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The Hamiltonian approach to isomonodromic deformation systems for generic rational covariant derivative operators on the Riemann sphere, having any matrix dimension $r$ and any number of isolated singularities of arbitrary Poincar\'e rank, is derived using the split classical rational $R$-matrix Poisson bracket structure on the dual space $L^*{\frak gl}(r)$ of the loop algebra $L{\frak gl}(r)$. Nonautonomous isomonodromic counterparts of isospectral systems are obtained by identifying the deformation parameters as Casimir elements on the phase space. These are shown to coincide with the higher Birkhoff invariants determining the local asymptotics near to irregular singular points, together with the pole loci. They appear as the negative power coefficients in the principal part of the Laurent expansion of the fundamental meromorphic differential on the associated spectral curve, while the corresponding dual spectral invariant Hamiltonians appear as the "mirror image" positive power terms in the analytic part. Infinitesimal isomonodromic deformations are generated by the sum of the Hamiltonian vector field and an explicit derivative vector field that is transversal to the symplectic foliation., Comment: Conference proceedings write-up of plenary talk given at: XL Workshop on Geometric Methods in Physics, July 2-8, 2023, Bialowieza, Poland. 16 pages. (Typos corrected; added missing second Hamiltonian vector field in eq. (3.11), references updated.)

The Hamiltonian approach to isomonodromic deformation systems is extended to include generic rational covariant derivative operators on the Riemann sphere with irregular singularities of arbitrary Poincar\'e rank. The space of rational connections with given pole degrees carries a natural Poisson structure corresponding to the standard classical rational R-matrix structure on the dual space $L^*gl(r)$ of the loop algebra $Lgl(r)$. Nonautonomous isomonodromic counterparts of the isospectral systems generated by spectral invariants are obtained by identifying the deformation parameters as Casimir functions on the phase space. These are shown to coincide with the higher Birkhoff invariants determining the local asymptotics near to irregular singular points, together with the pole loci. Infinitesimal isomonodromic deformations are shown to be generated by the sum of the Hamiltonian vector field and an explicit derivative vector field that is transversal to the symplectic foliation. The Casimir elements serve as coordinates complementing those along the symplectic leaves, extended by the exponents of formal monodromy, defining a local symplectomorphism between them. The explicit derivative vector fields preserve the Poisson structure and define a flat transversal connection, spanning an integrable distribution whose leaves, locally, may be identified as the orbits of a free abelian group. The projection of the infinitesimal isomonodromic deformations vector fields to the quotient manifold under this action gives the commuting Hamiltonian vector fields corresponding to the spectral invariants dual to the Birkhoff invariants and the pole loci., Comment: V6. 46 pages. To comply with J. Math. Phys. formatting requirements, the abstract was reduced to one paragraph and the table of contents and highlighting of theorems were removed. Comparison comments were added after Theorems 3.2 and 3.3. The summation limits were made more explicit in eqs. (3.15), (3.17). Ref. [19] was corrected

The addition formulae for KP $\tau$-functions, when evaluated at lattice points in the KP flow group orbits in the infinite dimensional Sato-Segal-Wilson Grassmannian, give infinite parametric families of solutions to discretizations of the KP hierarchy. The CKP hierarchy may similarly be viewed as commuting flows on the Lagrangian sub-Grassmannian of maximal isotropic subspaces with respect to a suitably defined symplectic form. Evaluating the $\tau$-functions at a sublattice of points within the KP orbit, the resulting discretization gives solutions both to the hyperdeterminantal relations (or Kashaev recurrence) and the hexahedron (or Kenyon-Pemantle) recurrence., Comment: 57 pages. Acknowledgements added

