In the early 1980s, Mills, Robbins and Rumsey conjectured, and in 1996 Zeilberger proved a simple product formula for the number of $n \times n$ alternating sign matrices with a 1 at the top of the $i$-th column. We give an alternative proof of this formula using our operator formula for the number of monotone triangles with prescribed bottom row. In addition, we provide the enumeration of certain 0-1-(-1) matrices generalizing alternating sign matrices.
We construct a refined bijection $ϕ$ between alternating permutations and 0-1-2 increasing trees with degree at most 2. It satisfies that the first element of alternating permutation $π$ is equal to the first vertex in $ϕ(π)$ in the postorder.
This article introduces and investigates a refinement of alternating sign trapezoids by means of Catalan objects and Motzkin paths. Alternating sign trapezoids are a generalisation of alternating sign triangles, which were recently introduced by Ayyer, Behrend and Fischer. We show that the number of alternating sign trapezoids associated with a Catalan object (resp. Motzkin path) is a polynomial function in the length of the shorter base of the trapezoid. We also study the rational roots of the polynomials and formulate several conjectures and derive some partial results. Lastly, we deduce a c…
We prove a determinantal identity concerning Schur functions for 2-staircase diagrams lambda=(ln+l',ln,l(n-1)+l',l(n-1),...,l+l',l,l',0). When l=1 and l'=0 these functions are related to the partition function of the 6-vertex model at the combinatorial point and hence to enumerations of Alternating Sign Matrices. A consequence of our result is an identity concerning the doubly-refined enumerations of Alternating Sign Matrices.
In recent papers we have studied refined enumerations of alternating sign matrices with respect to a fixed set of top and bottom rows. The present paper is a first step towards extending these considerations to alternating sign matrices where in addition a number of left and right columns are fixed. The main result is a simple linear relation between the number of $n \times n$ alternating sign matrices where the top row as well as the left and the right column is fixed and the number of $n \times n$ alternating sign matrices where the two top rows and the bottom row is fixed. This may be seen …
Alternating sign trapezoids have recently been introduced as a generalisation of alternating sign triangles. Fischer established a threefold refined enumeration of alternating sign trapezoids and provided three statistics on column strict shifted plane partitions with the same joint distribution. In this paper, we are able to add a new pair of statistics to these results. More precisely, we consider the number of $-1$s on alternating sign trapezoids and introduce a corresponding statistic on column strict shifted plane partitions that has the same distribution. More generally, we show that the…
Halved monotone triangles are a generalisation of vertically symmetric alternating sign matrices (VSASMs). We provide a weighted enumeration of halved monotone triangles with respect to a parameter which generalises the number of $-1$s in a VSASM. Among other things, this enables us to establish a generating function for vertically symmetric alternating sign trapezoids. Our results are mainly presented in terms of constant term expressions. For the proofs, we exploit Fischer's method of operator formulae as a key tool.
Mills, Robbins, and Rumsey conjectured, and Zeilberger proved, that the number of alternating sign matrices of order $n$ equals $A(n):={{1!4!7! ... (3n-2)!} \over {n!(n+1)! ... (2n-1)!}}$. Mills, Robbins, and Rumsey also made the stronger conjecture that the number of such matrices whose (unique) `1' of the first row is at the $r^{th}$ column, equals $A(n) {{n+r-2} \choose {n-1}}{{2n-1-r} \choose {n-1}}/ {{3n-2} \choose {n-1}}$. Standing on the shoulders of A.G. Izergin, V. E. Korepin, and G. Kuperberg, and using in addition orthogonal polynomials and $q$-calculus, this stronger conjecture is …
In 2007, the first author gave an alternative proof of the refined alternating sign matrix theorem by introducing a linear equation system that determines the refined ASM numbers uniquely. Computer experiments suggest that the numbers appearing in a conjecture concerning the number of vertically symmetric alternating sign matrices with respect to the position of the first 1 in the second row of the matrix establish the solution of a linear equation system similar to the one for the ordinary refined ASM numbers. In this paper we show how our attempt to prove this fact naturally leads to a more …
We prove the equality of doubly refined enumerations of Alternating Sign Matrices and of Totally Symmetric Self-Complementary Plane Partitions using integral formulae originating from certain solutions of the quantum Knizhnik--Zamolodchikov equation.
