A normalization formula for the Jack polynomials in superspace and an identity on partitions (Q1028855)

The superspace is related with a collection of variables \((x,\theta)=(x_1,\dots,x_N,\theta_1,\dots,\theta_N)\) called, respectively, bosonic (commuting) and fermionic (anticommuting or Grassmannian). Symmetric functions in superspace are defined as the invariants of the \(\mathbb Q\)-algebra of polynomials in \((x,\theta)\) under the simultaneous permuting of the variables \(x_i\) and \(\theta_i\) by the elements of the symmetric group \(S_N\). Bases of the ring of symmetric functions in superspace can be indexed by superpartitions \(\Lambda\). A natural basis is given by the monomial functions \(m_{\Lambda}\); a less trivial basis consists of the Jack polynomials in superspace, \(J_{\Lambda}\), which generalize the usual Jack polynomials. These polynomials, depending on a parameter \(\alpha\), arise as eigenfunctions of a supersymmetric quantum-mechanical many-body problem. The main point of the paper under review is to prove a conjecture, stated in [\textit{P. Desrosiers}, \textit{L. Lapointe}, and \textit{P. Mathieu}, ``Orthogonality of Jack polynomials in superspace'', Adv. Math. 212, No.\,1, 361--388 (2007; Zbl 1123.05092)], giving an explicit expression for the coefficient \(m_{\Lambda_{\text{min}}}\) in \(J_{\Lambda}\), where \(\Lambda_{\text{ min}}\) is a superpartition which is minimal among the superpartitions in some order on superpartitions generalizing the dominance order on partitions. The result gives as a corollary an explicit form for the norm of the Jack polynomials in superspace with respect to a certain scalar product. A by-product of the proof is an interesting identity on partitions. The proof is mainly combinatorial and relies on the explicit expression in terms of admissible tableaux of the non-symmetric Jack polynomials. In the final step of the proof the authors use the methods of Gessel-Viennot to establish an identity on weighted sums of partitions.