Recent developments in algebraic combinatorics

Symmetric functions and generalizations (05E05) Combinatorial aspects of representation theory (05E10) Special sequences and polynomials (11B83) Gromov-Witten invariants, quantum cohomology, Gopakumar-Vafa invariants, Donaldson-Thomas invariants (algebro-geometric aspects) (14N35) Polyhedra and polytopes; regular figures, division of spaces (51M20)

Abstract: A survey of three recent developments in algebraic combinatorics: (1) the Laurent phenomenon, (2) Gromov-Witten invariants and toric Schur functions, and (3) toric h-vectors and intersection cohomology. This paper is a continuation of "Recent progress in algebraic combinatorics" (math.CO/0010218), which dealt with three other topics.

Review text

Algebraic combinatorics lies at the junction of not only algebra and combinatorics, as the name suggests, but also areas such as number theory, algebraic geometry and topology. In this paper, a leader in the field surveys some of the recent progress that has been made in relation to the latter three areas. It is a tale that will appeal to both the experts and the novices, with its clarity, illustrative examples and comprehensive bibliography. First we are given an informal taste of cluster algebras and the work of Fomin and Zelevinsky proving the integrability of the sequences Somos-4 through -7. We also get to glimpse at the relation between Somos-4 and perfect matchings. Second, after connecting symmetric functions to Schubert calculus we are introduced to the recent work of Postnikov on toric Schur functions, whose expansion into Schur functions yield Gromov-Witten invariants as the coefficients of the expansion. Lastly we are taken on a tour of increasingly complex polytopes. Our first stop is simplicial polytopes whose h-vectors are completely characterized by the g-theorem. We then meet a combinatorial description of the toric h-vector for rational polytopes. Moving to non-rational polytopes we are introduced to the recent work of Karu on the hard Lefschetz theorem that a certain bijection exists. Finally, we are told of the half hard Lefschetz theorem that a certain injection exists for matroid complexes, recently proved by Swartz.

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