Coloring Discrete Manifolds

Abstract: Discrete d-manifolds are classes of finite simple graphs which can triangulate classical manifolds but which are defined entirely within graph theory. We show that the chromatic number X(G) of a discrete d-manifold G is sandwiched between d+1 and 2(d+1). From the general identity X(A+B)=X(A)+X(B) for the join A+B of two finite simple graphs, it follows that there are (2k)-spheres with chromatic number X=(3k+1) and (2k-1)-spheres with chromatic number X=3k. Examples of 2-manifolds with X(G)=5 have been known since the pioneering work of Fisk. Current data support the that the ceiling function of 3(d+1)/2 could be an upper bound for all d-manifolds G, generalizing a conjecture of Albertson-Stromquist, stating X(G) is bounded above by 5 for all 2-manifolds. For a d-manifold, Fisk has introduced the (d-2)-variety O(G). This graph O(G) has maximal simplices of dimension (d-2) and correspond to complete complete subgraphs K_{d-1} of G for which the dual circle has odd cardinality. In general, O(G) is a union of (d-2)-manifolds. We note that if O(S(x)) is either empty or a (d-3)-sphere for all x then O(G) is a (d-2)-manifold or empty. The knot O(G) is already interesting for 3-manifolds G because Fisk has demonstrated that every possible knot can appear as O(G) for some 3-manifold. For 4-manifolds G especially, the Fisk variety O(G) is a 2-manifold in G as long as all O(S(x)) are either empty or a knot in every unit 3-sphere S(x).