Binomial determinants for tiling problems yield to the holonomic ansatz (Q2237864)

This paper concerns two related families of determinants, namely, \[ D_{s,t}^\mu(n)=\det\Big(\binom{\mu+i+j+s+t-4}{j+t-1}+\delta_{i+s,j+t}\Big)_{1\le i,j\le n}, \] and \[ E_{s,t}^\mu(n)=\det\Big(\binom{\mu+i+j+s+t-4}{j+t-1}-\delta_{i+s,j+t}\Big)_{1\le i,j\le n}, \] where \(\delta\) denotes the Kronecker delta. These determinants arise when counting cyclically symmetric rhombus tilings of a hexagonal region with triangular holes. They were the subject of the Problem 34 and the Conjectures 35, 36, 37 in [\textit{C. Krattenthaler}, Linear Algebra Appl. 411, 68--166 (2005; Zbl 1079.05008)]. The problem 34 and the Conjectures 35 and 36 had been settled earlier, whereas the Conjecture 37 is resolved in the present work. The authors also resolve some conjectures made by some of them in [J. Comb. Theory, Ser. A 166, 352--381 (2019; Zbl 1416.05039)]. The main techniques are Zeilberger's holonomic ansatz and a clever use of symbolic computation.