Gaussian partitions

Let V=V(n,q) denote the finite vector space of dimension n over the finite field with q elements. A subspace partition of V is a collection Π of subspaces of V such that each 1-dimensional subspace of V is in exactly one subspace of Π. In a recent paper, we proved some strong connections between the lattice of the subspace partitions of V and the lattice of the set partitions of n={1,…,n}. We now define a Gaussian partition of [n] _q =(q ⁿ −1)/(q−1) to be a nonincreasing sequence of positive integers formed by ordering all elements of some multiset {dim(W):W∈Π}, where Π is a subspace partition of V. The Gaussian partition function gp(n,q) is then the number of all Gaussian partitions of [n] _q , and is naturally analogous to the classical partition function p(n). In this paper, we initiate the study of gp(n,q) by exhibiting all Gaussian partitions for small n. In particular, we determine gp(n,q) as a polynomial in q for n≤5, and find a lower bound for gp(6,q).     

Gray Codes,Loopless Algorithm and Partitions

The generation of efficient Gray codes and combinatorial algorithms that list all the members of a combinatorial object has received a lot of attention in the last few years. Knuth gave a code for the set of all partitions of [n] = {1,2,...,n}. Ruskey presented a modified version of Knuth’s algorithm with distance 2. Ehrlich introduced a looplees algorithm for the set of the partitions of [n]; Ruskey and Savage generalized Ehrlich’s results and introduced two Gray codes for the set of partitions of [n]. In this paper, we give another combinatorial Gray code for the set of the partitions of [n] which differs from the aforementioned Gray codes. Also, we construct a different loopless algorithm for generating the set of all partitions of [n] which gives a constant time between successive partitions in the construction process.      

Jagged Partitions

By jagged partitions we refer to an ordered collection of non-negative integers (n₁, n₂,..., n_m) with n_m≥ p for some positive integer p, further subject to some weakly decreasing conditions that prevent them for being genuine partitions. The case analyzed in greater detail here corresponds to p = 1 and the following conditions n_i≥ n_i+1−1 and n_i≥ n_i+2. A number of properties for the corresponding partition function are derived, including rather remarkable congruence relations. An interesting application of jagged partitions concerns the derivation of generating functions for enumerating partitions with special restrictions, a point that is illustrated with various examples. 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: Primary—05A15, 05A17, 05A19     

Gray code enumeration of families of integer partitions

In this paper we show that the elements of certain families of integer partitions can be listed in a minimal change, or Gray code, order. In particular, we construct Gray code listings for the classes P_δ(n, k) and D(n, k) of partitions of n into parts of size at most k in which, for P_δ(n, k), the parts are congruent to one modulo δ and, for D(n, k), the parts are distinct. It is shown that the elements of these classes can be listed so that the only change between successive partitions is the increase of one part by δ (or the addition of δ ones) and the decrease of one part by δ (or the removal of δ ones), where, in the case of D(n, k), δ = 1.     

Partitioning Sets of Triples into Small Planes

We study partitions of the set of all ₃ ^v triples chosen from a v-set intopairwise disjoint planes with three points per line. Our partitions may contain copies of PG(2,2) only (Fano partitions) or copies of AG(2, 3) only (affine partitions)or copies of some planes of each type (mixed partitions).We find necessary conditions for Fano or affine partitions to exist. Such partitions are already known in severalcases: Fano partitions for v = 8 and affine partitions for v = 9 or 10. We constructsuch partitions for several sporadic orders, namely, Fano partitions for v = 14, 16, 22, 23, 28, andan affine partition for v = 18. Using these as starter partitions, we prove that Fano partitionsexist for v = 7 ⁿ + 1, 13 ⁿ + 1,27 ⁿ + 1, and affine partitions for v = 8 ⁿ + 1,9 ⁿ + 1, 17 ⁿ + 1. In particular, both Fano and affine partitionsexist for v = 3⁶ⁿ + 1. Using properties of 3-wise balanced designs, weextend these results to show that affine partitions also exist for v = 3²ⁿ .Similarly, mixed partitions are shown to exist for v = 8 ⁿ ,9 ⁿ , 11 ⁿ + 1.     

Linked partitions and linked cycles

The notion of noncrossing linked partition arose from the study of certain transforms in free probability theory. It is known that the number of noncrossing linked partitions of [n+1] is equal to the n-th large Schröder number r_n, which counts the number of Schröder paths. In this paper we give a bijective proof of this result. Then we introduce the structures of linked partitions and linked cycles. We present various combinatorial properties of noncrossing linked partitions, linked partitions, and linked cycles, and connect them to other combinatorial structures and results, including increasing trees, partial matchings, k-Stirling numbers of the second kind, and the symmetry between crossings and nestings over certain linear graphs.     

An optimal algorithm for generating equivalence relations on a linear array of processors

We describe a cost-optimal parallel algorithm for enumerating all partitions (equivalence relations) of the set {1, ...,n}, in lexicographic order. The algorithm is designed to be executed on a linear array of processors. It usesn processors, each having constant size memory and each being responsible for producing one element of a given set partition. Set partitions are generated with constant delay leading to anO(B _n) time solution, whereB _n is the total number of set partitions. The same method can be generalized to enumerate some other combinatorial objects such as variations. The algorithm can be made adaptive, i.e. to run on any prespecified number of processors. To illustrate the model of parallel computation, a simple case of enumerating subsets of the set {1, ...,n}, having at mostm (n) elements is also described.The research is partialy supported by NSERC operating grant OGPIN 007.     

The Polycyclic Monoids P n and the Thompson Groups V n,1

We construct what we call the strong orthogonal completion C _n of the polycyclic monoid P _n on n generators. The inverse monoid C _n is congruence free and its group of units is the Thompson group V _n,1. Copies of C _n can be constructed from partitions of sets into n blocks each block having the same cardinality as the underlying set.     

Irreducible characters of the group S n that are semiproportional on A n

Previously, we dubbed the conjecture that the alternating group A_n has no semiproportional irreducible characters for any natural n [1]. This conjecture was then shown to be equivalent to the following [3]. Let α and β be partitions of a number n such that their corresponding characters χ^α and χ^β in the group S_n are semiproportional on A_n. Then one of the partitions α or β is self-associated. Here, we describe all pairs (α, β) of partitions satisfying the hypothesis and the conclusion of the latter conjecture. Supported by RFBR (grant No. 07-01-00148) and by RFBR-NSFC (grant No. 05-01-39000). __________ Translated from Algebra i Logika, Vol. 47, No. 2, pp. 135–156, March–April, 2008.     

Successions in integer partitions

A partition of an integer n is a representation n=a ₁+a ₂+⋅⋅⋅+a _k , with integer parts 1≤a ₁≤a ₂≤…≤a _k . For any fixed positive integer p, a p-succession in a partition is defined to be a pair of adjacent parts such that a _i+1−a _i =p. We find generating functions for the number of partitions of n with no p-successions, as well as for the total number of such successions taken over all partitions of n. In the process, various interesting partition identities are derived. In addition, the Hardy-Ramanujan asymptotic formula for the number of partitions is used to obtain an asymptotic estimate for the average number of p-successions in the partitions of n. This material is based upon work supported by the National Research Foundation under grant number 2053740.