This work concerns the relation between the geometry of Lagrangian Grassmannians and the CKP integrable hierarchy. The Lagrange map from the Lagrangian Grassmannian of maximal isotropic (Lagrangian) subspaces of a finite dimensional symplectic vector space $V\oplus V^*$ into the projectivization of the exterior space $\Lambda V$ is defined by restricting the Pl\"ucker map on the full Grassmannian to the Lagrangian sub-Grassmannian and composing it with projection to the subspace of symmetric elements under dualization $V \leftrightarrow V^*$. In terms of the affine coordinate matrix on the big cell, this reduces to the principal minors map, whose image is cut out by the $2 \times 2 \times 2$ quartic {\em hyperdeterminantal} relations. To apply this to the CKP hierarchy, the Lagrangian Grassmannian framework is extended to infinite dimensions, with $V\oplus V^*$ replaced by a polarized Hilbert space $ {\mathcal H} ={\mathcal H}_+\oplus {\mathcal H}_-$, with symplectic form $\omega$. The image of the Plucker map in the fermionic Fock space ${\mathcal F}= \Lambda^{\infty/2}{\mathcal H}$ is identified and the infinite dimensional Lagrangian map is defined. The linear constraints defining reduction to the CKP hierarchy are expressed as a fermionic null condition and the infinite analogue of the hyperdeterminantal relations is deduced. A multiparametric family of such relations is shown to be satisfied by the evaluation of the $\tau$-function at translates of a point in the space of odd flow variables along the cubic lattices generated by power sums in the parameters., Comment: 51 pages. The paper was shortened by 15 pages, omitting the detailed derivations of decompositions as a sum of irreducible symplectic modules (in Sections 2.5 and 3.4), and reducing the calculations in the inductive proof in Section 2.7. The abstract has been shortened, a more detailed introductory section has been added and a summary of the results (Section 3.7). References have been updated

We extend the approach to ${\tau}$-functions as Widom constants developed by Cafasso, Gavrylenko and Lisovyy to orthogonal loop group Drinfeld-Sokolov hierarchies and isomonodromic deformations systems. The combinatorial expansion of the ${\tau}$-function as a sum of correlators, each expressed as products of finite determinants, follows from using multicomponent fermionic vacuum expectation values of certain dressing operators encoding the initial conditions and the dependence on the flow (or deformation) parameters. When reduced to the orthogonal case, these correlators become finite Pfaffians and the determinantal ${\tau}$-functions, both in the Drinfeld-Sokolov and isomonodromic case, become squares of ${\tau}$-functions of Pfaffian type. The results are illustrated by several examples, consisting of polynomial ${\tau}$-functions of orthogonal Drinfeld-Sokolov type and of isomonodromic ones with four regular singular points.

Lattices of polynomial KP and BKP $\tau$-functions labelled by partitions, with the flow variables equated to finite power sums, as well as associated multipair KP and multipoint BKP correlation functions are expressed via generalizations of Jacobi's bialternant formula for Schur functions and Nimmo's Pfaffian ratio formula for Schur $Q$-functions. These are obtained by applying Wick's theorem to fermionic vacuum expectation value representations in which the infinite group element acting on the lattice of basis states stabilizes the vacuum., Comment: 26 pages. References updated. Notations for $Q_{\alpha}$ rendered more consistent. Statement and proof of Propositions 4.1 and 4.2 revised. Eq. (4.6) corrected. Typos corrected

We derive a bilinear expansion expressing elements of a lattice of KP $\tau$-functions, labelled by partitions, as a sum over products of pairs of elements of an associated lattice of BKP $\tau$-functions, labelled by strict partitions. This generalizes earlier results relating determinants and Pfaffians of minors of skew symmetric matrices, with applications to Schur functions and Schur $Q$-functions. It is deduced using the representations of KP and BKP $\tau$-functions as vacuum expectation values (VEV's) of products of fermionic operators of charged and neutral type, respectively. The lattice is generated by insertion of products of pairs of charged creation and annihilation operators. The result follows from expanding the product as a sum of monomials in the neutral fermionic generators and applying a factorization theorem for VEV's of products of operators in the mutually commuting subalgebras. Applications include the case of inhomogeneous polynomial $\tau$-functions of KP and BKP type., Comment: 22 pages. References updated. Notation for Q_\alpha rendered more consistent. Typo in eq. (4.18) corrected

An identity is derived expressing Schur functions as sums over products of pairs of Schur $Q$-functions, generalizing previously known special cases. This is shown to follow from their representations as vacuum expectation values (VEV's) of products of either charged or neutral fermionic creation and annihilation operators, Wick's theorem and a factorization identity for VEV's of products of two mutually anticommuting sets of neutral fermionic operators., Comment: 17 pages. Typos corrected. Title word order changed. References updated

