Enumeration Of Walks Research Articles

Logarithmic terms in discrete heat kernel expansions in the quadrant

In the context of lattice walk enumeration in cones, we consider the number of walks in the quarter plane with fixed starting and ending points, prescribed step-set, and given length. After renormalisation, this number may be interpreted as a discrete heat kernel in the quadrant. We propose a new method to compute complete asymptotic expansions of these numbers of walks as their length tends to infinity, based on two main ingredients: explicit expressions for the underlying generating functions in terms of elliptic Jacobi theta functions along with a duality known as Jacobi transformation. This duality allows us to pass from a classical Taylor expansion of the series to an expansion at the critical point of the model. We work through two examples. First, we present our approach on the well-known Kreweras model, which is algebraic, and show how to obtain a complete asymptotic expansion in this case. We then consider a more generic (so-called infinite group) model and find the associated complete asymptotic expansion. In this second case, we prove the existence of logarithmic terms in the asymptotic expansion, and we relate the coefficients appearing in the expansion to polyharmonic functions. To our knowledge, this is the first time that logarithmic terms have been observed in the asymptotics of a class of lattice walks confined to a quadrant.

Full asymptotic expansion for orbit-summable quadrant walks and discrete polyharmonic functions

Enumeration of walks with small steps in the quadrant has been a topic of great interest in combinatorics over the last few years. In this article, it is shown how to compute exact asymptotics of the number of such walks with fixed start- and endpoints for orbit-summable models with finite group, up to arbitrary precision. The resulting representation greatly resembles one conjectured for walks starting from the origin in 2020 by Chapon, Fusy and Raschel, differing only in terms appearing due to the periodicity of the model. We will see that the dependency on start- and endpoint is given by discrete polyharmonic functions, which are solutions of △nv=0 for a discretization △ of a Laplace–Beltrami operator. They can be decomposed into a sum of products of lower order polyharmonic functions of either the start- or the endpoint only, which leads to a partial extension of a theorem by Denisov and Wachtel.

Distinct Shortest Walk Enumeration for RPQs

We consider the Distinct Shortest Walks problem. Given two vertices s and t of a graph database D and a regular path query, we want to enumerate all walks of minimal length from s to t that carry a label that conforms to the query. Usual theoretical solutions turn out to be inefficient when applied to graph models that are closer to real-life systems, in particular because edges may carry multiple labels. Indeed, known algorithms may repeat the same answer exponentially many times. We propose an efficient algorithm for graph databases with multiple labels. The preprocessing runs in O(DxA) and the delay between two consecutive outputs is in O(λxA), where A is a nondeterministic automaton representing the query and L is the minimal length. The algorithm can handle epsilon-transitions in A or queries given as regular expressions at no additional cost.

Lattice walks confined to an octant in dimension 3: (non-)rationality of the second critical exponent

In the field of enumeration of walks in cones, it is known how to compute asymptotically the number of excursions (finite paths in the cone with fixed length, starting and ending points, using jumps from a given step set). As it turns out, the associated critical exponent is related to the eigenvalues of a certain Dirichlet problem on a spherical domain. An important underlying question is to decide whether this asymptotic exponent is a (non-)rational number, as this has important consequences on the algebraic nature of the associated generating function. In this paper, we ask whether such an excursion sequence might admit an asymptotic expansion with a first rational exponent and a second non-rational exponent. While the current state of the art does not give any access to such many-term expansions, we look at the associated continuous problem, involving Brownian motion in cones. Our main result is to prove that in dimension three there exists a cone such that the heat kernel (the continuous analog of the excursion sequence) has the desired rational/non-rational asymptotic property. Our techniques come from spectral theory and perturbation theory. More specifically, our main tool is a new Hadamard formula, which has an independent interest and allows us to compute the derivative of eigenvalues of spherical triangles along infinitesimal variations of the angles.

