We characterize the rank of edge connection matrices of partition functions of real vertex models, as the dimension of the homogeneous components of the algebra of @math -invariant tensors. Here @math is the sub- group of the real orthogonal group that stabilizes the vertex model. This answers a question of Bal 'azs Szegedy from 2007.
Connection matrices were introduced in [M. Freedman, L. Lovasz, A. Schrijver, Reflection positivity, rank connectivity, and homomorphism of graphs (MSR Tech Report # MSR-TR-2004-41) ftp: ftp.research.microsoft.com pub tr TR-2004-41.pdf], where they were used to characterize graph homomorphism functions. The goal of this note is to determine the exact rank of these matrices. The result can be rephrased in terms of the dimension of graph algebras, also introduced in the same paper. Yet another version proves that if two k-tuples of nodes behave in the same way from the point of view of graph homomorphisms, then they are equivalent under the automorphism group.