Zeilberger proved the Refined Alternating Sign Matrix Theorem, which gives a product formula, first conjectured by Mills, Robbins and Rumsey, for the number of alternating sign matrices with given top row. Stroganov proved an explicit formula for the number of alternating sign matrices with given top and bottom rows. Fischer and Romik considered a different kind of "doubly-refined enumeration" where one counts alternating sign matrices with given top two rows, and obtained partial results on this enumeration. In this paper we continue the study of the doubly-refined enumeration with respect to…
Lecture notes for the proceedings of the workshop "Algebraic Combinatorics related to Young diagram and statistical physics", Aug. 6-10 2012, I.I.A.S., Nara, Japan.
We prove refined enumeration results on several symmetry classes as well as related classes of alternating sign matrices with respect to classical boundary statistics, using the six-vertex model of statistical physics. More precisely, we study vertically symmetric, vertically and horizontally symmetric, vertically and horizontally perverse, off-diagonally and off-antidiagonally symmetric, vertically and off-diagonally symmetric, quarter turn symmetric as well as quasi quarter turn symmetric alternating sign matrices. Our results prove conjectures of Fischer, Duchon and Robbins.
We study a further refinement of the standard refined enumeration of alternating sign matrices (ASMs) according to their first two rows instead of just the first row, and more general "d-refined" enumerations of ASMs according to the first d rows. For the doubly-refined case of d=2, we derive a system of linear equations satisfied by the doubly-refined enumeration numbers A_{n,i,j} that enumerate such matrices. We give a conjectural explicit formula for A_{n,i,j} and formulate several other conjectures about the sufficiency of the linear equations to determine the A_{n,i,j}'s and about an exte…
Monotone triangles are plane integer arrays of triangular shape with certain monotonicity conditions along rows and diagonals. Their significance is mainly due to the fact that they correspond to $n \times n$ alternating sign matrices when prescribing $(1,2,...,n)$ as bottom row of the array. We define monotone $(d,m)$--trapezoids as monotone triangles with $m$ rows where the $d-1$ top rows are removed. (These objects are also equivalent to certain partial alternating sign matrices.) It is known that the number of monotone triangles with bottom row $(k_1,...,k_n)$ is given by a polynomial $α(n…
An explicit expression for the numbers $A(n,r;3)$ describing the refined 3-enumeration of alternating sign matrices is given. The derivation is based on the recent results of Stroganov for the corresponding generating function. As a result, $A(n,r;3)$'s are represented as 1-fold sums which can also be written in terms of terminating ${}_4F_3$ series of argument 1/4.
Using determinant representations for partition functions of the corresponding square ice models and the method proposed recently by one of the authors, we investigate refined enumerations of vertically symmetric alternating-sign matrices, off-diagonally symmetric alternating-sign matrices and alternating-sign matrices with U-turn boundary. For all these cases the explicit formulas for refined enumerations are found. It particular, Kutin-Yuen conjecture is proved.
