish the above, we first prove that every matching covered graph has one of two graphs as a conformal minor – either $K_4$, or the $\Theta$ graph (that is, two vertices joined by three edges). (In fact, we need and prove a much stronger statement.) This is reminiscent of a theorem due to Lovász: every nonbipartite matching covered graph has one of two graphs as a conformal minor – either $K_4$, or the triangular prism $\overline{C_6}$. As applications of our Main Theorem, we deduce known 'forbidden conformal minor characterizations' of pfaffian near-bipartite graphs, and of pfaffian solid graphs, using their respective known 'forbidden $S$-minor characterizations'.
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All authors Nishad Kothari, Orlando Lee, Cláudio L. Lucchesi, Cândida Nunes da Silva

Combinatorics

Kusner's conjecture: Exact values and linear bounds

In 1983, Kusner conjectured that the largest equilateral set in $\mathbb{R}^{n}$ with metric $\ell_{p}$ has cardinality $n+1$ when $1<p<\infty$ and $2n$ when $p=1.$ This conjecture was proved only in the isolated cases $p=2$ and $p=4$, and was disproved when $1<p<2$. The best general upper bound $O_p(n^{\frac{2p+2}{2p-1}})$ is due to the celebrated work of Alon and Pudlák~[GAFA, 2003]. Our main contributions include: (1) We prove Kusner's conjecture for every dimension $n\ge 1$ when $2\le p\le 4$. More generally, for every integer $k\ge 0$ and every $p\in[4k+2,4k+4]$, every equilateral set in \(\mathbb{R}^{n}\) with metric $\ell_p$ has cardinality at most $(2k+1)n+1$. On the complementary intervals $p\in(4k,4k+2)$ with $p\geq 1$, we obtain the almost linear bound $O_p(n\log n)$. (2) We also consider the analogous problem on the torus $\mathbb{T}^n$, recently initiated by Alon, where the cyclic distance makes the problem substantially more delicate than in $\mathbb R^n$. We prove the almost linear bound $O_p(n\log n)$ for $1\le p\le 2$ and $O_p(n^{\frac{3}{2}-\frac{1}{p}})$ for every fixed real $p>2$, improving Alon's bounds $O_p(n^{2+\frac{2}{\lfloor p\rfloor}})$ for all finite $p\ge 1$.
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Combinatorics · Cross-listed from math.GR

Cayley graphs of quasirandom groups

A finite group $G$ is $\varepsilon$-quasirandom if all its nontrivial irreducible complex representations have degree at least $|G|^\varepsilon$. Building on recent work of Golsefidy-Srinivas, we prove that expansion in a quasirandom group is controlled by expansion in its simple quotients. As a consequence, we remove the product theorem from the hypotheses of the Bourgain-Gamburd expansion machine. Moreover, we combine this result with crown theory to deduce that $1 + \lfloor \varepsilon^{-1} \rfloor$ random elements give an expander Cayley graph with high probability. Finally, generalizing results of Breuillard-Green-Tao and Pyber-Szabó, we prove that the diameter of any connected Cayley graph of a quasirandom group is polylogarithmic.
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Combinatorics · Cross-listed from math.DS

A Graph-Based Method for Invariant Densities of Multidimensional Continued Fractions

We propose a novel method for computing invariant densities of certain multidimensional continued fraction algorithms. Inspired by Rauzy induction, our approach builds on the formalism of simplicial systems developed by Fougeron. We introduce a win-lose induction on a graph that is conjugate to the original algorithm, and construct its natural extension by introducing the notion of a dual graph. This method explicitly reconstructs the complete dynamics of the algorithm, yielding a partition of the invariant domain of the natural extension into pieces that map to one another. We further study the ergodic properties of the algorithms within this framework; in particular, we prove that the Modified Triangle algorithm in any dimension admits a unique ergodic measure equivalent to the Lebesgue measure.
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Combinatorics

Token-sliding realizability for complements, Cartesian-products, and grid graph families

