Rook theory and hypergeometric series (Q675879)

The author investigates generalizations of the ``hit'' numbers of rook theory, which are defined via cycle-counting rook placements as popularized by Chung and Graham. Extensions of results of Chow and Gessel are derived. For Ferrers boards, the author shows how to express these hit numbers as balanced, terminating hypergeometric series of a type originally studied by Karlsson and Minton. Results of Chu and Gasper on series of Karlsson-Minton type are shown to follow from a general formula of Sears. \(q\)-analogs involving the \(q\)-rook polynomials of Garsia and Remmel and basic hypergeometric series are derived.