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Petter Brändén

Publications and source records attributed to Petter Brändén.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
arXiv2016

Multivariate P-Eulerian polynomials

The P-Eulerian polynomial counts the linear extensions of a labeled partially ordered set, P, by their number of descents. It is known that the P-Eulerian polynomials are real-rooted for various classes of posets P. The purpose of this paper is to extend these results to polynomials in several variables. To this end we study multivariate extensions of P-Eulerian polynomials and prove that for certain posets these polynomials are stable, i.e., non-vanishing whenever all variables are in the upper half-plane of the complex plane. A natural setting for our proofs is the Malvenuto-Reutenauer algebra of permutations (or the algebra of free quasi-symmetric functions). In the process we identify an algebra on Dyck paths, which to our knowledge has not been studied before.

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arXiv2015

Non-representable hyperbolic matroids

The generalized Lax conjecture asserts that each hyperbolicity cone is a linear slice of the cone of positive semidefinite matrices. Hyperbolic polynomials give rise to a class of (hyperbolic) matroids which properly contains the class of matroids representable over the complex numbers. This connection was used by the second author to construct counterexamples to algebraic (stronger) versions of the generalized Lax conjecture by considering a non-representable hyperbolic matroid. The Vámos matroid and a generalization of it are, prior to this work, the only known instances of non-representable hyperbolic matroids. We prove that the Non-Pappus and Non-Desargues matroids are non-representable hyperbolic matroids by exploiting a connection between Euclidean Jordan algebras and projective geometries. We further identify a large class of hyperbolic matroids which contains the Vámos matroid and the generalized Vámos matroids recently studied by Burton, Vinzant and Youm. This proves a conjecture of Burton et al. We also prove that many of the matroids considered here are non-representable. The proof of hyperbolicity for the matroids in the class depends on proving nonnegativity of certain symmetric polynomials. In particular we generalize and strengthen several inequalities in the literature, such as the Laguerre-Turán inequality and Jensen's inequality. Finally we explore consequences to algebraic versions of the generalized Lax conjecture.

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arXiv2014

Hyperbolic polynomials and the Marcus-Spielman-Srivastava theorem

Recently Marcus, Spielman and Srivastava gave a spectacular proof of a theorem which implies a positive solution to the Kadison-Singer problem. We extend (and slightly sharpen) this theorem to the realm of hyperbolic polynomials. A benefit of the extension is that the proof becomes coherent in its general form, and fits naturally in the theory of hyperbolic polynomials. We also study the sharpness of the bound in the theorem, and in the final section we describe how the hyperbolic Marcus-Spielman-Srivastava theorem may be interpreted in terms of strong Rayleigh measures. We use this to derive sufficient conditions for a weak half-plane property matroid to have k disjoint bases. This work is based on notes from a graduate course focused on hyperbolic polynomials and the recent papers of Marcus, Spielman and Srivastava, given by the author at the Royal Institute of Technology (Stockholm) in the fall of 2013.

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arXiv2014

Unimodality, log-concavity, real-rootedness and beyond

This is a survey on recent developments on unimodality, log-concavity and real-rootedness in combinatorics. Stanley and Brenti have written extensive surveys of various techniques that can be used to prove real-rootedness, log-concavity or unimodality. After a brief introduction, we will complement these surveys with a survey over some new techniques that have been developed, as well as problems and conjectures that have been solved. This is a draft of a chapter to appear in Handbook of Enumerative Combinatorics, published by CRC Press.

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arXiv2014

Multivariate Eulerian polynomials and exclusion processes

We give a new combinatorial interpretation of the stationary distribution of the (partially) asymmetric exclusion process on a finite number of sites in terms of decorated alternative trees and colored permutations. The corresponding expressions of the multivariate partition functions are then related to multivariate generalizations of Eulerian polynomials for colored permutations considered recently by N. Williams and the third author, and others. We also discuss stability-- and negative dependence properties satisfied by the partition functions.

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arXiv2014

Infinite log-concavity for polynomial Pólya frequency sequences

McNamara and Sagan conjectured that if $a_0,a_1, a_2, \ldots$ is a Pólya frequency (PF) sequence, then so is $a_0^2, a_1^2 -a_0a_2, a_2^2-a_1a_3, \ldots$. We prove this conjecture for a natural class of PF-sequences which are interpolated by polynomials. In particular, this proves that the columns of Pascal's triangle are infinitely log-concave, as conjectured by McNamara and Sagan. We also give counterexamples to the first mentioned conjecture. Our methods provide families of nonlinear operators that preserve the property of having only real and non-positive zeros.

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arXiv2013

The multivariate arithmetic Tutte polynomial

We introduce an arithmetic version of the multivariate Tutte polynomial, and (for representable arithmetic matroids) a quasi-polynomial that interpolates between the two. A generalized Fortuin-Kasteleyn representation with applications to arithmetic colorings and flows is obtained. We give a new and more general proof of the positivity of the coefficients of the arithmetic Tutte polynomial, and (in the representable case) a geometrical interpretation of them.

