Papers
Topics
Authors
Recent
Gemini 2.5 Flash
Gemini 2.5 Flash
149 tokens/sec
GPT-4o
9 tokens/sec
Gemini 2.5 Pro Pro
47 tokens/sec
o3 Pro
4 tokens/sec
GPT-4.1 Pro
38 tokens/sec
DeepSeek R1 via Azure Pro
28 tokens/sec
2000 character limit reached

A new combinatorial identity for unicellular maps, via a direct bijective approach (1006.5053v1)

Published 25 Jun 2010 in math.CO

Abstract: A unicellular map, or one-face map, is a graph embedded in an orientable surface such that its complement is a topological disk. In this paper, we give a new viewpoint to the structure of these objects, by describing a decomposition of any unicellular map into a unicellular map of smaller genus. This gives a new combinatorial identity for the number $\epsilon_g(n)$ of unicellular maps of size $n$ and genus $g$. Contrarily to the Harer-Zagier recurrence formula, this identity is recursive in only one parameter (the genus). Iterating the construction gives an explicit bijection between unicellular maps and plane trees with distinguished vertices, which gives a combinatorial explanation (and proof) of the fact that $\epsilon_g(n)$ is the product of the $n$-th Catalan number by a polynomial in $n$. The combinatorial interpretation also gives a new and simple formula for this polynomial. Variants of the problem are considered, like bipartite unicellular maps, or unicellular maps with cubic vertices only.

Summary

We haven't generated a summary for this paper yet.