Another proof of the alternating sign matrix conjecture

We study the enumeration of diagonally and antidiagonally symmetric alternating sign matrices (DASASMs) of fixed odd order by introducing a case of the six-vertex model whose configurations are in bijection with such matrices. The model involves a grid graph on a triangle, with bulk and boundary weights which satisfy the Yang-Baxter and reflection equations. We obtain a general expression for the partition function of this model as a sum of two determinantal terms, and show t...

It was shown by Kuperberg that the partition function of the square-ice model related to the quarter-turn symmetric alternating-sign matrices of even order is the product of two similar factors. We propose a square-ice model whose states are in bijection with the quarter-turn symmetric alternating-sign matrices of odd order, and show that the partition function of this model can be also written in a similar way. This allows to prove, in particular, the conjectures by Robbins ...

The enumeration of diagonally symmetric alternating sign matrices (DSASMs) is studied, and a Pfaffian formula is obtained for the number of DSASMs of any fixed size, where the entries for the Pfaffian are positive integers given by simple binomial coefficient expressions. This result provides the first known case of an exact enumeration formula for an alternating sign matrix symmetry class in which a simple product formula does not seem to exist. Pfaffian formulae are also ob...

We prove refined enumeration results on several symmetry classes as well as related classes of alternating sign matrices with respect to classical boundary statistics, using the six-vertex model of statistical physics. More precisely, we study vertically symmetric, vertically and horizontally symmetric, vertically and horizontally perverse, off-diagonally and off-antidiagonally symmetric, vertically and off-diagonally symmetric, quarter turn symmetric as well as quasi quarter...

The number of $n \times n$ matrices whose entries are either -1, 0, or 1, whose row- and column- sums are all 1, and such that in every row and every column the non-zero entries alternate in sign, is proved to be $[1!4! >... (3n-2)!]/[n!(n+1)! ... (2n-1)!]$, as conjectured by Mills, Robbins, and Rumsey.

The refined enumeration of alternating sign matrices (ASMs) of given order having prescribed behavior near one or more of their boundary edges has been the subject of extensive study, starting with the Refined Alternating Sign Matrix Conjecture of Mills-Robbins-Rumsey, its proof by Zeilberger, and more recent work on doubly-refined and triply-refined enumeration by several authors. In this paper we extend the previously known results on this problem by deriving explicit enume...

The six-vertex model, or the square ice model, with domain wall boundary conditions (DWBC) has been introduced and solved for finite $N$ by Korepin and Izergin. The solution is based on the Yang-Baxter equations and it represents the free energy in terms of an $N\times N$ Hankel determinant. Paul Zinn-Justin observed that the Izergin-Korepin formula can be re-expressed in terms of the partition function of a random matrix model with a nonpolynomial interaction. We use this ob...

It was shown by Kuperberg that the partition function of the square-ice model related to half-turn symmetric alternating-sign matrices of even order is the product of two similar factors. We propose a square-ice model whose states are in bijection with half-turn symmetric alternating-sign matrices of odd order. The partition function of the model is expressed via the above mentioned factors. The contributions to the partition function of the states corresponding to the altern...

In a previous article [math.CO/9712207], we derived the alternating-sign matrix (ASM) theorem from the Izergin-Korepin determinant for a partition function for square ice with domain wall boundary. Here we show that the same argument enumerates three other symmetry classes of alternating-sign matrices: VSASMs (vertically symmetric ASMs), even HTSASMs (half-turn-symmetric ASMs), and even QTSASMs (quarter-turn-symmetric ASMs). The VSASM enumeration was conjectured by Mills; the...

The six-vertex model with Domain Wall Boundary Conditions, or square ice, is considered for particular values of its parameters, corresponding to 1-, 2-, and 3-enumerations of Alternating Sign Matrices (ASMs). Using Hankel determinant representations for the partition function and the boundary correlator of homogeneous square ice, it is shown how the ordinary and refined enumerations can be derived in a very simple and straightforward way. The derivation is based on the stand...