The refined enumeration of alternating sign matrices (ASMs) of given order having prescribed behavior near one or more of their boundary edges has been the subject of extensive study, starting with the Refined Alternating Sign Matrix Conjecture of Mills-Robbins-Rumsey, its proof by Zeilberger, and more recent work on doubly-refined and triply-refined enumeration by several authors. In this paper we extend the previously known results on this problem by deriving explicit enumeration formulas for the "top-left-bottom" (triply-refined) and "top-left-bottom-right" (quadruply-refined) enumerations.…
We prove and conjecture some new symmetric function identities, which equate the generating series of 1. Plane partitions, subject to certain restrictions and weightings, and 2. Alternating sign matrices, subject to certain symmetry properties. The left hand side of each of our identities is a simple refinement of a relevant Cauchy or Littlewood identity, allowing them to be interpreted as generating series for plane partitions. The right hand side of each identity is a partition function of the six-vertex model, on a relevant domain. These can be interpreted as generating series for alternati…
Four natural boundary statistics and two natural bulk statistics are considered for alternating sign matrices (ASMs). Specifically, these statistics are the positions of the 1's in the first and last rows and columns of an ASM, and the numbers of generalized inversions and -1's in an ASM. Previously-known and related results for the exact enumeration of ASMs with prescribed values of some of these statistics are discussed in detail. A quadratic relation which recursively determines the generating function associated with all six statistics is then obtained. This relation also leads to various …
In this paper we settle a weak version of a conjecture (i.e. Conjecture 6) by Mills, Robbins and Rumsey in the paper "Self-complementary totally symmetric plane partitions" (J. Combin. Theory Ser. A 42, 277-292). In other words we show that the number of shifted plane partitions invariant under an involution is equal to the number of alternating sign matrices invariant under the vertical flip. We also give a determinantal formula for the general conjecture (Conjecture 6), but this determinant is still hard to evaluate. In this paper we introduce two new classes of domino plane partitions, one …
A classical result of Euler states that the tangent numbers are an alternating sum of Eulerian numbers. A dual result of Roselle states that the secant numbers can be obtained by a signed enumeration of derangements. We show that both identities can be refined with the following statistics: the number of crossings in permutations and derangements, and the number of patterns 31-2 in alternating permutations. Using previous results of Corteel, Rubey, Prellberg, and the author, we derive closed formulas for both q-tangent and q-secant numbers. There are two different methods to obtain these formu…
We extend a previous conjecture [cond-mat/0407477] relating the Perron-Frobenius eigenvector of the monodromy matrix of the O(1) loop model to refined numbers of alternating sign matrices. By considering the O(1) loop model on a semi-infinite cylinder with dislocations, we obtain the generating function for alternating sign matrices with prescribed positions of 1's on their top and bottom rows. This seems to indicate a deep correspondence between observables in both models.
We study the Schur polynomial expansion of a family of symmetric polynomials related to the refined enumeration of alternating sign matrices with respect to their inversion number, complementary inversion number and the position of the unique $1$ in the top row. We prove that the expansion can be expressed as a sum over totally symmetric plane partitions and we are also able to determine the coefficients. This establishes a new connection between alternating sign matrices and a class of plane partitions, thereby complementing the fact that alternating sign matrices are equinumerous with totall…
We extend the Razumov-Stroganov conjecture relating the groundstate of the O(1) spin chain to alternating sign matrices, by relating the groundstate of the monodromy matrix of the O(1) model to the so-called refined alternating sign matrices, i.e. with prescribed configuration of their first row, as well as to refined fully-packed loop configurations on a square grid, keeping track both of the loop connectivity and of the configuration of their top row. We also conjecture a direct relation between this groundstate and refined totally symmetric self-complementary plane partitions, namely, in th…
It was shown recently by the authors that, for any n, there is equality between the distributions of certain triplets of statistics on nxn alternating sign matrices (ASMs) and descending plane partitions (DPPs) with each part at most n. The statistics for an ASM A are the number of generalized inversions in A, the number of -1's in A and the number of 0's to the left of the 1 in the first row of A, and the respective statistics for a DPP D are the number of nonspecial parts in D, the number of special parts in D and the number of n's in D. Here, the result is generalized to include a fourth st…
The integrable loop model with mixed boundary conditions based on the 1-boundary extended Temperley--Lieb algebra with loop weight 1 is considered. The corresponding qKZ equation is introduced and its minimal degree solution described. As a result, the sum of the properly normalized components of the ground state in size L is computed and shown to be equal to the number of Horizontally and Vertically Symmetric Alternating Sign Matrices of size 2L+3. A refined counting is also considered.
Alternating sign triangles (ASTs) have recently been introduced by Ayyer, Behrend and the author, and it was proven that there is the same number of ASTs with n rows as there is of nxn alternating sign matrices (ASMs). We prove a conjecture by Behrend on a refined enumeration of ASTs with respect to a statistic that is shown to have the same distribution as the column of the unique 1 in the top row of an ASM. The proof of the conjecture is based on a certain multivariate generating function of ASTs that takes the positions of the columns with sum 1 (1-columns) into account. We also prove a cur…
The six-vertex model with Domain Wall Boundary Conditions, or square ice, is considered for particular values of its parameters, corresponding to 1-, 2-, and 3-enumerations of Alternating Sign Matrices (ASMs). Using Hankel determinant representations for the partition function and the boundary correlator of homogeneous square ice, it is shown how the ordinary and refined enumerations can be derived in a very simple and straightforward way. The derivation is based on the standard relationship between Hankel determinants and orthogonal polynomials. For the particular sets of parameters correspon…
Pattern avoidance in alternating sign rectangles I: Extended avoidance
University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics（卢布尔雅那大学数学物理学院）；Institute for Mathematics, Physics and Mechanics（数学、物理与力学研究所）；KTH Royal Institute of Technology（瑞典皇家理工学院）
Alternating sign triangles were introduced by Carroll and Speyer in relation to cube recurrence, by analogy to alternating sign matrices for octahedron recurrence. In this paper, we prove the connectivity of alternating sign triangles, which is analogous to the connectivity of alternating sign matrices.
