On Stanley-Reisner Rings with Minimal Betti Numbers

We study simplicial complexes with a given number of vertices whose Stanley-Reisner ring has the minimal possible Betti numbers. We find that these simplicial complexes have very special combinatorial and topological structures. For example, the Betti numbers of their Stanley-Reisner rings are given by the binomial coefficients, and their full subcomplexes are homotopy equivalent either to a point or to a sphere. These properties make it possible for us to either classify them or construct them inductively from instances with fewer vertices.