For an integer $k\ge 0$ and a graph $G$, the \emph{token-sliding reconfiguration graph $\mathsf{TS}_k(G)$} has the independent $k$-sets of $G$ as vertices. Two vertices are adjacent if one token can slide along an edge of $G$ and the resulting $k$-set is still independent. We study the following realizability problem: for fixed $k\ge 2$, which graphs are isomorphic to $\mathsf{TS}_k(G)$ for some graph $G$? This inverse viewpoint asks which abstract state spaces can occur exactly under a local token rule. We give positive realizability results for the complement targets $\overline{K_n}$, $\overline{K_{m,n}}$, and $\overline{K_n-e}$, and we determine sharp cutoffs for complements of paths and cycles. We also prove a product formula for token-sliding graphs of disjoint unions and apply it to Cartesian products of complete graphs, paths, and cycles. For every grid $\Gamma_{m,n}=P_m\square P_n$ with $2\le m\le n$, we realize $\Gamma_{m,n}$ at token value $m+n-2$ and at every token value $k\ge 4$. At small token values, we prove that $C_4\square C_n$ is not a $\mathsf{TS}_2$-graph for $n\ge 4$, classify ladders $\Gamma_{2,n}$, and settle the first non-ladder grid: for $k\ge 2$, $\Gamma_{3,3}$ is realizable if and only if $k\ge 4$.
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Combinatorics · Cross-listed from math.AG

Modular inequalities and Alexander polynomials of pencil type conic-line arrangements

We use recent results, among which modular inequalities for curves, to determine the Alexander polynomials for some classes of pencil-type conic-line arrangements. For these classes of curves we prove that the Alexander polynomial is (at least partially) combinatorial. To this end, we exemplify new techniques that are suitable for broader use, lending themselves to more general classes of curves.
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Combinatorics

Longest cycles and Dirac-type results in highly connected graphs

A classical theorem of Nash-Williams states that if $G$ is a $2$-connected graph on $n$ vertices with minimum degree at least $(n+2)/3$, then for every longest cycle $C$ of $G$, the graph $G-V(C)$ is edgeless. Motivated by a higher-connectivity analogue, Bondy conjectured in 1980 that if $G$ is a $k$-connected graph on $n$ vertices with minimum degree at least $(n+k(k-1))/(k+1)$, then for every longest cycle $C$ of $G$, every path in $G-V(C)$ has at most $k-1$ vertices. This conjecture is known for $k\le 3$ and remains open for all $k\ge 4$. In this paper, we prove Bondy's conjecture for all sufficiently large graphs. The key ingredient is a new Dirac-type theorem that gives a lower bound on the length of a longest cycle in a $k$-connected graph, which also yields a partial solution to a conjecture of Jung from 1990. Along the way, we develop several new tools, including a DFS lemma and an average-degree analogue of the Bondy–Jackson theorem. We conclude with a discussion of related problems and a counterexample to a conjecture of Voss from 1991.
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Combinatorics

$\boldsymbol{2}$-Neighbor Bootstrap Percolation on Odd Graphs

The $r$-neighbor bootstrap percolation process on a graph $G$ is a vertex-activation process that begins with a set of initially active vertices. In each subsequent round, every inactive vertex having at least $r$ active neighbors becomes active. Denote by $m(G,r)$ the minimum number of initially active vertices whose activation eventually spreads to all vertices of $G$. Let \(\mathbbmsl{O}_k\) and \(\mathbbmsl{B}_k\) be the odd graph and the bipartite odd graph, respectively, both defined on a ground set of size \(2k+1\). In this article, among other results, we prove that $m(\mathbbmsl{O}_k, 2)=\lceil(k^2+3k+2)/4\rceil$ and $m(\mathbbmsl{B}_k, 2)=\lceil(k^2+2k+3)/2\rceil$. The former result confirms a conjecture posed in 2021 by Grippo, Pastine, Torres, Valencia-Pabon, and Vera.
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Combinatorics · Cross-listed from math.CA

