Rational Catalan numbers for complex reflection groups (Q6993778)

The paper extends the theory of rational Catalan combinatorics to a broader class of complex reflection groups, namely the spetsial ones, under key conjectural assumptions. Motivated by earlier work of \textit{P. Galashin} et al. [Proc. Lond. Math. Soc. (3) 129, No. 4, Article ID e12643, 50 p. (2024; Zbl 1552.05022)] on rational Coxeter-Catalan numbers via Hecke algebra traces, the author investigates analogous trace computations in the spetsial Hecke algebras attached to irreducible spetsial complex reflection groups [\textit{M. Broué} et al., Transform. Groups 4, No. 2--3, 157--218 (1999; Zbl 0972.20024)].\N\NAfter reviewing the necessary background on reflection groups, Hecke algebras and canonical traces, the author proves a precise trace formula (Theorem 5.1) showing that the symmetrizing trace of certain Coxeter elements in the spetsial Hecke algebra yields a \(q\)-deformation of rational Catalan numbers:\N\[\N\tau_q(T_c^{-p}) = q^{-np}(1 - q)^n \mathrm{Cat}_p(W; q),\N\]\Nfor integers \(p\) coprime to the Coxeter number \(h\). The proof synthesizes techniques from the representation theory of Hecke algebras, properties of Galois-twisted reflection representations and an assumed version of Lusztig's Fourier transform for spetses (Conjecture 4.2). A companion result (Corollary 5.4) provides an algebraic interpretation of the enumeration of rational noncrossing parking functions:\N\[\N\sum_{b \in B} \tau_q(b^\vee T_c^p b) = (q - 1)^n [p]_q^n,\N\]\Nwhere \(B\) is a suitable basis of the spetsial Hecke algebra.\N\NThe scope is both deep and technically demanding, involving fine structural properties of spetsial groups and their associated Hecke algebras. While some arguments rely on case-by-case computer verification for exceptional groups, the general theory developed is conceptually uniform and builds on the work of \textit{M. Broué} et al. [Transform. Groups 4, No. 2--3, 157--218 (1999; Zbl 0972.20024); Astérisque 359. Paris: Soc. Math. de France (2014; Zbl 1305.20049)] on spetses.\N\NThis contribution offers a significant generalization of rational Catalan theory and raises natural open problems, such as the existence of combinatorial models for spetsial parking functions.