Asymptotics of lattice walks via analytic combinatorics in several variables

We consider the enumeration of walks on the two-dimensional non-negative integer lattice with steps defined by a finite set S ⊆ {±1, 0}2 . Up to isomorphism there are 79 unique two-dimensional models to consider, and previous work in this area has used the kernel method, along with a rigorous computer algebra approach, to show that 23 of the 79 models admit D-finite generating functions. In 2009, Bostan and Kauers used Pade ́-Hermite approximants to guess differential equations which these 23 generating functions satisfy, in the process guessing asymptotics of their coefficient sequences. In this article we provide, for the first time, a complete rigorous verification of these guesses. Our technique is to use the kernel method to express 19 of the 23 generating functions as diagonals of tri-variate rational functions and apply the methods of analytic combinatorics in several variables (the remaining 4 models have algebraic generating functions and can thus be handled by univariate techniques). This approach also shows the link between combinatorial properties of the models and features of its asymptotics such as asymptotic and polynomial growth factors. In addition, we give expressions for the number of walks returning to the x-axis, the y-axis, and the origin, proving recently conjectured asymptotics of Bostan, Chyzak, van Hoeij, Kauers, and Pech.

Self-avoiding walks and connective constants in clustered scale-free networks

Various types of walks on complex networks have been used in recent years to model search and navigation in several kinds of systems, with particular emphasis on random walks. This gives valuable information on network properties, but self-avoiding walks (SAWs) may be more suitable than unrestricted random walks to study long-distance characteristics of complex systems. Here we study SAWs in clustered scale-free networks, characterized by a degree distribution of the form P(k)∼k^{-γ} for large k. Clustering is introduced in these networks by inserting three-node loops (triangles). The long-distance behavior of SAWs gives us information on asymptotic characteristics of such networks. The number of self-avoiding walks, a_{n}, has been obtained by direct enumeration, allowing us to determine the connective constant μ of these networks as the large-n limit of the ratio a_{n}/a_{n-1}. An analytical approach is presented to account for the results derived from walk enumeration, and both methods give results agreeing with each other. In general, the average number of SAWs a_{n} is larger for clustered networks than for unclustered ones with the same degree distribution. The asymptotic limit of the connective constant for large system size N depends on the exponent γ of the degree distribution: For γ>3,μ converges to a finite value as N→∞; for γ=3, the size-dependent μ_{N} diverges as lnN, and for γ<3 we have μ_{N}∼N^{(3-γ)/2}.

Higher Dimensional Lattice Walks: Connecting Combinatorial and Analytic Behavior

We consider the enumeration of walks on the nonnegative lattice $\mathbb{N}^{d},$ with steps defined by a set $\mathcal{S}\subset \{-1, 0, 1\}^d\backslash\{{0}\}$. Previous work in this area has es...

Square lattice walks avoiding a quadrant

In the past decade, a lot of attention has been devoted to the enumeration of walks with prescribed steps confined to a convex cone. In two dimensions, this means counting walks in the first quadrant of the plane (possibly after a linear transformation).But what about walks in non-convex cones? We investigate the two most natural cases: first, square lattice walks avoiding the negative quadrant Q1={(i,j):i<0 and j<0}, and then, square lattice walks avoiding the West quadrant Q2={(i,j):i<j and i<−j}. In both cases, the generating function that counts walks starting from the origin is found to differ from a simple D-finite series by an algebraic one. We also obtain closed form expressions for the number of n-step walks ending at certain prescribed endpoints, as a sum of three hypergeometric terms.One of these terms already appears in the enumeration of square lattice walks confined to the cone {(i,j):i+j≥0and j≥0}, known as Gessel's walks. In fact, the enumeration of Gessel's walks follows, by the reflection principle, from the enumeration of walks starting from (−1,0) and avoiding Q1. Their generating function turns out to be purely algebraic (as the generating function of Gessel's walks).Another approach to Gessel's walks consists in counting walks that start from (−1,1) and avoid the West quadrant Q2. The associated generating function is D-finite but transcendental.

Enumeration of bilaterally symmetric 3-noncrossing partitions

Schützenberger’s theorem for the ordinary RSK correspondence naturally extends to Chen et al.’s correspondence for matchings and partitions. Thus the counting of bilaterally symmetric k -noncrossing partitions naturally arises as an analogue for involutions. In obtaining the analogous result for 3-noncrossing partitions, we use a different technique to develop a Maple package for 2-dimensional vacillating lattice walk enumeration problems. The package also applies to the hesitating case. As applications, we find several interesting relations for some special bilaterally symmetric partitions.