Alternating sign triangles were introduced by Carroll and Speyer in relation to cube recurrence, by analogy to alternating sign matrices for octahedron recurrence. Permutation triangles are the alternating sign triangles whose entries are either 0 or 1, by analogy with permutation matrices. In this paper, we prove a simple characterization of permutation triangles, originally conjectured by Glick. We will also prove some properties of alternating sign triangles.
We initiate a study of the zero-nonzero patterns of n by n alternating sign matrices. We characterize the row (column) sum vectors of these patterns and determine their minimum term rank. In the case of connected alternating sign matrices, we find the minimum number of nonzero entries and characterize the case of equality. We also study symmetric alternating sign matrices, in particular, those with only zeros on the main diagonal. These give rise to alternating signed graphs without loops, and we determine the maximum number of edges in such graphs. We also consider n by n alternating sign mat…
We extend the author's formula (2011) of weighted counting of inversions on permutations to the one on alternating sign matrices. The proof is based on the sequential construction of alternating sign matrices from the unit matrix recently shown by Brualdi-Schroeder and the author (both 2017) independently.
A conjecture by R. Stanley on a class of alternating permutations, which is proved by R. Chapman and L. Williams states that alternating permutations with the maximal number of fixed points is equidistributed with derangements. We extend this (type $A$) result to type $B$: We prove that various classes of alternating signed permutations with the maximal number of fixed points is equidistributed with certain types of derangements (of type $B$), respectively.
We prove two identities of Hall-Littlewood polynomials, which appeared recently in a paper by two of the authors. We also conjecture, and in some cases prove, new identities which relate infinite sums of symmetric polynomials and partition functions associated with symmetry classes of alternating sign matrices. These identities generalize those already found in our earlier paper, via the introduction of additional parameters. The left hand side of each of our identities is a simple refinement of a relevant Cauchy or Littlewood identity. The right hand side of each identity is (one of the two f…
The aim of this work is to enumerate alternating sign matrices (ASM) that are quasi-invariant under a quarter-turn. The enumeration formula (conjectured by Duchon) involves, as a product of three terms, the number of unrestricted ASM's and the number of half-turn symmetric ASM's.
Lascoux and Schützenberger introduced a notion of key associated to any Young tableau. More recently Lascoux defined the key of an alternating sign matrix by recursively removing all -1's in such matrices. But alternating sign matrices are in bijection with monotone triangles, which form a subclass of Young tableaux. We show that in this case these two notions of keys coincide. Moreover we obtain an elegant and direct way to compute the key of any Young tableau, and discuss consequences of our result.
In alternating sign matrices the first and last nonzero entry in each row and column is specified to be +1. Such matrices always exist. We investigate a generalization by specifying independently the sign of the first and last nonzero entry in each row and column to be either a +1 or a -1. We determine necessary and sufficient conditions for such matrices to exist.
The aim of this work is to enumerate alternating sign matrices (ASM) that are quasi-invariant under a quarter-turn. The enumeration formula (conjectured by Duchon) involves, as a product of three terms, the number of unrestricted ASM's and the number of half-turn symmetric ASM's.
Robbins conjectured, and Zeilberger recently proved, that there are 1!4!7!...(3n-2)!/n!/(n+1)!/.../(2n-1)! alternating sign matrices of order n. We give a new proof of this result using an analysis of the six-vertex state model (also called square ice) based on the Yang-Baxter equation.
