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Toufik Mansour

Publications and source records attributed to Toufik Mansour.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
arXiv2014

Restricted ascent sequences and Catalan numbers

Ascent sequences are those consisting of non-negative integers in which the size of each letter is restricted by the number of ascents preceding it and have been shown to be equinumerous with the (2+2)-free posets of the same size. Furthermore, connections to a variety of other combinatorial structures, including set partitions, permutations, and certain integer matrices, have been made. In this paper, we identify all members of the (4,4)-Wilf equivalence class for ascent sequences corresponding to the Catalan number C_n=\frac{1}{n+1}\binom{2n}{n}. This extends recent work concerning avoidance of a single pattern and provides apparently new combinatorial interpretations for C_n. In several cases, the subset of the class consisting of those members having exactly m ascents is given by the Narayana number N_{n,m+1}=\frac{1}{n}\binom{n}{m+1}\binom{n}{m}.

math.CO↗
arXiv2014

On avoidance of patterns of the form σ-τ by words over a finite alphabet

Vincular or dashed patterns resemble classical patterns except that some of the letters within an occurrence are required to be adjacent. We prove several infinite families of Wilf-equivalences for k-ary words involving vincular patterns containing a single dash, which explain the majority of the equivalences witnessed for such patterns of length four. When combined with previous results, numerical evidence, and some arguments in specific cases, we obtain the complete Wilf-classification for all vincular patterns of length four containing a single dash. In some cases, our proof shows further that the equivalence holds for multiset permutations since it is seen to respect the number of occurrences of each letter within a word. Some related enumerative results are provided for patterns σ of length four, among them generating function formulas for the number of members of [k]^n avoiding any σ of the form 11a-b.

math.CO↗
arXiv2014

On the group of alternating colored permutations

The group of alternating colored permutations is the natural analogue of the classical alternating group, inside the wreath product $\mathbb{Z}_r \wr S_n$. We present a 'Coxeter-like' presentation for this group and compute the length function with respect to that presentation. Then, we present this group as a covering of $\mathbb{Z}_{\frac{r}{2}} \wr S_n$ and use this point of view to give another expression for the length function. We also use this covering to lift several known parameters of $\mathbb{Z}_{\frac{r}{2}} \wr S_n$ to the group of alternating colored permutations.

math.GR↗
arXiv2013

Normal ordering problem and the extensions of the Stirling grammar

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the connection between context-free grammars and normal ordering problem, and then to explore various extensions of the Stirling grammar. We present grammatical characterizations of several well known combinatorial sequences, including the generalized Stirling numbers of the second kind related to the normal ordering problem and the $r$-Dowling polynomials. Also, possible avenues for future research are described.

math.CO↗
arXiv2013

Congruence successions in compositions

A \emph{composition} is a sequence of positive integers, called \emph{parts}, having a fixed sum. By an \emph{$m$-congruence succession}, we will mean a pair of adjacent parts $x$ and $y$ within a composition such that $x\equiv y(\text{mod} m)$. Here, we consider the problem of counting the compositions of size $n$ according to the number of $m$-congruence successions, extending recent results concerning successions on subsets and permutations. A general formula is obtained, which reduces in the limiting case to the known generating function formula for the number of Carlitz compositions. Special attention is paid to the case $m=2$, where further enumerative results may be obtained by means of combinatorial arguments. Finally, an asymptotic estimate is provided for the number of compositions of size $n$ having no $m$-congruence successions.

math.CO↗
arXiv2013

Counting subwords in flattened permutations

In this paper, we consider the number of occurrences of descents, ascents, 123-subwords, 321-subwords, peaks and valleys in flattened permutations, which were recently introduced by Callan in his study of finite set partitions. For descents and ascents, we make use of the kernel method and obtain an explicit formula (in terms of Eulerian polynomials) for the distribution on $\mathcal{S}_n$ in the flattened sense. For the other four patterns in question, we develop a unified approach to obtain explicit formulas for the comparable distributions. We find that the formulas so obtained for 123- and 321-subwords can be expressed in terms of the Chebyshev polynomials of the second kind, while those for peaks and valleys are more related to the Eulerian polynomials. We also provide a bijection showing the equidistribution of descents in flattened permutations of a given length with big descents in permutations of the same length in the usual sense.

