Dimer problem solved by Vdovichenko's method

Abstract

The dimer problem on a two-dimensional lattice is reduced to a problem of random walks on the lattice, and then the latter problem is solved by the method which Vdovichenko developed in order to derive an exact expression for the partition function of the Ising model on a two-dimensional lattice. The result for the generating function is identical to the usual result for the general lattice. For loose-packed lattices such as the square and the honeycomb lattice on a torus, it takes the form of a linear combination of four determinants, where no problem of determining signs occurs.