We define the alternating sign matrix polytope as the convex hull of nxn alternating sign matrices and prove its equivalent description in terms of inequalities. This is analogous to the well known result of Birkhoff and von Neumann that the convex hull of the permutation matrices equals the set of all nonnegative doubly stochastic matrices. We count the facets and vertices of the alternating sign matrix polytope and describe its projection to the permutohedron as well as give a complete characterization of its face lattice in terms of modified square ice configurations. Furthermore we prove t…
We compute 2-enumerations of certain halved alternating sign matrices. In one case the enumeration equals the number of perfect matchings of a halved Aztec diamond. In the other case the enumeration equals the number of perfect matchings of a halved fortress graph. Our results prove three conjectures by Jim Propp.
Alternating sign matrices with a U-turn boundary (UASMs) are a recent generalization of ordinary alternating sign matrices. Here we show that variations of these matrices are in bijective correspondence with certain symplectic shifted tableaux that were recently introduced in the context of a symplectic version of Tokuyama's deformation of Weyl's denominator formula. This bijection yields a formula for the weighted enumeration of UASMs. In this connection use is made of the link between UASMs and certain square ice configuration matrices.
We construct weight-preserving bijections between column strict shifted plane partitions with one row and alternating sign trapezoids with exactly one column in the left half that sums to $1$. Amongst other things, they relate the number of $-1$s in the alternating sign trapezoids to certain elements in the column strict shifted plane partitions that generalise the notion of special parts in descending plane partitions. The advantage of these bijections is that they include configurations with $-1$s, which is a feature that many of the bijections in the realm of alternating sign arrays lack.
An alternating sign matrix is a square matrix with entries 1, 0 and -1 such that the sum of the entries in each row and each column is equal to 1 and the nonzero entries alternate in sign along each row and each column. To some of the symmetry classes of alternating sign matrices and their variations, G. Kuperberg associate square ice models with appropriate boundary conditions, and give determinanat and Pfaffian formulae for the partition functions. In this paper, we utilize several determinant and Pfaffian identities to evaluate Kuperberg's determinants and Pfaffians, and express the round p…
We investigate alternating sign matrices that are not permutation matrices, but have finite order in a general linear group. We classify all such examples of the form $P+T$, where $P$ is a permutation matrix and $T$ has four non-zero entries, forming a square with entries $1$ and $-1$ in each row and column. We show that the multiplicative orders of these matrices do not always coincide with those of permutation matrices of the same size. We pose the problem of identifying finite subgroups of general linear groups that are generated by alternating sign matrices.
For an integer $n\geq 1$, we display a poset $Φ_n$ whose maximal chains are in bijection with the $n\times n$ alternating sign matrices. The Hasse diagram $\widehat Φ_n$ is obtained from the $n$-cube by adding some edges. We show that the dihedral group $D_{2n}$ acts on $\widehat Φ_n$ as a group of automorphisms.
We define a bijection that transforms an alternating sign matrix A with one -1 into a pair (N,E) where N is a (so called) ``neutral'' alternating sign matrix (with one -1) and E is an integer. The bijection preserves the classical parameters of Mills, Robbins and Rumsey as well as three new parameters (including E). It translates vertical reflection of A into vertical reflection of N. A hidden symmetry allows the interchange of E with one of the remaining two new parameters. A second bijection transforms (N,E) into a configuration of lattice paths called ``mixed configuration''.
I give a survey of different combinatorial forms of alternating-sign matrices, starting with the original form introduced by Mills, Robbins and Rumsey as well as corner-sum matrices, height-function matrices, three-colorings, monotone triangles, tetrahedral order ideals, square ice, gasket-and-basket tilings and full packings of loops.
An alternating sign matrix, or ASM, is a $(0, \pm 1)$-matrix where the nonzero entries in each row and column alternate in sign. We generalize this notion to hypermatrices: an $n\times n\times n$ hypermatrix $A=[a_{ijk}]$ is an {\em alternating sign hypermatrix}, or ASHM, if each of its planes, obtained by fixing one of the three indices, is an ASM. Several results concerning ASHMs are shown, such as finding the maximum number of nonzeros of an $n\times n\times n$ ASHM, and properties related to Latin squares. Moreover, we investigate completion problems, in which one asks if a subhypermatrix …
We settle a question of Bressoud concerning the existence of an explicit bijection from a class of oriented square-ice graphs to a class of tournaments. We give an algorithm constructing such a bijection.
