Osculating paths are sets of directed lattice paths which are not allowed to cross each other or have common edges, but are allowed to have common vertices. In this work we derive a constant term formula for the number of such lattice paths by solving a set of simultaneous difference equations.
The quantum $tau_2$-model with generic site-dependent inhomogeneity and arbitrary boundary fields is studied via the off-diagonal Bethe Ansatz method. The eigenvalues of the corresponding transfer matrix are given in terms of an inhomogeneous T-Q relation, which is based on the operator product identities among the fused transfer matrices and the asymptotic behavior of the transfer matrices. Moreover, the associated Bethe Ansatz equations are also obtained.
A directed path in the vicinity of a hard wall exerts pressure on the wall because of loss of entropy. The pressure at a particular point may be estimated by estimating the loss of entropy if the point is excluded from the path. In this paper we determine asymptotic expressions for the pressure on the X-axis in models of adsorbing directed paths in the first quadrant. Our models show that the pressure vanishes in the limit of long paths in the desorbed phase, but there is a non-zero pressure in the adsorbed phase. We determine asymptotic approximations of the pressure for finite length Dyck paths and directed paths, as well as for a model of adsorbing staircase polygons with both ends grafted to the X-axis.
The problem of a random walk on a finite triangular lattice with a single interior source point and zig-zag absorbing boundaries is solved exactly. This problem has been previously considered intractable.
The trigonometric su(n) spin chain with anti-periodic boundary condition (su(n) spin torus) is demonstrated to be Yang-Baxter integrable. Based on some intrinsic properties of the R-matrix, certain operator product identities of the transfer matrix are derived. These identities and the asymptotic behavior of the transfer matrix together allow us to obtain the exact eigenvalues in terms of an inhomogeneous T-Q relation via the off-diagonal Bethe Ansatz.
An integrable Heisenberg spin chain with nearest-neighbour couplings, next-nearest-neighbour couplings and Dzyaloshinski-Moriya interacton is constructed. The integrability of the model is proven. Based on the Bethe Ansatz solutions, the ground state and the elementary excitations are studied. It is shown that the spinon excitation spectrum of the present system possesses a novel triple arched structure. The method provided in this paper is general to construct new integrable models with next-nearest-neighbour couplings.