Comparing formulas for type $GL_n$ Macdonald polynomials

Abstract: The paper compares (and reproves) the alcove walk and the nonattacking fillings formulas for type $GL_n$ Macdonald polynomials which were given in Haglund-Haiman-Loehr arXiv:math.CO/0601693, Alexandersson arXiv:1602.05153 and Ram-Yip arXiv:0803.1146. The "compression" relating the two formulas in this paper is the same as that of Lenart arXiv:0804.4716. We have reformulated it so that it holds without conditions and so that the proofs of the alcove walk formula and the nonattacking fillings formula are parallel. This reformulation highlights the role of the double affine Hecke algebra and Cherednik's intertwiners. An exposition of the type $GL_n$ double affine braid group, double affine Hecke algebra, and all definitions and proofs regarding Macdonald polynomials are provided to make this paper self contained.