Published Paper
Inserted: 10 aug 2022
Last Updated: 25 sep 2024
Journal: Mathematika
Volume: 70
Number: 1
Year: 2022
Doi: 10.1112/mtk.12235
Abstract:
A multipath in a directed graph is a disjoint union of paths. The multipath complex of a directed graph ${\tt G}$ is the simplicial complex whose faces are the multipaths of ${\tt G}$. We compute the Euler characteristic, and associated generating function, of the multipath complex for some families of graphs, including transitive tournaments and complete bipartite graphs. Then, we compute the homotopy type of multipath complexes of linear graphs, polygons, small grids and transitive tournaments. We show that they are all contractible or wedges of spheres. We introduce a new technique for decomposing directed graphs into dynamical regions, which allows us to simplify the homotopy computations.