Polynomiality of monotone Hurwitz numbers in higher genera (Q387874)

Classical Hurwitz numbers count branched covers of a Riemann surface of genus \(g\) with specified ramifications. Monotone Hurwitz numbers counts a certain subset of these covers, related to the so-called Harish-Chandra-Itzykson-Zuber integral in random matrix theory. In this paper the authors study monotone single Hurwitz numbers and obtain a precise formula for \(g=1\) and a generating function and polynomiality behavior for \(g \geq 2\).