Polynomial factorization statistics and point configurations in $\mathbb{R}^3$

Abstract: We use generating functions to relate the expected values of polynomial factorization statistics over $\mathbb{F}_q$ to the cohomology of ordered configurations in $\mathbb{R}^3$ as a representation of the symmetric group. Our methods lead to a new proof of the twisted Grothendieck-Lefschetz formula for squarefree polynomial factorization statistics of Church, Ellenberg, and Farb.