math.CO↗
arXiv2013

Recurrence relations for patterns of type $(2,1)$ in flattened permutations

We consider the problem of counting the occurrences of patterns of the form $xy-z$ within flattened permutations of a given length. Using symmetric functions, we find recurrence relations satisfied by the distributions on $\mathcal{S}_n$ for the patterns 12-3, 21-3, 23-1 and 32-1, and develop a unified approach to obtain explicit formulas. By these recurrences, we are able to determine simple closed form expressions for the number of permutations that, when flattened, avoid one of these patterns as well as expressions for the average number of occurrences. In particular, we find that the average number of 23-1 patterns and the average number of 32-1 patterns in $\text{Flatten}(π)$, taken over all permutations $π$ of the same length, are equal, as are the number of permutations avoiding either of these patterns. We also find that the average number of 21-3 patterns in $\text{Flatten}(π)$ over all $π$ is the same as it is for 31-2 patterns.

math.CO↗
arXiv2013

A notion of graph likelihood and an infinite monkey theorem

We play with a graph-theoretic analogue of the folklore infinite monkey theorem. We define a notion of graph likelihood as the probability that a given graph is constructed by a monkey in a number of time steps equal to the number of vertices. We present an algorithm to compute this graph invariant and closed formulas for some infinite classes. We have to leave the computational complexity of the likelihood as an open problem.

cs.DM↗
arXiv2013

On Multiple Pattern Avoiding Set Partitions

We study classes of set partitions determined by the avoidance of multiple patterns, applying a natural notion of partition containment that has been introduced by Sagan. We say that two sets S and T of patterns are equivalent if for each n, the number of partitions of size n avoiding all the members of S is the same as the number of those that avoid all the members of T. Our goal is to classify the equivalence classes among two-element pattern sets of several general types. First, we focus on pairs of patterns {σ,τ}, where σ is a pattern of size three with at least two distinct symbols and τ is an arbitrary pattern of size k that avoids σ. We show that pattern-pairs of this type determine a small number of equivalence classes; in particular, the classes have on average exponential size in k. We provide a (sub-exponential) upper bound for the number of equivalence classes, and provide an explicit formula for the generating function of all such avoidance classes, showing that in all cases this generating function is rational. Next, we study partitions avoiding a pair of patterns of the form {1212,τ}, where τ is an arbitrary pattern. Note that partitions avoiding 1212 are exactly the non-crossing partitions. We provide several general equivalence criteria for pattern pairs of this type, and show that these criteria account for all the equivalences observed when τ has size at most six. In the last part of the paper, we perform a full classification of the equivalence classes of all the pairs {σ,τ}, where σ and τ have size four.

math.CO↗
arXiv2012

Orders induced by segments in floorplan partitions and (2-14-3,3-41-2)-avoiding permutations

A floorplan is a tiling of a rectangle by rectangles. There are natural ways to order the elements---rectangles and segments---of a floorplan. Ackerman, Barequet and Pinter studied a pair of orders induced by neighborhood relations between rectangles, and obtained a natural bijection between these pairs and (2-41-3, 3-14-2)-avoiding permutations, also known as (reduced) Baxter permutations. In the present paper, we first perform a similar study for a pair of orders induced by neighborhood relations between segments of a floorplan. We obtain a natural bijection between these pairs and another family of permutations, namely (2-14-3, 3-41-2)-avoiding permutations. Then, we investigate relations between the two kinds of pairs of orders---and, correspondingly, between (2-41-3, 3-14-2)- and (2-14-3, 3-41-2)-avoiding permutations. In particular, we prove that the superposition of both permutations gives a complete Baxter permutation (originally called w-admissible, by Baxter and Joichi in the sixties). In other words, (2-14-3, 3-41-2)-avoiding permutations are the hidden part of complete Baxter permutations. We enumerate these permutations. To our knowledge, the characterization of these permutations in terms of forbidden patterns and their enumeration are both new results. Finally, we also study the special case of the so-called guillotine floorplans.

