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Bumpless Pipedreams in Algebraic Combinatorics

Updated 20 December 2025
  • Bumpless pipedreams are combinatorial models in symmetric function theory that generalize classical Stanley symmetric functions using double weight enumerations and bijective tableau correspondences.
  • They employ reduced signed increasing factorizations and primed tableaux to connect type A and type C Stanley symmetric functions, yielding explicit Schur function expansions.
  • The framework integrates Coxeter group theory, tableau conversions, and crystal operators to offer new insights and conjectural extensions in algebraic combinatorics.

Bumpless pipedreams, in the context of symmetric function theory and representation-theoretic combinatorics, refer to combinatorial models that generalize the classical Stanley symmetric functions and their connections to crystal structures, tableaux, and algebraic identities. In particular, bumpless pipedreams facilitate the combinatorial description of double Stanley symmetric functions, which interpolate between the type AnA_n and type CnC_n Stanley symmetric functions via specializations in two sets of variables. These constructions interface Coxeter group theory, tableau combinatorics, and the structure of algebraic symmetric functions in a unified framework (Hawkes, 2018).

1. Coxeter Group Framework and Factorizations

The foundation utilizes Coxeter groups: let AnA_n denote the group generated by s1,,sns_1, \dots, s_n with braid and commutation relations; Cn+1C_{n+1} is generated by s0,s1,...,sns_0, s_1, ..., s_n with (s0s1)4=1(s_0s_1)^4=1, (sisi+1)3=1(s_is_{i+1})^3=1 for i1i\geq1, and (sisj)2=1(s_is_j)^2=1 otherwise. A “reduced signed increasing factorization” (CnC_n0) of CnC_n1 into CnC_n2 parts is a reduced word CnC_n3 (with letters in CnC_n4), subdivided into CnC_n5 contiguous factors CnC_n6 such that each CnC_n7 is strictly increasing under CnC_n8.

Define the double-weight of CnC_n9 by

AnA_n0

AnA_n1

where “bars” indicate generators AnA_n2 AnA_n3. The double Stanley symmetric polynomial for AnA_n4 in variables AnA_n5 and AnA_n6 is

AnA_n7

Letting AnA_n8 yields the formal power series AnA_n9.

2. Specialization to Stanley Symmetric Functions

The double Stanley symmetric function encapsulates established symmetric functions as special cases. If s1,,sns_1, \dots, s_n0, restricting to reduced increasing factorizations with no barred letters retrieves the type s1,,sns_1, \dots, s_n1 Stanley symmetric function s1,,sns_1, \dots, s_n2. If s1,,sns_1, \dots, s_n3, removing bar-signs and weighting each nonempty factor by s1,,sns_1, \dots, s_n4 gives the type s1,,sns_1, \dots, s_n5 symmetric function s1,,sns_1, \dots, s_n6. This specialization is formalized: s1,,sns_1, \dots, s_n7 for s1,,sns_1, \dots, s_n8 (Hawkes, 2018).

3. Primed Tableaux and Expansion Formulas

To connect reduced signed increasing factorizations to tableau combinatorics, intermediate generating functions are introduced via primed and barred entries in skew tableaux. For fixed s1,,sns_1, \dots, s_n9, Cn+1C_{n+1}0, vectors Cn+1C_{n+1}1, and Cn+1C_{n+1}2, a primed-signed tableau Cn+1C_{n+1}3 of shape Cn+1C_{n+1}4 is filled from

Cn+1C_{n+1}5

with rules enforcing weakly increasing order, limited markings per row and column, and prescribed barred/primed/unmarked counts. The double-weight Cn+1C_{n+1}6 associates powers in the generating function Cn+1C_{n+1}7.

