Combinatorially interpreting generalized Stirling numbers

Let $w$ be a word in alphabet $\{x,D\}$ with $m$ $x$'s and $n$ $D$'s. Interpreting "$x$" as multiplication by $x$, and "$D$" as differentiation with respect to $x$, the identity $wf(x) = x^{m-n}\sum_k S_w(k) x^k D^k f(x)$, valid for any smooth function $f(x)$, defines a sequence $(S_w(k))_k$, the terms of which we refer to as the {\em Stirling numbers (of the second kind)} of $w$. The nomenclature comes from the fact that when $w=(xD)^n$, we have $S_w(k)={n \brace k}$, the ordinary Stirling number of the second kind. Explicit expressions for, and identities satisfied by, the $S_w(k)$ have been obtained by numerous authors, and combinatorial interpretations have been presented. Here we provide a new combinatorial interpretation that retains the spirit of the familiar interpretation of ${n \brace k}$ as a count of partitions. Specifically, we associate to each $w$ a quasi-threshold graph $G_w$, and we show that $S_w(k)$ enumerates partitions of the vertex set of $G_w$ into classes that do not span an edge of $G_w$. We also discuss some relatives of, and consequences of, our interpretation, including $q$-analogs and bijections between families of labelled forests and sets of restricted partitions.Comment: To appear in Eur. J. Combin., doi:10.1016/j.ejc.2014.07.00

Eulerian digraphs and Dyck words, a bijection

The main goal of this work is to establish a bijection between Dyck words and a family of Eulerian digraphs. We do so by providing two algorithms implementing such bijection in both directions. The connection between Dyck words and Eulerian digraphs exploits a novel combinatorial structure: a binary matrix, we call Dyck matrix, representing the cycles of an Eulerian digraph

Note on Ward-Horadam H(x) - binomials' recurrences and related interpretations, II

We deliver here second new $\textit{H(x)}-binomials'$ recurrence formula, were $H(x)-binomials'$ array is appointed by $Ward-Horadam$ sequence of functions which in predominantly considered cases where chosen to be polynomials . Secondly, we supply a review of selected related combinatorial interpretations of generalized binomial coefficients. We then propose also a kind of transfer of interpretation of $p,q-binomial$ coefficients onto $q-binomial$ coefficients interpretations thus bringing us back to $Gy{\"{o}}rgy P\'olya$ and Donald Ervin Knuth relevant investigation decades ago.Comment: 57 pages, 8 figure

Boson Operator Ordering Identities from Generalized Stirling and Eulerian Numbers

Ordering identities in the Weyl-Heisenberg algebra generated by single-mode boson operators are investigated. A boson string composed of creation and annihilation operators can be expanded as a linear combination of other such strings, the simplest example being a normal ordering. The case when each string contains only one annihilation operator is already combinatorially nontrivial. Two kinds of expansion are derived: (i) that of a power of a string $\Omega$ in lower powers of another string $\Omega'$, and (ii) that of a power of $\Omega$ in twisted versions of the same power of $\Omega'$. The expansion coefficients are shown to be, respectively, the generalized Stirling numbers of Hsu and Shiue, and certain generalized Eulerian numbers. Many examples are given. These combinatorial numbers are binomial transforms of each other, and their theory is developed, emphasizing schemes for computing them: summation formulas, Graham-Knuth-Patashnik (GKP) triangular recurrences, terminating hypergeometric series, and closed-form expressions. The results on the first type of expansion subsume a number of previous results on the normal ordering of boson strings.Comment: 36 pages (preprint format

Normally ordered forms of powers of differential operators and their combinatorics

We investigate the combinatorics of the general formulas for the powers of the operator h∂k, where h is a central element of a ring and ∂ is a differential operator. This generalizes previous work on the powers of operators h∂. New formulas for the generalized Stirling numbers are obtained.Ministerio de Economía y competitividad MTM2016-75024-PJunta de Andalucía P12-FQM-2696Junta de Andalucía FQM–33