Linear recurrences for non-log-concave independence polynomials of trees
Abstract
We identify a structural pattern in the construction of known infinite families of trees whose independence polynomials are not log-concave. Using this pattern and properties of polynomial ring ideals, we derive linear recurrences for these polynomials. As a consequence, we prove that the set of non-isolated limit points of their zeros lies on the circle in the complex plane. Building on these recurrences, we also exhibit infinite families of trees whose independence polynomials break log-concavity at one, two, and three consecutive indices, as well as finite families that break log-concavity at four and five consecutive indices. Our approach suggests that arbitrarily many consecutive breaks may be achievable, offering further insight into a question posed by Galvin [D. Galvin, Trees with non log-concave independent set sequences, arXiv:2502.10654v1, 2025].
Cite
@article{arxiv.2603.14204,
title = {Linear recurrences for non-log-concave independence polynomials of trees},
author = {César Bautista-Ramos and Carlos Guillén-Galván and Paulino Gómez-Salgado},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2603.14204},
year = {2026}
}
Comments
13 pages, 4 figures