Spectral problem on graphs and L-functions

The scattering process on multiloop infinite p+1-valent graphs (generalized trees) is studied. These graphs are discrete spaces being quotients of the uniform tree over free acting discrete subgroups of the projective group $PGL(2, {\bf Q}_p)$. As the homogeneous spaces, they are, in fact, identical to p-adic multiloop surfaces. The Ihara-Selberg L-function is associated with the finite subgraph-the reduced graph containing all loops of the generalized tree. We study the spectral problem on these graphs, for which we introduce the notion of spherical functions-eigenfunctions of a discrete Laplace operator acting on the graph. We define the S-matrix and prove its unitarity. We present a proof of the Hashimoto-Bass theorem expressing L-function of any finite (reduced) graph via determinant of a local operator $\Delta(u)$ acting on this graph and relate the S-matrix determinant to this L-function thus obtaining the analogue of the Selberg trace formula. The discrete spectrum points are also determined and classified by the L-function. Numerous examples of L-function calculations are presented.Comment: 39 pages, LaTeX, to appear in Russ. Math. Sur

The enumeration of planar graphs via Wick's theorem

A seminal technique of theoretical physics called Wick's theorem interprets the Gaussian matrix integral of the products of the trace of powers of Hermitian matrices as the number of labelled maps with a given degree sequence, sorted by their Euler characteristics. This leads to the map enumeration results analogous to those obtained by combinatorial methods. In this paper we show that the enumeration of the graphs embeddable on a given 2-dimensional surface (a main research topic of contemporary enumerative combinatorics) can also be formulated as the Gaussian matrix integral of an ice-type partition function. Some of the most puzzling conjectures of discrete mathematics are related to the notion of the cycle double cover. We express the number of the graphs with a fixed directed cycle double cover as the Gaussian matrix integral of an Ihara-Selberg-type function.Comment: 23 pages, 2 figure