On the finite field spherical restriction conjecture in four dimensions: the sharp endpoint and applications

Let $p$ be an odd prime. We prove the sharp extension estimate $R_{S_j}^*(2\to r)\lesssim_r 1$ for every sphere of nonzero radius $S_j\subseteq\mathbb{F}_p^4$ and every $r\geq3$, uniformly in $p$ and $j$. The proof combines arithmetic Hecke operator bounds with a refined fourth moment and an orthogonal decomposition. We also formulate a localized spherical restriction/extension conjecture that predicts the sharp dependence on the size of the physical support. This conjecture remains open and would yield distance estimates for almost every pin at the conjectured Erdős–Falconer exponent in four dimensions, with an arbitrarily small power loss in the size hypothesis. Unconditionally, our localized estimates imply that, for every $\varepsilon>0$, sets of size at least $p^{7/3+\varepsilon}$ determine $(1+o_\varepsilon(1))p$ distances from almost every pin, together with asymmetric two-set versions.
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Combinatorics

On the maximum size of $(a,b)$-town (mod $k$) families

For integers $n \geq k \geq 2$ and $0 \leq a,b \leq k-1$, let $m_{k,n}(a,b)$ denote the maximum size of an $(a,b)$-town (mod $k$) family of an $n$-element set, a collection of subsets of whose cardinalities are congruent to $a$ modulo $k$ and whose pairwise intersections are congruent to $b$ modulo $k$. This notion generalizes the classical Oddtown and Eventown problems. We prove that $m_{k,n}(a,b)\leq n$ whenever $a\not\equiv b\pmod{k}$, thereby resolving a conjecture of Veselinov and Marinov. We also disprove another conjecture of theirs by showing that $m_{3,11}(2,2)>m_{3,11}(1,1)$. For the diagonal case $a\equiv b\pmod{k}$, we establish the general bound $m_{k,n}(a,a)\leq 2^{\lfloor n/2\rfloor}$ and completely determine when equality holds. We further obtain improved bounds and exact values in several special cases. The proofs combine characteristic-zero linear algebra with methods from coding theory and finite geometry.
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Combinatorics

An Iwasawa-type asymptotic formula for multiple $\mathbb{Z}_p$-coverings of graphs

For a possibly ramified $\mathbb{Z}_p^d$-covering of connected graphs, we establish an Iwasawa-type asymptotic formula for the growth of the $p$-adic valuations of the complexities. The formula is expressed as a polynomial in $n$ and $p^n$ with explicit leading coefficients $\lambda$ and $\mu$; in particular, we eliminate the error term of the form $O(p^{(d-1)n})$ appearing in earlier work. We then establish a Kida-type formula describing the behavior of $\lambda$ under a $p$-covering between $\mathbb{Z}_p^d$-coverings, assuming $\mu = 0$. Finally, for any fixed $p$ and integer $d \geq 2$, we construct an unramified $\mathbb{Z}_p^d$-covering of a bouquet with prescribed $\lambda$- and $\mu$-invariants.
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Combinatorics

A Complete Classification of 2-Linear Neighborhood Complexes

Let $G$ be a nonempty finite simple graph. We study when the Stanley-Reisner ideal of its neighborhood complex has a $2$-linear resolution. Combining Fröberg's theorem with the classical hypertree criterion, we obtain the following equivalent description in graph terms: $G$ is bipartite, its indexed open neighborhoods are Helly, and every induced cycle of length at least eight has a filling from each color class. This class properly contains the chordal bipartite graphs without isolated vertices. Hochster's formula gives all squarefree multigraded Betti numbers, while face counts determine the complete graded Betti table. If $G$ has $n$ vertices and $c$ connected components, then its Stanley-Reisner ring has terminal Betti number $2c-1$, projective dimension $n-1$, and depth one. We also determine the multiplicity and the initially Cohen-Macaulay and Cohen-Macaulay cases. A second formula separates degree data from overlaps caused by repeated common neighbors and yields closed expressions for bipartite graphs without $K_{2,3}$, cactus graphs, pseudoforests, and forests. For square cactus graphs, the Betti table recovers every degree multiplicity at least three; for forests, it recovers the complete degree sequence. Finally, the dominance complex has a $2$-linear Stanley-Reisner ideal precisely for nontrivial stars.
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Combinatorics

