Enumerating lattices of subsets

Abstract

Given k sets such that no one is contained in another, there is an associated lattice on the power set P([k]) corresponding to inclusion relations among unions of the sets. Two lattices on P([k]) are equivalent if there is a permutation of [k] under which they correspond. We show that for k=1, 2, 3, and 4, there are 1, 1, 4, and 50 equivalence classes of lattices on P([k]) obtained from sets in this way. We cannot find a reference to previous work on this enumeration problem in the literature, and so wish to introduce it for subsequent investigation. We explain how the problem arose from algebraic topology.

Revised version submitted for publication. Slight expansion of algebraic topology discussion