Probability recurrences on simple graphs in a forest building process

Consider the following process on a simple graph with no isolated vertices: Randomly order the edges and remove an edge if and only if the edge is incident to two vertices already incident to some preceding edge. This process results in a spanning forest of the graph. Recurrences are given for the process for multiple families of graphs, and the probability of obtaining $k$ components in the above process is given by a new method for the Fan graph $F_{n-2,2}$. An approach to proving a previously published conjecture is also discussed

Enumerative Theory for the Tsetlin Library

The Tsetlin library is a well-studied Markov chain on the symmetric group $S_n$. It has stationary distribution $\pi(\sigma)$ the Luce model, a nonuniform distribution on $S_n$, which appears in psychology, horse race betting, and tournament poker. Simple enumerative questions, such as ``what is the distribution of the top $k$ cards?'' or ``what is the distribution of the bottom $k$ cards?'' are long open. We settle these questions and draw attention to a host of parallel questions on the extension to the chambers of a hyperplane arrangement.Comment: 23 pages, 1 figur