This work is motivated by the relation between the KP and BKP integrable hierarchies, whose $\tau$-functions may be viewed as sections of dual determinantal and Pfaffian line bundles over infinite dimensional Grassmannians. In finite dimensions, we show how to relate the Cartan map which, for a vector space $V$ of dimension $N$, embeds the Grassmannian ${\mathrm {Gr}}^0_V(V+V^*)$ of maximal isotropic subspaces of $V+ V^*$, with respect to the natural scalar product, into the projectivization of the exterior space $\Lambda(V)$, and the Pl\"ucker map, which embeds the Grassmannian ${\mathrm {Gr}}_V(V+ V^*)$ of all $N$-planes in $V+ V^*$ into the projectivization of $\Lambda^N(V + V^*)$. The Pl\"ucker coordinates on ${\mathrm {Gr}}^0_V(V+V^*)$ are expressed bilinearly in terms of the Cartan coordinates, which are holomorphic sections of the dual Pfaffian line bundle ${\mathrm {Pf}}^* \rightarrow {\mathrm {Gr}}^0_V(V+V^*, Q)$. In terms of affine coordinates on the big cell, this is equivalent to an identity of Cauchy-Binet type, expressing the determinants of square submatrices of a skew symmetric $N \times N$ matrix as bilinear sums over the Pfaffians of their principal minors., Comment: References updated

Weighted constellations give graphical representations of weighted branched coverings of the Riemann sphere. They were introduced to provide a combinatorial interpretation of the $2$D Toda $\tau$-functions of hypergeometric type serving as generating functions for weighted Hurwitz numbers in the case of polynomial weight generating functions. The product over all vertex and edge weights of a given weighted constellation, summed over all configurations, reproduces the $\tau$-function. In the present work, this is generalized to constellations in which the weighting parameters are determined by a rational weight generating function. The associated $\tau$-function may be expressed as a sum over the weights of doubly labelled weighted constellations, with two types of weighting parameters associated to each equivalence class of branched coverings. The double labelling of branch points, referred to as "colour" and "flavour" indices, is required by the fact that, in the Taylor expansion of the weight generating function, a particular colour from amongst the denominator parameters may appear multiply, and the flavour labels indicate this multiplicity., Comment: 37 pages. Added remark 2.7. Corrected eqs. (4.10) and (4.17). Corrected several notational inconsistencies and added missing reference citations

The basis elements spanning the Sato Grassmannian element corresponding to the KP $\tau$-function that serves as generating function for rationally weighted Hurwitz numbers are shown to be Meijer $G$-functions. Using their Mellin-Barnes integral representation the $\tau$-function, evaluated at the trace invariants of an externally coupled matrix, is expressed as a matrix integral. Using the Mellin-Barnes integral transform of an infinite product of $\Gamma$ functions, a similar matrix integral representation is given for the KP $\tau$-function that serves as generating function for quantum weighted Hurwitz numbers., Comment: 11 pages. Text of invited presentation at: Quantum Theory and Symmetries, XIth International symposium, Centre de recherches math\'ematiques, Montr\'eal, July 1-5, 2019

The KP $\tau$-function of hypergeometric type serving as generating function for quantum weighted Hurwitz numbers is used to compute the Baker function and the corresponding adapted basis elements, expressed as absolutely convergent Laurent seriesin the spectral parameter. These are equivalently expressed as Mellin-Barnes integrals, analogously to Meijer $G$-functions, but with an infinite product of $\Gamma$-functions as integral kernel. A matrix model representation is derived for the $\tau$-function evaluated at trace invariants of an externally coupled matrix., Comment: 19 pages. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1904.03770

The quantum spectral curve equation associated to KP $\tau$-functions of hypergeometric type serving as generating functions for rationally weighted Hurwitz numbers is solved by generalized hypergeometric series. The basis elements spanning the corresponding Sato Grassmannian element are shown to be Meijer $G$-functions, or their asymptotic series. Using their Mellin integral representation the $\tau$-function, evaluated at the trace invariants of an externally coupled matrix, is expressed as a matrix integral., Comment: 24 pages. References brought up to date