For Cn+1C_{n+1}8, a mixed Edelman–Greene insertion yields a bijection between Cn+1C_{n+1}9 and pairs s0,s1,...,sns_0, s_1, ..., s_n0 with s0,s1,...,sns_0, s_1, ..., s_n1 an Edelman–Greene tableau of shape s0,s1,...,sns_0, s_1, ..., s_n2 and s0,s1,...,sns_0, s_1, ..., s_n3 a primed tableau of matching shape. This leads to the expansion: s0,s1,...,sns_0, s_1, ..., s_n4 where s0,s1,...,sns_0, s_1, ..., s_n5 is the set of Edelman–Greene increasing tableaux whose row-reading word is a reduced word for s0,s1,...,sns_0, s_1, ..., s_n6.

4. A Type A Bicrystal Structure and Schur Product Formulas

Primed tableaux possess an s0,s1,...,sns_0, s_1, ..., s_n7 “bicrystal” structure: crystal operators s0,s1,...,sns_0, s_1, ..., s_n8 handle unprimed letters, while s0,s1,...,sns_0, s_1, ..., s_n9 handle primed letters. These operators satisfy commuting relations and define a bicrystal. By bicrystal theory,

(s0s1)4=1(s_0s_1)^4=10

where (s0s1)4=1(s_0s_1)^4=11 and (s0s1)4=1(s_0s_1)^4=12 are Schur polynomials.

For (s0s1)4=1(s_0s_1)^4=13, the corresponding expansion involves highest-weight primed tableaux of shape (s0s1)4=1(s_0s_1)^4=14, explicitly enumerating the case and yielding a summation over products of Schur functions in both alphabets.

5. Tableaux Conversions and Algebraic Relationships

Inward and outward conversion algorithms allow the translation between primed and signed tableaux. A local swap repeatedly replaces primed (s0s1)4=1(s_0s_1)^4=15's with barred (s0s1)4=1(s_0s_1)^4=16's or vice versa, establishing a bijection (s0s1)4=1(s_0s_1)^4=17, weight-preserving. Specifically, primed tableaux (s0s1)4=1(s_0s_1)^4=18 correspond to signed tableaux (s0s1)4=1(s_0s_1)^4=19, and

(sisi+1)3=1(s_is_{i+1})^3=10

i.e., the skew Schur function in the difference (sisi+1)3=1(s_is_{i+1})^3=11.

The algebraic relationships derived include

(sisi+1)3=1(s_is_{i+1})^3=12

(sisi+1)3=1(s_is_{i+1})^3=13

for (sisi+1)3=1(s_is_{i+1})^3=14.

6. Conjectural Extensions in Type (sisi+1)3=1(s_is_{i+1})^3=15

For general signed permutations in (sisi+1)3=1(s_is_{i+1})^3=16, “unknotted” elements are defined as those whose reduced words avoid certain forbidden patterns ((sisi+1)3=1(s_is_{i+1})^3=17 and (sisi+1)3=1(s_is_{i+1})^3=18). For unknotted (sisi+1)3=1(s_is_{i+1})^3=19, analogs of EG-tableaux (signed Edelman–Greene tableaux) can be defined, and the following conjectures are proposed:

  • For unknotted i1i\geq10,

i1i\geq11

  • If in every reduced word for i1i\geq12, at most one i1i\geq13 occurs,

i1i\geq14

where i1i\geq15 counts signed EG-tableaux of shape i1i\geq16 with i1i\geq17 barred entries.

  • For i1i\geq18 (so no i1i\geq19 at all),

(sisj)2=1(s_is_j)^2=10

with verification for small unknotted (sisj)2=1(s_is_j)^2=11.

7. Context and Future Directions

The bumpless pipedreams constructions for double Stanley symmetric functions unify combinatorial models for type (sisj)2=1(s_is_j)^2=12 and type (sisj)2=1(s_is_j)^2=13 symmetric functions, crystal-theoretic perspectives, and Schur function expansions. The bicrystal structure and tableau expansions enable new algebraic relationships and conjectural ties to broader symmetric function families. Further research directions include establishing the conjectures for general type (sisj)2=1(s_is_j)^2=14 permutations, explicit realization of crystal operators on signed tableaux, and deeper connections to Schubert calculus and other representation-theoretic domains (Hawkes, 2018).

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