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Nantel Bergeron

Publications and source records attributed to Nantel Bergeron.

70 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Invariants and Coinvariants of the Symmetric Group in Noncommuting Variables

We introduce a natural Hopf algebra structure on the space of noncommutative symmetric functions which was recently studied as a vector space by Rosas and Sagan. The bases for this algebra are indexed by set partitions. We show that there exist a natural inclusion of the Hopf algebra of noncommutative symmetric functions indexed by compositions in this larger space. We also consider this algebra as a subspace of noncommutative polynomials and use it to understand the structure of the spaces of harmonics and coinvariants with respect to this collection of noncommutative polynomials.

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The peak algebra and the Hecke-Clifford algebras at $q=0$

Using the formalism of noncommutative symmetric functions, we derive the basic theory of the peak algebra of symmetric groups and of its graded Hopf dual. Our main result is to provide a representation theoretical interpretation of the peak algebra and its graded dual as Grothendieck rings of the tower of Hecke-Clifford algebras at $q=0$.

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Combinatorial Hopf algebras and generalized Dehn-Sommerville relations

A combinatorial Hopf algebra is a graded connected Hopf algebra over a field $F$ equipped with a character (multiplicative linear functional) $ζ:H\to F$. We show that the terminal object in the category of combinatorial Hopf algebras is the algebra $QSym$ of quasi-symmetric functions; this explains the ubiquity of quasi-symmetric functions as generating functions in combinatorics. We illustrate this with several examples. We prove that every character decomposes uniquely as a product of an even character and an odd character. Correspondingly, every combinatorial Hopf algebra $(H,ζ)$ possesses two canonical Hopf subalgebras on which the character $ζ$ is even (respectively, odd). The odd subalgebra is defined by certain canonical relations which we call the generalized Dehn-Sommerville relations. We show that, for $H=QSym$, the generalized Dehn-Sommerville relations are the Bayer-Billera relations and the odd subalgebra is the peak Hopf algebra of Stembridge. We prove that $QSym$ is the product (in the categorical sense) of its even and odd Hopf subalgebras. We also calculate the odd subalgebras of various related combinatorial Hopf algebras: the Malvenuto-Reutenauer Hopf algebra of permutations, the Loday-Ronco Hopf algebra of planar binary trees, the Hopf algebras of symmetric functions and of non-commutative symmetric functions.

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The peak algebra and the descent algebras of types B and D

We show the existence of a unital subalgebra of the symmetric group algebra linearly spanned by sums of permutations with a common peak set, which we call the peak algebra. We show that this algebra is the image of the descent algebra of type B under the map to the descent algebra of type A which forgets the signs, and also the image of the descent algebra of type D. The peak algebra contains a two sided ideal which is defined in terms of interior peaks. This object was introduced in previous work by Nyman; we find that it is the image of certain ideals of the descent algebras of types B and D introduced in previous work of N. Bergeron et al. We derive an exact sequence involving the peak ideal and the peak algebras of degrees $n$ and $n-2$. We obtain this and many other properties of the peak algebra and its peak ideal by first establishing analogous results for signed permutations and then forgetting the signs. In particular, we construct two new commutative semisimple subalgebras of the descent algebra by grouping permutations according to their number of peaks or interior peaks. We discuss the Hopf algebraic structures that exist on the direct sums of these spaces over $n\geq 0$ and explain the connection with previous work of Stembridge; we also obtain new properties of his descents-to-peaks map and construct a type B analog.

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Schur Partial Derivative Operators

A lattice diagram is a finite list L=((p_1,q_1),...,(p_n,q_n) of lattice cells. The corresponding lattice diagram determinant is Δ_L(X;Y)=\det \| x_i^{p_j}y_i^{q_j} \|. These lattice diagram determinants are crucial in the study of the so-called ``n! conjecture'' of A. Garsia and M. Haiman. The space M_L is the space spanned by all partial derivatives of Δ_L(X;Y). The ``shift operators'', which are particular partial symmetric derivative operators are very useful in the comprehension of the structure of the M_L spaces. We describe here how a Schur function partial derivative operator acts on lattice diagrams with distinct cells in the positive quadrant.

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Catalan paths, Quasi-symmetric functions and Super-Harmonic Spaces

We investigate the quotient ring $R$ of the ring of formal power series $\Q[[x_1,x_2,...]]$ over the closure of the ideal generated by non-constant quasi-\break symmetric functions. We show that a Hilbert basis of the quotient is naturally indexed by Catalan paths (infinite Dyck paths). We also give a filtration of ideals related to Catalan paths from $(0,0)$ and above the line $y=x-k$. We investigate as well the quotient ring $R_n$ of polynomial ring in $n$ variables over the ideal generated by non-constant quasi-symmetric polynomials. We show that the dimension of $R_n$ is bounded above by the $n$th Catalan number.

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Lattice Diagram polynomials in one set of variables

The space $M_{μ/i,j}$ spanned by all partial derivatives of the lattice polynomial $Δ_{μ/i,j}(X;Y)$ is investigated in math.CO/9809126 and many conjectures are given. Here, we prove all these conjectures for the $Y$-free component $M_{μ/i,j}^0$ of $M_{μ/i,j}$. In particular, we give an explicit bases for $M_{μ/i,j}^0$ which allow us to prove directly the central {\sl four term recurrence} for these spaces.

