Odd length for even hyperoctahedral groups and signed generating functions

We define a new statistic on the even hyperoctahedral groups which is a natural analogue of the odd length statistic recently defined and studied on Coxeter groups of types $A$ and $B$. We compute the signed (by length) generating function of this statistic over the whole group and over its maximal and some other quotients and show that it always factors nicely. We also present some conjectures

A symmetric unimodal decomposition of the derangement polynomial of type BB

The derangement polynomial $d_n (x)$ for the symmetric group enumerates derangements by the number of excedances. The derangement polynomial $d^B_n(x)$ for the hyperoctahedral group is a natural type $B$ analogue. A new combinatorial formula for this polynomial is given in this paper. This formula implies that $d^B_n (x)$ decomposes as a sum of two nonnegative, symmetric and unimodal polynomials whose centers of symmetry differ by a half and thus provides a new transparent proof of its unimodality. A geometric interpretation, analogous to Stanley's interpretation of $d_n (x)$ as the local $h$-polynomial of the barycentric subdivision of the simplex, is given to one of the summands of this decomposition. This interpretation leads to a unimodal decomposition and a new formula for the Eulerian polynomial of type $B$. The various decomposing polynomials introduced here are also studied in terms of recurrences, generating functions, combinatorial interpretations, expansions and real-rootedness.Comment: Changes in Remark 7.3 and the bibliograph