Multicurrent correlators associated to KP $\tau$-functions of hypergeometric type are used as generating functions for weighted Hurwitz numbers. These are expressed as formal Taylor series and used to compute generic, simple, rational and quantum weighted single Hurwitz numbers., Comment: 23 pages

The KP and 2D Toda tau-functions of hypergeometric type that serve as generating functions for weighted single and double Hurwitz numbers are related to the topological recursion programme. A graphical representation of such weighted Hurwitz numbers is given in terms of weighted constellations. The associated classical and quantum spectral spectral curves are derived, and these are interpreted combinatorially in terms of the graphical model. The pair correlators are given a finite Christoffel-Darboux representation and determinantal expressions are obtained for the multipair correlators. The genus expansion of the multicurrent correlators is shown to provide generating series for weighted Hurwitz numbers of fixed ramification profile lengths. The WKB series for the Baker function is derived and used to deduce the loop equations and the topological recursion relations in the case of polynomial weight functions., Comment: 77 pages, references added, several typos corrected, clarification added on nonpolynomial weight generating function and examples

This work concerns both the semiclassical and zero temperature asymptotics of quantum weighted double Hurwitz numbers. The partition function for quantum weighted double Hurwitz numbers can be interpreted in terms of the energy distri- bution of a quantum Bose gas with vanishing fugacity. We compute the leading semi- classical term of the partition function for three versions of the quantum weighted Hurwitz numbers, as well as lower order semiclassical corrections. The classical limit $\hbar \ra 0$ is shown to reproduce the simple single and double Hurwitz numbers studied by Pandharipande and Okounkov [20,22]. The KP-Toda $\tau$-function that serves as generating function for the quantum Hurwitz numbers is shown to have the $\tau$-function of [20,22] as its leading term in the classical limit, and, with suitable scaling, the same holds for the partition function, the weights and expectations of Hurwitz numbers. We also compute the zero temperature limit $T \ra 0$ of the partition function and quantum weighted Hurwitz numbers. The KP or Toda $\tau$-function serving as generating function for the quantum Hurwitz numbers are shown to give the one for Belyi curves in the zero temperature limit and, with suitable scaling, the same holds true for the partition function, the weights and the expectations of Hurwitz numbers., Comment: This paper combines the content of two previously posted papers: "Zero-temperature limit of quantum weighted Hurwitz numbers" (arXiv:1707.06259) and "Semiclassical asymptotics of quantum weighted Hurwitz numbers" (arXiv:1610.06280), and should be viewed as replacing them

The partition function for quantum weighted double Hurwitz numbers can be interpreted in terms of the energy distribution of a quantum Bose gas with vanishing fugacity. We compute the leading term of the partition function and the quantum weighted Hurwitz numbers in the zero temperature limit $T \rightarrow 0$, as well as the next order corrections. The leading term is shown to reproduce the case of uniformly weighted Hurwitz numbers of Belyi curves. In particular, the KP or Toda $\tau$-function serving as generating function for the quantum Hurwitz numbers is shown in the limit to give the one for Belyi curves and, with suitable scaling, the same holds true for the partition function, the weights and the expectations of Hurwitz numbers., Comment: 11 pages

A fermionic representation is given for all the quantities entering in the generating function approach to weighted Hurwitz numbers and topological recursion. This includes: KP and 2D Toda $\tau$-functions of hypergeometric type, which serve as generating functions for weighted single and double Hurwitz numbers; the Baker function, which is expanded in an adapted basis obtained by applying the same dressing transformation to all vacuum basis elements; the multipair correlators and the multicurrent correlators. Multiplicative and differential recursion relations are deduced for the adapted bases and their duals, and a Christoffel-Darboux type formula is derived for the pair correlator. The quantum and classical spectral curves linking this theory with the topological recursion programme are derived, as well as the generalized cut and join equations. The results are detailed for four special cases: the simple single and double Hurwitz numbers, the weakly monotone case, corresponding to signed enumeration of coverings, the strongly monotone case, corresponding to Belyi curves and the simplest version of quantum weighted Hurwitz numbers., Comment: 57 pages. Details added to examples; sign errors corrected; consistency of notation corrected

