Meander determinants

DOI10.1007/S002200050277MaRDI QIDQ1270121zbMATH OpenOpenAlexFDO

Authors K. Appert

Publication date 1 November 1999

Published in Communications in Mathematical Physics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/9612026

zbMATH Keywords

meandersemi-meanderTemperley-Lieb algebra

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

General low-dimensional topology (57M99)

Abstract: We prove a determinantal formula for quantities related to the problem of enumeration of (semi-) meanders, namely the topologically inequivalent planar configurations of non-self-intersecting loops crossing a given (half-) line through a given number of points. This is done by the explicit Gram-Schmidt orthogonalization of certain bases of subspaces of the Temperley-Lieb algebra.

Review text

A meander is a closed non-self-intersecting loop crossing an infinite line through \(2n\) points, with two being considered equivalent if they are smooth deformations of each other. Picture a closed circuit crossing a river over \(2n\) bridges. A semi-meander replaces the line with a half-line (so a river with a source which can be walked around). Cutting a meander along the river results in two arch configurations, one above the river and one below, each with \(n\) arches. A similar cutting of a semi-meander also requires cutting the paths around the source and extending the line segments to half-lines. The result is two open arch configurations each consisting of \(n\) points on a line, \(h\) of which have half-lines extending from them and \(n-h\) connected in pairs by arches. The semi-meander is reconstructed from the two open arch configurations by identifying the \(n\) points along the half-line and then connecting the \(h\) open lines from right to left around the rivers source (this river flows from east to west on your map). Simple recursive and closed formulas are found for the number of arch and open arch configurations, \(c_n\) and \(c_{n,h}\). Given two arch or semi-arch configurations, \(a\) and \(b\), they can be attached to form a multi-component meander or semi-meander. Let \(\kappa(a| b)\) be the number of connected components formed when connecting \(a\) and \(b\). Given a complex number, \(q\), the meander and semi-meander matrices are defined by \([{\mathcal G}_{2n}(q)]_{a,b}=q^{\kappa(a| b)}\) and \([{\mathcal G}_{2n}^{(h)}(q)]_{a,b}=q^{\kappa(a| b)}\). The two main theorems of this paper give formulas for the determinants of the meander and semi-meander matrices in terms of Chebyshev polynomials of the second kind. The formula for the semi-meander case is new and generalizes the formula for the meander determinant. The road to these results is as interesting as the destination. Meanders are identified with walk diagrams and with the product of two elements in the Temperley-Lieb algebra. The result is obtained by reformulating the meander determinant as the Gram determinant of a particular basis of the Temperley-Lieb algebra. The Gram-Schmidt orthogonalization is then carried out on this basis. With the meander case as a model, a similar strategy is carried out for the semi-meander case with some complications.

Recommendations

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Cited in

(39)

• The two-boundary Temperley-Lieb algebra.
• The Gram determinant of the type B Temperley-Lieb algebra
• Problems related to type-\(A\) and type-\(B\) matrices of chromatic joins
• Folding the square-diagonal lattice.
• Hamiltonian cycles on random Eulerian triangulations
• Meanders: Exact asymptotics
• Dual bases in Temperley-Lieb algebras, quantum groups, and a question of Jones
• Quantum isometries and noncommutative spheres
• Two-dimensional topological theories, rational functions and their tensor envelopes
• The orthogonal Weingarten formula in compact form
• Tate cycles on some quaternionic Shimura varieties mod \(p\)
• Graphs having no quantum symmetry
• A solution space for a system of null-state partial differential equations. III
• A solution space for a system of null-state partial differential equations. IV
• Advanced determinant calculus: a complement
• A generalization of the Gram determinant of type A
• A formula for crossing probabilities of critical systems inside polygons
• A Gram determinant for Lickorish's bilinear form
• Combinatorial aspects of orthogonal group integrals
• An operator that relates to semi-meander polynomials via a two-sided q-Wick formula.
• THE GRAM MATRIX OF A TEMPERLEY-LIEB ALGEBRA IS SIMILAR TO THE MATRIX OF CHROMATIC JOINS
• CYCLOTOMIC EXPANSION OF EXCEPTIONAL SPECTRAL MEASURES
• SU(N) meander determinants
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 1516435 (Why is no real title available?)
• Folding and coloring problems in mathematics and physics
• Pattern avoiding meandric permutations
• Combinatorial aspects of boundary loop models
• Decomposition results for Gram matrix determinants.
• Bilinear forms on skein modules and steps in Dyck paths
• Meander knots and links
• A note on fully commutative elements in complex reflection groups
• Generating series and matrix models for meandric systems with one shallow side
• Meanders: a personal perspective to the memory of Pierre Rosenstiehl
• A new Gram determinant from the Möbius band
• Temperley-Lieb categories with coloured regions and Jones-Wenzl projectors
• Integration over quantum permutation groups
• Spectral measures of small index principal graphs
• Integration over the Pauli quantum group
• Meander, folding, and arch statistics

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