Zero-divisor graph and comaximal graph of rings of continuous functions with countable range

TL;DR

This paper explores the properties and relationships of zero divisor and comaximal graphs of rings of continuous functions with countable range, revealing conditions for their complementarity and isomorphism based on space properties.

Contribution

It introduces new conditions under which these graphs are complemented or isomorphic, connecting graph properties to topological features of the underlying space.

Findings

Graphs exhibit similar diameters, girths, connectedness, and triangulatedness.

Complementarity of graphs depends on the compactness of minimal prime ideals and space properties.

Isomorphism of graphs occurs for countable discrete spaces, with the converse under continuum hypothesis.

Abstract

In this paper, two outwardly different graphs, namely, the zero divisor graph $\Gamma(C_c(X))$ and the comaximal graph $\Gamma_2^{'}(C_c(X))$ of the ring $C_c(X)$ of all real-valued continuous functions having countable range, defined on any Hausdorff zero dimensional space $X$, are investigated. It is observed that these two graphs exhibit resemblance, so far as the diameters, girths, connectedness, triangulatedness or hypertriangulatedness. are concerned. However, the study reveals that the zero divisor graph $\Gamma(A_c(X))$ of an intermediate ring $A_c(X)$ of $C_c(X)$ is complemented if and only if the space of all minimal prime ideals of $A_c(X)$ is compact. Moreover, $\Gamma(C_c(X))$ is complemented when and only when its subgraph $\Gamma(A_c(X))$ is complemented. On the other hand, the comaximal graph of $C_c(X)$ is complemented if and only if the comaximal graph of its over-ring $C(X)$ is complemented and the latter graph is known to be complemented if and only if $X$ is a $P$-space. Indeed, for a large class of spaces (i.e., for perfectly normal, strongly zero dimensional spaces which are not P-spaces), $\Gamma(C_c(X))$ and $\Gamma_2^{'}(C_c(X))$ are seen to be non-isomorphic. Defining appropriately the quotient of a graph, it is utilised to establish that for a discrete space $X$, $\Gamma(C_c(X))$ (= $\Gamma(C(X))$) and $\Gamma_2^{'}(C_c(X))$ (= $\Gamma_2^{'}(C(X))$) are isomorphic, if $X$ is atmost countable. Under the assumption of continuum hypothesis, the converse of this result is also shown to be true.