Enumeration of bilaterally symmetric 3-noncrossing partitions

Schützenberger's theorem for the ordinary RSK correspondence naturally extends to Chen et. al's correspondence for matchings and partitions. Thus the counting of bilaterally symmetric $k$-noncrossing partitions naturally arises as an analogue for involutions. In obtaining the analogous result for $3$-noncrossing partitions, we use a different technique to develop a $\mathsf{MAPLE}$ package for $2$-dimensional vacillating lattice walk enumeration problems. As an application, we find an interesting relation between two special bilaterally symmetric partitions.

Self-avoiding walk enumeration via the lace expansion

We introduce a new method for the enumeration of self-avoiding walks based on the lace expansion. We also introduce an algorithmic improvement, called the two-step method, for self-avoiding walk enumeration problems. We obtain significant extensions of existing series on the cubic and hypercubic lattices in all dimensions d ⩾ 3: we enumerate 32-step self-avoiding polygons in d = 3, 26-step self-avoiding polygons in d = 4, 30-step self-avoiding walks in d = 3, and 24-step self-avoiding walks and polygons in all dimensions d ⩾ 4. We analyze these series to obtain estimates for the connective constant and various critical exponents and amplitudes in dimensions 3 ⩽ d ⩽ 8. We also provide major extensions of 1/d expansions for the connective constant and for two critical amplitudes.

The Induced Subgraph Order on Unlabelled Graphs

A differential poset is a partially ordered set with raising and lowering operators $U$ and $D$ which satisfy the commutation relation $DU-UD=rI$ for some constant $r$. This notion may be generalized to deal with the case in which there exist sequences of constants $\{q_n\}_{n\geq 0}$ and $\{r_n\}_{n\geq 0}$ such that for any poset element $x$ of rank $n$, $DU(x) = q_n UD(x) + r_nx$. Here, we introduce natural raising and lowering operators such that the set of unlabelled graphs, ordered by $G\leq H$ if and only if $G$ is isomorphic to an induced subgraph of $H$, is a generalized differential poset with $q_n=2$ and $r_n = 2^n$. This allows one to apply a number of enumerative results regarding walk enumeration to the poset of induced subgraphs.

Enumeration of walks reaching a line

We enumerate walks in the plane $\mathbb{R}^2$, with steps East and North, that stop as soon as they reach a given line; these walks are counted according to the distance of the line to the origin, and we study the asymptotic behavior when the line has a fixed slope and moves away from the origin. When the line has a rational slope, we study a more general class of walks, and give exact as well as asymptotic enumerative results; for this, we define a nice bijection from our walks to words of a rational language. For a general slope, asymptotic results are obtained; in this case, the method employed leads us to find asymptotic results for a wider class of walks in $\mathbb{R}^m$.

Critical exponents for a self-interacting, directed polymer with adsorption.

We present an exact determination of the correlation-length exponents as well as an accurate numerical estimation of the bulk and surface entropic exponents at the ordinary and special \ensuremath{\Theta} points for a directed-polymer model. The numerical results were obtained using an exact enumeration of walks up to 29 steps.

Computer enumeration of walks on directed graphs

A vectorized computer code is developed for the enumeration of walks through the matrix power method for directed graphs. Application of this code to several graphs is considered. It is shown that the coefficients in the generating functions for signed graphs are much smaller in magnitude. It is shown that self-avoiding walks on some graphs can be enumerated as a linear combination of walk GFs of directed paths and rooted-directed paths.

Computer-assisted enumeration of walks and self-returning walks on chemical graphs

A computer program has been developed for obtaining the generating function for walks and for enumerating self-returning walks on graphs of interest in

Lower bound for the connective constant of a self-avoiding walk on a square lattice

It is shown that 2.58105 < lim k→∞c k 1 k , where c k is the number of self-avoiding walks on the square lattice of k steps which start at the origin; this is the best lower bound so far calculated. The bound is obtained by use of a theorem of Kesten and computer enumeration of walks.