math.CO↗
arXiv2012

Some enumerative results related to ascent sequences

An ascent sequence is one consisting of non-negative integers in which the size of each letter is restricted by the number of ascents preceding it in the sequence. Ascent sequences have recently been shown to be related to (2+2)-free posets and a variety of other combinatorial structures. In this paper, we prove in the affirmative some recent conjectures concerning pattern avoidance for ascent sequences. Given a pattern $τ$, let $\mathcal{S}_τ(n)$ denote the set of ascent sequences of length $n$ avoiding $τ$. Here, we show that the joint distribution of the statistic pair $(\asc,\zero)$ on $\mathcal{S}_{0012}(n)$ is the same as $(\asc,\RLm)$ on the set of 132-avoiding permutations of length $n$. In particular, the ascent statistic on $\mathcal{S}_{0012}(n)$ has the Narayana distribution. We also enumerate $S_τ(n)$ when $τ=1012$ and $τ=0123$ and confirm the conjectured formulas in these cases. We combine combinatorial and algebraic techniques to prove our results, in two cases, making use of the kernel method. Finally, we discuss the case of avoiding 210 and determine two related recurrences.

math.CO↗
arXiv2011

Bilinear Forms on Skein Modules and Steps in Dyck Paths

We use Jones-Wenzl idempotents to construct bases for the relative Kauffman bracket skein module of a square with n points colored 1 and one point colored h. We consider a natural bilinear form on this skein module. We calculate the determinant of the matrix for this form with respect to the natural basis. We reduce the computation to count some steps in generalized Dyck paths. Moreover, we relate our determinant to a determinant on semi-meanders.

math.QA↗
arXiv2010

A characterization of horizontal visibility graphs and combinatorics on words

An Horizontal Visibility Graph (for short, HVG) is defined in association with an ordered set of non-negative reals. HVGs realize a methodology in the analysis of time series, their degree distribution being a good discriminator between randomness and chaos [B. Luque, et al., Phys. Rev. E 80 (2009), 046103]. We prove that a graph is an HVG if and only if outerplanar and has a Hamilton path. Therefore, an HVG is a noncrossing graph, as defined in algebraic combinatorics [P. Flajolet and M. Noy, Discrete Math., 204 (1999) 203-229]. Our characterization of HVGs implies a linear time recognition algorithm. Treating ordered sets as words, we characterize subfamilies of HVGs highlighting various connections with combinatorial statistics and introducing the notion of a visible pair. With this technique we determine asymptotically the average number of edges of HVGs.

physics.data-an↗
arXiv2010

On the degeneracy of $SU(3)_k$ topological phases

The ground state degeneracy of an $SU(N)_k$ topological phase with $n$ quasiparticle excitations is relevant quantity for quantum computation, condensed matter physics, and knot theory. It is an open question to find a closed formula for this degeneracy for any $N > 2$. Here we present the problem in an explicit combinatorial way and analyze the case N=3. While not finding a complete closed-form solution, we obtain generating functions and solve some special cases.

math.CO↗
arXiv2010

Enumerating permutations avoiding a pair of Babson-Steingrimsson patterns

Babson and Steingrìmsson introduced generalized permutation patterns that allow the requirement that two adjacent letters in a pattern must be adjacent in the permutation. Subsequently, Claesson presented a complete solution for the number of permutations avoiding any single pattern of type (1,2) or (2,1). For eight of these twelve patterns the answer is given by the Bell numbers. For the remaining four the answer is given by the Catalan numbers. In the present paper we give a complete solution for the number of permutations avoiding a pair of patterns of type (1,2) or (2,1). We also conjecture the number of permutations avoiding the patterns in any set of three or more such patterns.

math.CO↗
arXiv2009

Some recursive formulas for Selberg-type integrals

A set of recursive relations satisfied by Selberg-type integrals involving monomial symmetric polynomials are derived, generalizing previously known results. These formulas provide a well-defined algorithm for computing Selberg-Schur integrals whenever the Kostka numbers relating Schur functions and the corresponding monomial polynomials are explicitly known. We illustrate the usefulness of our results discussing some interesting examples.

math-ph↗
arXiv2009

Diffusion on an Ising chain with kinks

We count the number of histories between the two degenerate minimum energy configurations of the Ising model on a chain, as a function of the length n and the number d of kinks that appear above the critical temperature. This is equivalent to count permutations of length n avoiding certain subsequences depending on d. We give explicit generating functions and compute the asymptotics. The setting considered has a role when describing dynamics induced by quantum Hamiltonians with deconfined quasi-particles.

math.CO↗