Open boundary Quantum Knizhnik-Zamolodchikov equation and the weighted enumeration of Plane Partitions with symmetries

We propose new conjectures relating sum rules for the polynomial solution of the qKZ equation with open (reflecting) boundaries as a function of the quantum parameter $q$ and the $\tau$-enumeration of Plane Partitions with specific symmetries, with $\tau=-(q+q^{-1})$. We also find a conjectural relation \`a la Razumov-Stroganov between the $\tau\to 0$ limit of the qKZ solution and refined numbers of Totally Symmetric Self Complementary Plane Partitions.Comment: 27 pages, uses lanlmac, epsf and hyperbasics, minor revision

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

Sum rules for the ground states of the O(1) loop model on a cylinder and the XXZ spin chain

The sums of components of the ground states of the O(1) loop model on a cylinder or of the XXZ quantum spin chain at Delta=-1/2 (of size L) are expressed in terms of combinatorial numbers. The methods include the introduction of spectral parameters and the use of integrability, a mapping from size L to L+1, and knot-theoretic skein relations.Comment: final version to be publishe

Non-Commutative Geometry and Twisted Conformal Symmetry

The twist-deformed conformal algebra is constructed as a Hopf algebra with twisted co-product. This allows for the definition of conformal symmetry in a non-commutative background geometry. The twisted co-product is reviewed for the Poincar\'e algebra and the construction is then extended to the full conformal algebra. It is demonstrated that conformal invariance need not be viewed as incompatible with non-commutative geometry; the non-commutativity of the coordinates appears as a consequence of the twisting, as has been shown in the literature in the case of the twisted Poincar\'e algebra.Comment: 8 pages; REVTeX; V2: Reference adde

Loop model with mixed boundary conditions, qKZ equation and alternating sign matrices

The integrable loop model with mixed boundary conditions based on the 1-boundary extended Temperley--Lieb algebra with loop weight 1 is considered. The corresponding qKZ equation is introduced and its minimal degree solution described. As a result, the sum of the properly normalized components of the ground state in size L is computed and shown to be equal to the number of Horizontally and Vertically Symmetric Alternating Sign Matrices of size 2L+3. A refined counting is also considered

Correlation Plenoptic Imaging With Entangled Photons

Plenoptic imaging is a novel optical technique for three-dimensional imaging in a single shot. It is enabled by the simultaneous measurement of both the location and the propagation direction of light in a given scene. In the standard approach, the maximum spatial and angular resolutions are inversely proportional, and so are the resolution and the maximum achievable depth of focus of the 3D image. We have recently proposed a method to overcome such fundamental limits by combining plenoptic imaging with an intriguing correlation remote-imaging technique: ghost imaging. Here, we theoretically demonstrate that correlation plenoptic imaging can be effectively achieved by exploiting the position-momentum entanglement characterizing spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) photon pairs. As a proof-of-principle demonstration, we shall show that correlation plenoptic imaging with entangled photons may enable the refocusing of an out-of-focus image at the same depth of focus of a standard plenoptic device, but without sacrificing diffraction-limited image resolution.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figure

The Razumov-Stroganov conjecture: Stochastic processes, loops and combinatorics

A fascinating conjectural connection between statistical mechanics and combinatorics has in the past five years led to the publication of a number of papers in various areas, including stochastic processes, solvable lattice models and supersymmetry. This connection, known as the Razumov-Stroganov conjecture, expresses eigenstates of physical systems in terms of objects known from combinatorics, which is the mathematical theory of counting. This note intends to explain this connection in light of the recent papers by Zinn-Justin and Di Francesco.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, JSTAT News & Perspective

Torus Amplitudes in Minimal Liouville Gravity and Matrix Models

We evaluate one-point correlation numbers on the torus in the Liouville theory coupled to the conformal matter M(2,2p+1). We find agreement with the recent results obtained in the matrix model approach.Comment: 10 page

Polynomial solutions of qKZ equation and ground state of XXZ spin chain at Delta = -1/2

Integral formulae for polynomial solutions of the quantum Knizhnik-Zamolodchikov equations associated with the R-matrix of the six-vertex model are considered. It is proved that when the deformation parameter q is equal to e^{+- 2 pi i/3} and the number of vertical lines of the lattice is odd, the solution under consideration is an eigenvector of the inhomogeneous transfer matrix of the six-vertex model. In the homogeneous limit it is a ground state eigenvector of the antiferromagnetic XXZ spin chain with the anisotropy parameter Delta equal to -1/2 and odd number of sites. The obtained integral representations for the components of this eigenvector allow to prove some conjectures on its properties formulated earlier. A new statement relating the ground state components of XXZ spin chains and Temperley-Lieb loop models is formulated and proved.Comment: v2: cosmetic changes, new section on refined TSSCPPs vs refined ASM

Inhomogeneous loop models with open boundaries

We consider the crossing and non-crossing O(1) dense loop models on a semi-infinite strip, with inhomogeneities (spectral parameters) that preserve the integrability. We compute the components of the ground state vector and obtain a closed expression for their sum, in the form of Pfaffian and determinantal formulas.Comment: 42 pages, 31 figures, minor corrections, references correcte