Diagonally and antidiagonally symmetric alternating sign matrices of odd order

Abstract

We study the enumeration of diagonally and antidiagonally symmetric alternating sign matrices (DAS- ASMs) of fixed odd order by introducing a case of the six-vertex model whose configurations are in bijection with such matrices. The model involves a grid graph on a triangle, with bulk and boundary weights which satisfy the Yang– Baxter and reflection equations. We obtain a general expression for the partition function of this model as a sum of two determinantal terms, and show that at a certain point each of these terms reduces to a Schur function. We are then able to prove a conjecture of Robbins from the mid 1980's that the total number of (2n + 1) × (2n + 1) DASASMs is∏n (3i)! ,andaconjectureofStroganovfrom2008thattheratiobetweenthenumbersof(2n+1)×(2n+1) i=0 (n+i)! DASASMs with central entry −1 and 1 is n/(n + 1). Among the several product formulae for the enumeration of symmetric alternating sign matrices which were conjectured in the 1980's, that for odd-order DASASMs is the last to have been proved.