Finite palette endpoints and degree-square Turán problems

We study finite palette extremal problems motivated by uniform Turán densities of $3$-uniform hypergraphs. Given a self-converse tournament $T$ with at least two vertices, we determine the largest possible number of admissible triples in an $m$-color palette that avoids the left and right palettes associated with $T$. The answer is the one-sided degree-square Turán number \[ \operatorname{pal}_T(m) = \operatorname{ex}_2^+(m,T) = \max\left\{ \sum_{v\in V(D)} d_D^+(v)^2: |V(D)|=m,\ D\text{ is }T\text{-free} \right\}. \] Thus this palette problem is reduced to an extremal problem for digraph out-degrees. We then prove a prefix-majorization lemma for convex out-degree moments and apply it to directed cycles. In particular, $\operatorname{ex}_2^+(m,\overrightarrow C_3)=\frac{m(m^2-1)}3$, which gives the sharp $m$-color palette endpoint $\frac13-\frac{1}{3m^2}$ for the directed triangle. Combining this endpoint with the palette characterization of uniform Turán density and the palette separation theorem, we show that for every $m\ge2$ there is a finite $3$-graph $H_m$ such that \[ \frac13-\frac{1}{3m^2}\le \pi_u(H_m)\le \frac13. \] Hence there is a sequence of individual finite $3$-graphs whose uniform Turán densities converge to $1/3$. We also describe the extremal palettes, prove a qualitative edit-distance stability theorem, and compute the Lagrangian of the endpoint palette $\mathcal P_m^\star$. As a consequence, for every $m\ge2$ there is a finite family $\mathcal F_m$ of $3$-graphs with $\pi_u(\mathcal F_m)=\frac13-\frac{1}{3m^2}$, so $1/3$ is an accumulation point of uniform Turán densities of finite forbidden families.
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All authors Jiangdong Ai, Bin Chen, Ming Chen, Zilong Yan, Tianxiao Zhao

Combinatorics · Cross-listed from math.NT

Majorization and Gaussian-Mass Maximality for Construction-A Lattices from Binary Self-Dual Codes

Regev and Stephens-Davidowitz conjectured that the integer lattice maximizes Gaussian mass among integral lattices of a given rank. We prove this, including the equality case, for all unimodular Construction-A lattices arising from binary self-dual codes. The proof reduces the theta-series inequality to a sharp majorization statement for codes: if $C$ is a binary self-dual $[2k,k]$ code, then the half-weight distribution of $C$ is dominated in convex order by $\operatorname{Bin}(k,1/2)$, which is the corresponding distribution for the repetition-code model of $\mathbb{Z}^{2k}$. Indeed, after putting $C$ in systematic form $[I\mid A]$, self-duality gives $AA^T=I$ over $\mathbb{F}_2$, so for a uniformly random message $a$ the two weights $\operatorname{wt}(a)$ and $\operatorname{wt}(aA)$ have the same binomial law. The half-weight of the resulting codeword is their average, and Jensen's inequality then gives convex-order domination. Applied to the convex test functions that build the theta series, this yields a sum-of-squares formula for the Gaussian-mass gap; applied to hinge functions, it gives coefficientwise nonnegativity of the reduced gap polynomial.
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Combinatorics · Cross-listed from hep-th

Amplituhedra and origami, II: loop level

Building on the recently discovered origami-amplituhedron correspondence, we prove that the BCFW (Britto-Cachazo-Feng-Witten) cells triangulate the $m=4$ amplituhedron in full generality at all loop orders, both in momentum and momentum-twistor space. Along the way, we develop two natural "$L$-punctured" extensions of the positive Grassmannian and relate them via T-duality.
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