Boundary $h^\ast$-vectors and unimodular triangulations

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Juhnke, Martina, Schlie, Steffen
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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author Juhnke, Martina
Schlie, Steffen
author_facet Juhnke, Martina
Schlie, Steffen
contents We study the Ehrhart $h^\ast$-polynomial of (the boundary of) a lattice polytope via regular unimodular triangulations and Gröbner degenerations of toric ideals. Our main result is a boundary analogue of the well-known Sturmfels correspondence. This allows us to connect the boundary $h^\ast$-polynomial to the $h$-polynomial of any regular unimodular triangulation, in analogy to the classical Betke-McMullen Theorem. Providing a direct link between Ehrhart theory and the face enumeration of simplicial complexes, we then transfer structural results from the theory of simplicial polytopes to the setting of lattice polytopes. In particular, we derive general Dehn-Sommerville-type relations between $h^\ast(P)$ and $h^\ast(\partial P)$. Under the additional assumption of $\partial P$ admitting a regular unimodular triangulation, we recover old and prove new characterization results concerning symmetry or unimodality, as well as upper and lower bounds for coefficient-wise differences within $h^\ast(P)$.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2604_24377
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Boundary $h^\ast$-vectors and unimodular triangulations
Juhnke, Martina
Schlie, Steffen
Combinatorics
Commutative Algebra
05A15, 52B20, 13F65
We study the Ehrhart $h^\ast$-polynomial of (the boundary of) a lattice polytope via regular unimodular triangulations and Gröbner degenerations of toric ideals. Our main result is a boundary analogue of the well-known Sturmfels correspondence. This allows us to connect the boundary $h^\ast$-polynomial to the $h$-polynomial of any regular unimodular triangulation, in analogy to the classical Betke-McMullen Theorem. Providing a direct link between Ehrhart theory and the face enumeration of simplicial complexes, we then transfer structural results from the theory of simplicial polytopes to the setting of lattice polytopes. In particular, we derive general Dehn-Sommerville-type relations between $h^\ast(P)$ and $h^\ast(\partial P)$. Under the additional assumption of $\partial P$ admitting a regular unimodular triangulation, we recover old and prove new characterization results concerning symmetry or unimodality, as well as upper and lower bounds for coefficient-wise differences within $h^\ast(P)$.
title Boundary $h^\ast$-vectors and unimodular triangulations
topic Combinatorics
Commutative Algebra
05A15, 52B20, 13F65
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.24377