Integrability of the square-triangle random tiling model

Abstract

It is shown that the square-triangle random tiling model is equivalent to an asymmetric limit of the three coloring model on the honeycomb lattice. The latter model is known to be the O(n) model at T=0 and corresponds to the integrable model connected to the affine ${\mathrm{A}}_{2}^{(1)}$ Lie algebra. Thus it is shown that the weights of the square-triangle random tiling satisfy the Yang-Baxter equation, albeit in a singular limit of a more general model. The three coloring model for general vertex weights is solved by an algebraic Bethe ansatz.