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arXiv2011

Solutions to two problems on permanents

In this note we settle two open problems in the theory of permanents by using recent results from other areas of mathematics. Bapat conjectured that certain quotients of permanents, which generalize symmetric function means, are concave. We prove this conjecture by using concavity properties of hyperbolic polynomials. Motivated by problems on random point processes, Shirai and Takahashi raised the problem: Determine all real numbers $α$ for which the $α$-permanent (or $α$-determinant) is nonnegative for all positive semidefinite matrices. We give a complete solution to this problem by using recent results of Scott and Sokal on completely monotone functions. It turns out that the conjectured answer to the problem is false.

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arXiv2011

Mesh patterns and the expansion of permutation statistics as sums of permutation patterns

Any permutation statistic $f:\sym\to\CC$ may be represented uniquely as a, possibly infinite, linear combination of (classical) permutation patterns: $f= Σ_τλ_f(τ)τ$. To provide explicit expansions for certain statistics, we introduce a new type of permutation patterns that we call mesh patterns. Intuitively, an occurrence of the mesh pattern $p=(π,R)$ is an occurrence of the permutation pattern $π$ with additional restrictions specified by $R$ on the relative position of the entries of the occurrence. We show that, for any mesh pattern $p=(π,R)$, we have $λ_p(τ) = (-1)^{|τ|-|π|}p^{\star}(τ)$ where $p^{\star}=(π,R^c)$ is the mesh pattern with the same underlying permutation as $p$ but with complementary restrictions. We use this result to expand some well known permutation statistics, such as the number of left-to-right maxima, descents, excedances, fixed points, strong fixed points, and the major index. We also show that alternating permutations, André permutations of the first kind and simsun permutations occur naturally as permutations avoiding certain mesh patterns. Finally, we provide new natural Mahonian statistics.

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arXiv2010

Proof of the monotone column permanent conjecture

Let A be an n-by-n matrix of real numbers which are weakly decreasing down each column, Z_n = diag(z_1,..., z_n) a diagonal matrix of indeterminates, and J_n the n-by-n matrix of all ones. We prove that per(J_nZ_n+A) is stable in the z_i, resolving a recent conjecture of Haglund and Visontai. This immediately implies that per(zJ_n+A) is a polynomial in z with only real roots, an open conjecture of Haglund, Ono, and Wagner from 1999. Other applications include a multivariate stable Eulerian polynomial, a new proof of Grace's apolarity theorem and new permanental inequalities.

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arXiv2010

Obstructions to determinantal representability

There has recently been ample interest in the question of which sets can be represented by linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). A necessary condition is that the set is rigidly convex, and it has been conjectured that rigid convexity is also sufficient. To this end Helton and Vinnikov conjectured that any real zero polynomial admits a determinantal representation with symmetric matrices. We disprove this conjecture. By relating the question of finding LMI representations to the problem of determining whether a polymatroid is representable over the complex numbers, we find a real zero polynomial such that no power of it admits a determinantal representation. The proof uses recent results of Wagner and Wei on matroids with the half-plane property, and the polymatroids associated to hyperbolic polynomials introduced by Gurvits.

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arXiv2010

Hyperbolicity preservers and majorization

The majorization order on $\RR^n$ induces a natural partial ordering on the space of univariate hyperbolic polynomials of degree $n$. We characterize all linear operators on polynomials that preserve majorization, and show that it is sufficient (modulo obvious degree constraints) to preserve hyperbolicity.

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arXiv2010

Iterated sequences and the geometry of zeros

We study the effect on the zeros of generating functions of sequences under certain non-linear transformations. Characterizations of Pólya--Schur type are given of the transformations that preserve the property of having only real and non-positive zeros. In particular, if a polynomial $a_0+a_1z +\cdots+a_nz^n$ has only real and non-positive zeros, then so does the polynomial $a_0^2+ (a_1^2-a_0a_2)z+...+ (a_{n-1}^2-a_{n-2}a_n)z^{n-1}+a_n^2z^n$. This confirms a conjecture of Fisk, McNamara-Sagan and Stanley, respectively. A consequence is that if a polynomial has only real and non-positive zeros, then its Taylor coefficients form an infinitely log-concave sequence. We extend the results to transcendental entire functions in the Laguerre-Pólya class, and discuss the consequences to problems on iterated Turán inequalities, studied by Craven and Csordas. Finally, we propose a new approach to a conjecture of Boros and Moll.

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arXiv2010

Discrete concavity and the half-plane property

Murota et al. have recently developed a theory of discrete convex analysis which concerns M-convex functions on jump systems. We introduce here a family of M-concave functions arising naturally from polynomials (over a field of generalized Puiseux series) with prescribed non-vanishing properties. This family contains several of the most studied M-concave functions in the literature. In the language of tropical geometry we study the tropicalization of the space of polynomials with the half-plane property, and show that it is strictly contained in the space of M-concave functions. We also provide a short proof of Speyer's hive theorem which he used to give a new proof of Horn's conjecture on eigenvalues of sums of Hermitian matrices.

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