James Propp

Affiliation: University of Wisconsin

Email: propp@math.wisc.edu

Title Of Talk: q versus lambda: plane partitions, alternating sign matrices, and lattice models

URL: http://www.math.wisc.edu/~propp/qlambda.pdf

Abstract: Most of the talk will be devoted to the relationship between the q in MacMahon's formula for enumeration of plane partitions and the l in the Robbins-Rumsey generalization of Dodgson's determinant condensation algorithm. In particular, I will explain how both q and l, in different contexts, describe the imposition of a spatially-varying external field on a two-dimensional dimer model with special boundary conditions. I will also show how the discrete Hirota equation provides a different way of putting q and l into a common setting. I will conclude by discussing alternating-sign matrices, the six-vertex model, and the fully-packed loop model.


Last update made Tue Mar 18 06:59:32 EST 2003.
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