Reduced word enumeration, complexity, and randomization

A reduced word of a permutation $w$ is a minimal length expression of $w$ as a product of simple transpositions. We examine the computational complexity, formulas and (randomized) algorithms for their enumeration. In particular, we prove that the Edelman-Greene statistic, defined by S. Billey-B. Pawlowski, is typically exponentially large. This implies a result of B. Pawlowski, that it has exponentially growing expectation. Our result is established by a formal run-time analysis of A. Lascoux-M.-P. Sch\"utzenberger's transition algorithm. The more general problem of Hecke word enumeration, and its closely related question of counting set-valued standard Young tableaux, is also investigated. The latter enumeration problem is further motivated by work on Brill-Noether varieties due to M. Chan-N. Pflueger and D. Anderson-L. Chen-N. Tarasca.Comment: 23 pages. v2: added reference to University of Washington PhD thesis of B. Pawlowski, which proves a stronger version of Theorem 1.

Linear series on metrized complexes of algebraic curves

A metrized complex of algebraic curves is a finite metric graph together with a collection of marked complete nonsingular algebraic curves, one for each vertex, the marked points being in bijection with incident edges. We establish a Riemann-Roch theorem for metrized complexes of curves which generalizes both the classical Riemann-Roch theorem and its graph-theoretic and tropical analogues due to Baker-Norine, Gathmann-Kerber, and Mikhalkin-Zharkov. We also establish generalizations of the second author's specialization lemma and its weighted graph analogue due to Caporaso and the first author, showing that the rank of a divisor cannot go down under specialization from curves to metrized complexes. As an application of these considerations, we formulate a generalization of the Eisenbud-Harris theory of limit linear series to semistable curves which are not necessarily of compact type.Comment: Major revision taking into account comments of the referees, e.g., proofs are shortened and clarified, notations improved, changes in organization of the sections, etc. 45 page

Geometry of intersections of some secant varieties to algebraic curves

For a smooth projective curve, the cycles of subordinate or, more generally, secant divisors to a given linear series are among some of the most studied objects in classical enumerative geometry. We consider the intersection of two such cycles corresponding to secant divisors of two different linear series on the same curve and investigate the validity of the enumerative formulae counting the number of divisors in the intersection. We study some interesting cases, with unexpected transversality properties, and establish a general method to verify when this intersection is empty.Peer Reviewe

Classical Algebraic Geometry

[no abstract available

The Kodaira dimensions of M‾22\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{22} and M‾23\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{23}

We prove that the moduli spaces of curves of genus 22 and 23 are of general type. To do this, we calculate certain virtual divisor classes of small slope associated to linear series of rank 6 with quadric relations. We then develop new tropical methods for studying linear series and independence of quadrics and show that these virtual classes are represented by effective divisors.Comment: 94 pages, 27 figures; incorporates and supersedes arXiv:1804.01898 and arXiv:1808.0128

Scattering amplitudes of stable curves

Equations of hypertree divisors on the Grothendieck-Knudsen moduli space of stable rational curves, introduced by Castravet and Tevelev, appear as numerators of scattering amplitude forms for n massless particles in N=4 Yang-Mills theory in the work of Arkani-Hamed, Bourjaily, Cachazo, Postnikov and Trnka. Rather than being a coincidence, this is just the tip of the iceberg of an exciting relation between algebraic geometry and high energy physics. We interpret leading singularities of scattering amplitude forms of massless particles as probabilistic Brill-Noether theory: the study of statistics of images of n marked points under a random meromorphic function uniformly distributed with respect to the translation-invariant volume form of the Jacobian. We focus on the maximum helicity violating regime, which leads to a beautiful physics-inspired geometry for various classes of algebraic curves: smooth, stable, hyperelliptic, real algebraic, etc.Comment: 54 pages. A small section added on the non-MHV case and relation to Grassmannian amplitude