Kazhdan-Lusztig polynomials and drift configurations

Abstract: The coefficients of the Kazhdan-Lusztig polynomials $P_{v,w}(q)$ are nonnegative integers that are upper semicontinuous on Bruhat order. Conjecturally, the same properties hold for $h$-polynomials $H_{v,w}(q)$ of local rings of Schubert varieties. This suggests a parallel between the two families of polynomials. We prove our conjectures for Grassmannians, and more generally, covexillary Schubert varieties in complete flag varieties, by deriving a combinatorial formula for $H_{v,w}(q)$. We introduce \emph{drift configurations} to formulate a new and compatible combinatorial rule for $P_{v,w}(q)$. From our rules we deduce, for these cases, the coefficient-wise inequality $P_{v,w}(q)\preceq H_{v,w}(q)$.