The expected number of inversions after n adjacent transpositions

We give a new expression for the expected number of inversions in the product of n random adjacent transpositions in the symmetric group S_{m+1}. We then derive from this expression the asymptotic behaviour of this number when n scales with m in various ways. Our starting point is an equivalence, due to Eriksson et al., with a problem of weighted walks confined to a triangular area of the plane

The vertical profile of embedded trees

Consider a rooted binary tree with n nodes. Assign with the root the abscissa 0, and with the left (resp. right) child of a node of abscissa i the abscissa i-1 (resp. i+1). We prove that the number of binary trees of size n having exactly n_i nodes at abscissa i, for l =< i =< r (with n = sum_i n_i), is $$\frac{n_0}{n_l n_r} {{n_{-1}+n_1} \choose {n_0-1}} \prod_{l\le i\le r \atop i\not = 0}{{n_{i-1}+n_{i+1}-1} \choose {n_i-1}},$$ with n_{l-1}=n_{r+1}=0. The sequence (n_l, ..., n_{-1};n_0, ..., n_r) is called the vertical profile of the tree. The vertical profile of a uniform random tree of size n is known to converge, in a certain sense and after normalization, to a random mesure called the integrated superbrownian excursion, which motivates our interest in the profile. We prove similar looking formulas for other families of trees whose nodes are embedded in Z. We also refine these formulas by taking into account the number of nodes at abscissa j whose parent lies at abscissa i, and/or the number of vertices at abscissa i having a prescribed number of children at abscissa j, for all i and j. Our proofs are bijective.Comment: 47 page

Polynomial equations with one catalytic variable, algebraic series, and map enumeration

Let $F(t,u)\equiv F(u)$ be a formal power series in $t$ with polynomial coefficients in $u$. Let $F\_1, ..., F\_k$ be $k$ formal power series in $t$, independent of $u$. Assume all these series are characterized by a polynomial equation $$P(F(u), F\_1, ..., F\_k, t, u)=0.$$ We prove that, under a mild hypothesis on the form of this equation, these $(k+1)$ series are algebraic, and we give a strategy to compute a polynomial equation for each of them. This strategy generalizes the so-called kernel method, and quadratic method, which apply respectively to equations that are linear and quadratic in $F(u)$. Applications include the solution of numerous map enumeration problems, among which the hard-particle model on general planar maps