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Non-commutative Pieri operators on posets

We consider graded representations of the algebra NC of noncommutative symmetric functions on the Z-linear span of a graded poset P. The matrix coefficients of such a representation give a Hopf morphism from a Hopf algebra HP generated by the intervals of P to the Hopf algebra of quasi-symmetric functions. This provides a unified construction of quasi-symmetric generating functions from different branches of algebraic combinatorics, and this construction is useful for transferring techniques and ideas between these branches. In particular we show that the (Hopf) algebra of Billera and Liu related to Eulerian posets is dual to the peak (Hopf) algebra of Stembridge related to enriched P-partitions, and connect this to the combinatorics of the Schubert calculus for isotropic flag manifolds.

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Hopf Algebras and Edge-Labeled Posets

Given a finite graded poset with labeled Hasse diagram, we construct a quasi- symmetric generating function for (saturated) chains whose labels have fixed descents. This is a common generalization of a generating function for the flag f-vector defined by Ehrenborg and of a symmetric function associated to certain edge-labeled posets which arose in the theory of Schubert polynomials. We show this construction gives a Hopf morphism from an incidence algebra of edge-labeled posets to the Hopf algebra of quasi-symmetric functions.

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Shifted Quasi-Symmetric Functions and the Hopf algebra of peak functions

In his work on P-partitions, Stembridge defined the algebra of peak functions Pi, which is both a subalgebra and a retraction of the algebra of quasi-symmetric functions. We show that Pi is closed under coproduct, and therefore a Hopf algebra, and describe the kernel of the retraction. Billey and Haiman, in their work on Schubert polynomials, also defined a new class of quasi-symmetric functions --- shifted quasi-symmetric functions --- and we show that Pi is strictly contained in the linear span Xi of shifted quasi-symmetric functions. We show that Xi is a coalgebra, and compute the rank of the n-th graded component.

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A Pieri-type formula for isotropic flag manifolds

We give the formula for multiplying a Schubert class on an odd orthogonal or symplectic flag manifold by a special Schubert class pulled back from a Grassmannian of maximal isotropic subspaces. This is also the formula for multiplying a type $B$ (respectively, type $C$) Schubert polynomial by the Schur $P$-polynomial $p_m$ (respectively, the Schur $Q$-polynomial $q_m$). Geometric constructions and intermediate results allow us to ultimately deduce this from formulas for the classical flag manifold. These intermediate results are concerned with the Bruhat order of the Coxeter group ${\mathcal B}_\infty$, identities of the structure constants for the Schubert basis of cohomology, and intersections of Schubert varieties. We show these identities follow from the Pieri-type formula, except some `hidden symmetries' of the structure constants. Our analysis leads to a new partial order on the Coxeter group ${\mathcal B}_\infty$ and formulas for many of these structure constants.

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A Monoid for the Universal K-Bruhat Order

Structure constants for the multiplication of Schubert polynomials by Schur symmetric polynomials are known to be related to the enumeration of chains in a new partial order on S_\infty, which we call the universal k-Bruhat order. Here we present a monoid M for this order and show that $M$ is analogous to the nil-Coxeter monoid for the weak order on S_\infty. For this, we develop a theory of reduced sequences for M. We use these sequences to give a combinatorial description of the structure constants above. We also give combinatorial proofs of some of the symmetry relations satisfied by these structure constants.

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Skew Schubert functions and the Pieri formula for flag manifolds

We show the equivalence of the Pieri formula for flag manifolds and certain identities among the structure constants, giving new proofs of both the Pieri formula and of these identities. A key step is the association of a symmetric function to a finite poset with labeled Hasse diagram satisfying a symmetry condition. This gives a unified definition of skew Schur functions, Stanley symmetric function, and skew Schubert functions (defined here). We also use algebraic geometry to show the coefficient of a monomial in a Schubert polynomial counts certain chains in the Bruhat order, obtaining a new combinatorial construction of Schubert polynomials.

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Identities of Structure Constants for Schubert polynomials and Orders on S_n

We use geometry to prove a number of new identities among the Littlewood-Richardson coefficients for Schubert polynomials (Schubert classes in a flag manifold). For many of these identities, there is a companion result about the Bruhat order which should imply the identity, were it known how to express these coefficients in terms of the Bruhat order. This analysis leads the determination of many of these constants. We conclude with an outline of geometric proofs for these identities.

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Schubert polynomials, the Bruhat order, and the geometry of flag manifolds

We illuminate the relation between the Bruhat order on the symmetric group and structure constants (Littlewood-Richardson coefficients) for the cohomology of the flag manifold in terms of its basis of Schubert classes. Equivalently, the structure constants for the ring of polynomials in variables $x_1,x_2,...$ in terms of its basis of Schubert polynomials. We use combinatorial, algebraic, and geometric methods, notably a study of intersections of Schubert varieties and maps between flag manifolds. We establish a number of new identities among these structure constants. This leads to formulas for some of these constants and new results on the enumeration of chains in the Bruhat order. A new graded partial order on the symmetric group which contains Young's lattice arises from these investigations. We also derive formulas for certain specializations of Schubert polynomials.

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