Abstract
We have derived the perimeter generating function of a model of punctured staircase polygons in which the internal staircase polygon is rotated by a 90° angle with respect to the outer staircase polygon. In one approach we calculated a long series expansion for the problem and found that all the terms in the generating function can be reproduced from a linear Fuchsian differential equation of order 4. We then solved this ODE and found a closed form expression for the generating function. This is a highly unusual and most fortuitous result since ODEs of such high order very rarely permit a closed form solution. In a second approach we proved the result for the generating function exactly using combinatorial arguments. This latter solution allows many generalizations including models with other types of punctures and a model with any fixed number of nested rotated staircase punctures.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 215002 |
Journal | Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical |
Volume | 41 |
Issue number | 21 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 6 May 2008 |
Externally published | Yes |