Positivity problems in enumerative and algebraic combinatorics

Theme 1: Stieltjes moment sequences and coefficientwise hankel total positivity

LINK to Andrew Elvey Price's list of all OEIS sequences with atleast 15 terms that may be Stieltjes moment sequences (as of 25/01/2024).



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P1.1 Apéry polynomials: Stieltjes moment sequences

The Apéry numbers are defined by \( A_n = \sum_{k=0}^{n} \binom{n}{k}^2 \binom{n+k}{k}^2 \). They played a key role in Apéry's 1978 proof of irrationality of \(\zeta(3)\).


Define the Apéry polynomials to be \[ A_n(x) = \sum_{k=0}^{n} \binom{n}{k}^2 \binom{n+k}{k}^2 x^k. \]

Conjecture: The sequence of real numbers \( \left(A_n(x)\right)_{n\geq 0}\) is a Stieltjes moment sequence for all \(x \geq 1\).


Origin: Posed by Alan Sokal
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P1.2 Apéry polynomials: Coefficientwise Hankel total positivity

The Apéry polynomials are defined by \[ A_n(x) = \sum_{k=0}^{n} \binom{n}{k}^2 \binom{n+k}{k}^2 x^k. \]

Conjecture: The sequence of polynomials \( \left(A_n(1+y)\right)_{n\geq 0}\) is coefficientwise Hankel totally positive in \(y\).


Origin: Posed by Alan Sokal
Remark:

The case \(x=1\) in conjecture P1.1, the Apéry numbers, was proven to be a Stieltjes moment sequence by Edgar, see arXiv:2005.10733.

Conjecture P1.2 was tested up to \(12 \times 12\).

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P1.3 Inversion enumerators for trees

Let \(T\) be a tree with vertex set \([n]\), rooted at the vertex \(1\). An inversion of \(T\) is an ordered pair \((j, k)\) of vertices such that \(j > k\) and the path from \(1\) to \(k\) passes through \(j\). Define the inversion enumerator for trees \[I_n(q) = \sum_{T\in \mathcal{T}_n} q^{\# {\text{inversions}}}\]

Conjecture: The sequence of polynomials \( \left(I_{n+1}(q)\right)_{n\geq 0}\) is coefficientwise Hankel totally positive in \(q\).


Origin: Posed by Alan Sokal
Remark:

\(I_n(0) = (n-1)!\) and \(I_n(1) = n^{n-2}\).

Conjecture P1.3 was tested up to \(10 \times 10\).

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P1.4 Little Domb polynomials

The little Domb numbers are defined by \(\tilde{D}_n = \sum_{k=0}^{n} \binom{n}{k}^2 \binom{2k}{k}\) and the little Domb polynomials are defined by \[\tilde{D}_n(x) = \sum_{k=0}^{n} \binom{n}{k}^2 \binom{2k}{k} x^k\]

Conjecture: The sequence of polynomials \( \left(\tilde{D}_n(1+y)\right)_{n\geq 0}\) is coefficientwise Hankel totally positive in \(y\).


Origin: Posed by Alan Sokal
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P1.5 Domb polynomials

The Domb numbers are defined by \(D_n = \sum_{k=0}^{n} \binom{n}{k}^2 \binom{2k}{k} \binom{2n-2k}{n-k}\) and the Domb polynomials are defined by \[D_n(x) = \sum_{k=0}^{n} \binom{n}{k}^2 \binom{2k}{k}\binom{2n-2k}{n-k} x^k\]

Conjecture: The sequence of polynomials \( \left(D_n(1+y)\right)_{n\geq 0}\) is coefficientwise Hankel totally positive in \(y\).


Origin: Posed by Alan Sokal
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P1.6 Boros--Moll polynomials

The Boros--Moll polynomials are defined by \[{\rm BM}_n(x) = \sum_{k=0}^{n} \binom{n+k}{k} \binom{2n-2k}{n-k} x^k\]

Conjecture: The sequence of polynomials \( \left({\rm BM}_n(1+y)\right)_{n\geq 0}\) is coefficientwise Hankel totally positive in \(y\).


Origin: Posed by Alan Sokal
Remark:

For any \(x>0\) (Boros & Moll, 1999) showed that the sequence \( {\rm BM}_n(x) \) is a Stieltjes moment sequence

Subtheme of problems
Permutation patterns and Stieltjes moment sequences, coefficientwise Hankel total positivity

➡️ Continue to Theme 1.7
Problems related to Stieltjes moment sequences and coefficientwise Hankel total positivity in permutation pattern avoidance.
Here the flagship problem is Problem P1.7.1.

Subtheme of problems
Maps and Stieltjes moment sequences, coefficientwise Hankel total positivity

➡️ Continue to Theme 1.8
Problems related to Stieltjes moment sequences and total positivity in enumeration of graphs on surfaces.

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P1.9 Generalised Jacobi--Stirling polynomials

The generalised Jacobi--Stirling triangle \(\left({\rm JS}_{n,k}\right)_{n,k\geq 0}\) is defined by the following recurrence \[ {\rm JS}_{n,k} = {\rm JS}_{n-1,k-1} + (a k^2 + b k) {\rm JS}_{n-1,k} \] with initial condition \({\rm JS}_{0,0}=1\) and \({\rm JS}_{n,k}=0\) unless \(0\leq k \leq n\).

Let \({\rm JS}_{n}(x) = \sum_{k=0}^n {\rm JS}_{n,k} x^k\) denote its row-generating polynomial.


Conjecture: The sequence of polynomials \( ({\rm JS}_n(x))_{n\geq 0} \) is coefficientwise Hankel totally positive in the indeterminates \(a, b, x\).

Origin: Posed by Bao-Xuan Zhu. See [Zhu (2024), p. 26]
Remark:

Zhu in [Zhu (2014)] and [Zhu (2018)] showed that the sequence \( ({\rm JS}_n(x))_{n\geq 0} \) is coefficientwise log-convex.

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