Four symmetry classes of plane partitions under one roof

In previous paper, the author applied the permanent-determinant method of Kasteleyn and its non-bipartite generalization, the Hafnian-Pfaffian method, to obtain a determinant or a Pfaffian that enumerates each of the ten symmetry classes of plane partitions. After a cosmetic generalization of the Kasteleyn method, we identify the matrices in the four determinantal cases (plain plane partitions, cyclically symmetric plane partitions, transpose-complement plane partitions, and the intersection of the last two types) in the representation theory of sl(2,C). The result is a unified proof of the four enumerations

The equivalence between enumerating cyclically symmetric, self-complementary and totally symmetric, self-complementary plane partitions

We prove that the number of cyclically symmetric, self-complementary plane partitions contained in a cube of side $2n$ equals the square of the number of totally symmetric, self-complementary plane partitions contained in the same cube, without explicitly evaluating either of these numbers. This appears to be the first direct proof of this fact. The problem of finding such a proof was suggested by Stanley

A factorization theorem for lozenge tilings of a hexagon with triangular holes

In this paper we present a combinatorial generalization of the fact that the number of plane partitions that fit in a $2a\times b\times b$ box is equal to the number of such plane partitions that are symmetric, times the number of such plane partitions for which the transpose is the same as the complement. We use the equivalent phrasing of this identity in terms of symmetry classes of lozenge tilings of a hexagon on the triangular lattice. Our generalization consists of allowing the hexagon have certain symmetrically placed holes along its horizontal symmetry axis. The special case when there are no holes can be viewed as a new, simpler proof of the enumeration of symmetric plane partitions.Comment: 20 page

Symmetry classes of alternating-sign matrices under one roof

In a previous article [math.CO/9712207], we derived the alternating-sign matrix (ASM) theorem from the Izergin-Korepin determinant for a partition function for square ice with domain wall boundary. Here we show that the same argument enumerates three other symmetry classes of alternating-sign matrices: VSASMs (vertically symmetric ASMs), even HTSASMs (half-turn-symmetric ASMs), and even QTSASMs (quarter-turn-symmetric ASMs). The VSASM enumeration was conjectured by Mills; the others by Robbins [math.CO/0008045]. We introduce several new types of ASMs: UASMs (ASMs with a U-turn side), UUASMs (two U-turn sides), OSASMs (off-diagonally symmetric ASMs), OOSASMs (off-diagonally, off-antidiagonally symmetric), and UOSASMs (off-diagonally symmetric with U-turn sides). UASMs generalize VSASMs, while UUASMs generalize VHSASMs (vertically and horizontally symmetric ASMs) and another new class, VHPASMs (vertically and horizontally perverse). OSASMs, OOSASMs, and UOSASMs are related to the remaining symmetry classes of ASMs, namely DSASMs (diagonally symmetric), DASASMs (diagonally, anti-diagonally symmetric), and TSASMs (totally symmetric ASMs). We enumerate several of these new classes, and we provide several 2-enumerations and 3-enumerations. Our main technical tool is a set of multi-parameter determinant and Pfaffian formulas generalizing the Izergin-Korepin determinant for ASMs and the Tsuchiya determinant for UASMs [solv-int/9804010]. We evaluate specializations of the determinants and Pfaffians using the factor exhaustion method.Comment: 16 pages, 16 inline figures. Introduction rewritten with more motivation and context. To appear in the Annals of Mathematic

Factorization theorems for classical group characters, with applications to alternating sign matrices and plane partitions

We show that, for a certain class of partitions and an even number of variables of which half are reciprocals of the other half, Schur polynomials can be factorized into products of odd and even orthogonal characters. We also obtain related factorizations involving sums of two Schur polynomials, and certain odd-sized sets of variables. Our results generalize the factorization identities proved by Ciucu and Krattenthaler (Advances in combinatorial mathematics, 39-59, 2009) for partitions of rectangular shape. We observe that if, in some of the results, the partitions are taken to have rectangular or double-staircase shapes and all of the variables are set to 1, then factorization identities for numbers of certain plane partitions, alternating sign matrices and related combinatorial objects are obtained.Comment: 22 pages; v2: minor changes, published versio

Exact conjectured expressions for correlations in the dense O(1)(1) loop model on cylinders

We present conjectured exact expressions for two types of correlations in the dense O$(n=1)$ loop model on $L\times \infty$ square lattices with periodic boundary conditions. These are the probability that a point is surrounded by $m$ loops and the probability that $k$ consecutive points on a row are on the same or on different loops. The dense O$(n=1)$ loop model is equivalent to the bond percolation model at the critical point. The former probability can be interpreted in terms of the bond percolation problem as giving the probability that a vertex is on a cluster that is surrounded by \floor{m/2} clusters and \floor{(m+1)/2} dual clusters. The conjectured expression for this probability involves a binomial determinant that is known to give weighted enumerations of cyclically symmetric plane partitions and also of certain types of families of nonintersecting lattice paths. By applying Coulomb gas methods to the dense O$(n=1)$ loop model, we obtain new conjectures for the asymptotics of this binomial determinant.Comment: 17 pages, replaced by version accepted by JSTA

On the link pattern distribution of quarter-turn symmetric FPL configurations

We present new conjectures on the distribution of link patterns for fully-packed loop (FPL) configurations that are invariant, or almost invariant, under a quarter turn rotation, extending previous conjectures of Razumov and Stroganov and of de Gier. We prove a special case, showing that the link pattern that is conjectured to be the rarest does have the prescribed probability. As a byproduct, we get a formula for the enumeration of a new class of quasi-symmetry of plane partitions.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures. Submitted to FPSAC 200