The Topology of the $m$-Tamari Lattices

Abstract

The $m$-Tamari lattices $\mathcal{T}_{n}^{(m)}$ were recently introduced by Bergeron and Pr\'eville-Ratelle as posets on $m$-Dyck paths, and it was shown by Bousquet-M\'elou, Fusy and Pr\'eville-Ratelle that these lattices form intervals in the classical Tamari lattice $\mathcal{T}_{nm}$. It follows from a theorem by Bj\"orner and Wachs and a basic property of EL-shellable posets, that the $m$-Tamari lattices are EL-shellable. In this article, we define a new EL-labeling of the $m$-Tamari lattices completely in terms of $m$-Dyck paths. With the help of this labeling, we compute the values of the M\"obius function of $\mathcal{T}_{n}^{(m)}$, and we characterize the intervals of $\mathcal{T}_{n}^{(m)}$ according to their topological properties.