Linear relations between face numbers of levels in arrangements

Abstract: We study linear relations between face numbers of levels in arrangements. Let $V = { v_1, \ldots, v_n } \subset \mathbf{R}^{r}$ be a vector configuration in general position, and let $\mathcal{A}(V)$ be polar dual arrangement of hemispheres in the $d$-dimensional unit sphere $S^d$, where $d=r-1$. For $0\leq s \leq d$ and $0 \leq t \leq n$, let $f_{s,t}(V)$ denote the number of faces of \emph{level} $t$ and dimension $d-s$ in the arrangement $\mathcal{A}(V)$ (these correspond to partitions $V=V_-\sqcup V_0 \sqcup V_+$ by linear hyperplanes with $|V_0|=s$ and $|V_-|=t$). We call the matrix $f(V):=[f_{s,t}(V)]$ the \emph{$f$-matrix} of $V$. Completing a long line of research on linear relations between face numbers of levels in arrangements, we determine, for every $n\geq r \geq 1$, the affine space $\mathfrak{F}{n,r}$ spanned by the $f$-matrices of configurations of $n$ vectors in general position in $\mathbf{R}^r$; moreover, we determine the subspace $\mathfrak{F}^0{n,r} \subset \mathfrak{F}_{n,r}$ spanned by all \emph{pointed} vector configurations (i.e., such that $V$ is contained in some open linear halfspace), which correspond to point sets in $\mathbf{R}^d$. This generalizes the classical fact that the Dehn--Sommerville relations generate all linear relations between the face numbers of simple polytopes (the faces at level $0$) and answers a question posed by Andrzejak and Welzl in 2003. The key notion for the statements and the proofs of our results is the $g$-matrix of a vector configuration, which determines the $f$-matrix and generalizes the classical $g$-vector of a polytope. By Gale duality, we also obtain analogous results for partitions of vector configurations by sign patterns of nontrivial linear dependencies, and for \emph{Radon partitions} of point sets in $\mathbf{R}^d$.