Jacobi beta ensemble and \(b\)-Hurwitz numbers (Q6189138)

The Jacobi \(\beta\)-ensemble is the random point process with joint probability density function \[ w_\beta(x_1,\dots,x_n;c,d)= \frac{1}{Z_\beta} \prod_{i=1}^n x_i^{c\beta/2-1} (1-x_i)^{d\beta/2-1} \cdot \prod_{1 \le i<j \le n} |x_i-x_j|^\beta, \] where \(x_1,\dots,x_n \in (0,1)\), \(\beta,c,d>0\), and the normalization constant \(Z_\beta\) can be explicitly given. For \(\beta=1\), \(2\), or \(4\), this gives the eigenvalue distribution of Jacobi random matrix models. The first result of this paper is to find an expression of the following quantity (called correlator): \[ \mathcal{C}_{(\lambda_1,\dots,\lambda_\ell)}(n,\beta,c,d)= \int_{(0,1)^n} \left(\prod_{k=1}^\ell (x_1^{\lambda_k}+\cdots+x_n^{\lambda_k} )\right) w_\beta(x_1,\dots,x_n;c,d) \, \mathrm{d}x_1 \cdots \mathrm{d}x_n. \] In terms of matrix models, this represents the expected value of the product of traces of powers. The author proves that this quantity is a generating function for \(b\)-Hurwitz numbers by using Selberg-Jack-type integral formula due to \textit{K. W. J. Kadell} [Adv. Math. 130, No. 1, 33--102 (1997; Zbl 0885.33009)]. The second important result of this paper is a combinatorial interpretation of general \(b\)-Hurwitz numbers. A class of \(b\)-Hurwitz numbers was recently introduced by \textit{G. Chapuy} and \textit{M. Dołęga} [Adv. Math. 409, Part A, Article ID 108645, 72 p. (2022; Zbl 1498.05278)] for the study of Jack symmetric functions. Those \(b\)-Hurwitz numbers count a special kind of combinatorial maps related to graphs on surfaces. The present study of Jacobi \(\beta\)-ensembles suggests the possibility of a combinatorial interpretation for general \(\beta>0\).