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

An affine generalization of evacuation

We establish the existence of an involution on tabloids that is analogous to Schutzenberger's evacuation map on standard Young tableaux. We find that the number of its fixed points is given by evaluating a certain Green's polynomial at $q = -1$, and satisfies a "domino-like" recurrence relation.Comment: 32 pages, 7 figure

Truncated determinants and the refined enumeration of Alternating Sign Matrices and Descending Plane Partitions

Lecture notes for the proceedings of the workshop "Algebraic Combinatorics related to Young diagram and statistical physics", Aug. 6-10 2012, I.I.A.S., Nara, Japan.Comment: 25 pages, 8 figure

Quantum Knizhnik-Zamolodchikov equation: reflecting boundary conditions and combinatorics

We consider the level 1 solution of quantum Knizhnik-Zamolodchikov equation with reflecting boundary conditions which is relevant to the Temperley--Lieb model of loops on a strip. By use of integral formulae we prove conjectures relating it to the weighted enumeration of Cyclically Symmetric Transpose Complement Plane Partitions and related combinatorial objects

Reconceiving the Ninth Amendment

The courts long have protected constitutional rights that are not listed explicitly in the Constitution, but are they warranted in doing so? As scholars and commentators vigorously debate this and other questions about the appropriate role of judges in interpreting the Constitution, the Ninth Amendment has assumed increasing importance. Its declaration that [t]he enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people has suggested to many that the set of rights protected by the Constitution is not dosed and that judges may be authorized to protect these unenumerated rights on occasion

Deformed Kazhdan-Lusztig elements and Macdonald polynomials

We introduce deformations of Kazhdan-Lusztig elements and specialised nonsymmetric Macdonald polynomials, both of which form a distinguished basis of the polynomial representation of a maximal parabolic subalgebra of the Hecke algebra. We give explicit integral formula for these polynomials, and explicitly describe the transition matrices between classes of polynomials. We further develop a combinatorial interpretation of homogeneous evaluations using an expansion in terms of Schubert polynomials in the deformation parameters.Comment: major revision, 29 pages, 22 eps figure

Cluster expansion for abstract polymer models. New bounds from an old approach

We revisit the classical approach to cluster expansions, based on tree graphs, and establish a new convergence condition that improves those by Kotecky-Preiss and Dobrushin, as we show in some examples. The two ingredients of our approach are: (i) a careful consideration of the Penrose identity for truncated functions, and (ii) the use of iterated transformations to bound tree-graph expansions.Comment: 16 pages. This new version, written en reponse to the suggestions of the referees, includes more detailed introductory sections, a proof of the generalized Penrose identity and some additional results that follow from our treatmen