Multiparametric families of hypergeometric $\tau$-functions of KP or Toda type serve as generating functions for weighted Hurwitz numbers, providing weighted enumerations of branched covers of the Riemann sphere. A graphical interpretation of the weighting is given in terms of constellations mapped onto the covering surface. The theory is placed within the framework of topological recursion, with the Baker function at ${\bf t} ={\bf 0}$ shown to satisfy the quantum spectral curve equation, whose classical limit is rational. A basis for the space of formal power series in the spectral variable is generated that is adapted to the Grassmannian element associated to the $\tau$-function. Multicurrent correlators are defined in terms of the $\tau$-function and shown to provide an alternative generating function for weighted Hurwitz numbers. Fermionic VEV representations are provided for the adapted bases, pair correlators and multicurrent correlators. Choosing the weight generating function as a polynomial, and restricting the number of nonzero "second" KP flow parameters in the Toda $\tau$-function to be finite implies a finite rank covariant derivative equation with rational coefficients satisfied by a finite "window" of adapted basis elements. The pair correlator is shown to provide a Christoffel-Darboux type finite rank integrable kernel, and the WKB series coefficients of the associated adjoint system are computed recursively, leading to topological recursion relations for the generators of the weighted Hurwitz numbers., Comment: 30 pages, 2 figures. References updated. Weighting of constellations revised. Weighting of Hurwitz numbers corrected

This work concerns the semiclassical asymptotics of quantum weighted double Hurwitz numbers. We compute the leading term of the partition function for three versions of the quantum weighted Hurwitz numbers, as well as lower order semiclassical corrections. The classical limit $\hbar \to 0$ is shown to reproduce the simple Hurwitz numbers studied by Pandharipande and Okounkov. The KP-Toda $\tau$-function serving as generating function for the quantum Hurwitz numbers is shown to converge in the classical limit to the generating function of Pandharipande and Okounkov and, with suitable scaling, so do the partition function, the weights and expectations of Hurwitz numbers.

The construction of hypergeometric $2D$ Toda $\tau$-functions as generating functions for weighted Hurwitz numbers is extended to multispecies families. Both the enumerative geometrical significance of multispecies weighted Hurwitz numbers, as weighted enumerations of branched coverings of the Riemann sphere, and their combinatorial significance in terms of weighted paths in the Cayley graph of $S_n$ are derived. The particular case of multispecies quantum weighted Hurwitz numbers is studied in detail., Comment: this is substantially enhanced version of arXiv:1410.8817

Parametric families in the centre ${\bf Z}({\bf C}[S_n])$ of the group algebra of the symmetric group are obtained by identifying the indeterminates in the generating function for Macdonald polynomials as commuting Jucys-Murphy elements. Their eigenvalues provide coefficients in the double Schur function expansion of 2D Toda $\tau$-functions of hypergeometric type. Expressing these in the basis of products of power sum symmetric functions, the coefficients may be interpreted geometrically as parametric families of quantum Hurwitz numbers, enumerating weighted branched coverings of the Riemann sphere. Combinatorially, they give quantum weighted sums over paths in the Cayley graph of $S_n$ generated by transpositions. Dual pairs of bases for the algebra of symmetric functions with respect to the scalar product in which the Macdonald polynomials are orthogonal provide both the geometrical and combinatorial significance of these quantum weighted enumerative invariants., Comment: 23 pages. Minor typos corrected. References updated. Scalar product for Jack polynomials corrected

This is an overview of recent results on the use of 2D Toda $\tau$-functions as generating functions for multiparametric families of weighted Hurwitz numbers. The Bose-Fermi equivalence composed with the characteristic map provides an isomorphism between the zero charge sector of the Fermionic Fock space and the direct sum of the centers of the group algebra of the symmetric groups $S_n$. Specializing the fermionic formula to the case of diagonal group elements gives $\tau$-functions of hypergeometric type, for which the expansion over products of Schur functions is diagonal, with coefficients of {\em content product} type. The corresponding abelian group action on the centre of the $S_n$ group algebra is determined by forming symmetric functions multiplicatively from a weight generating function $G(z)$ and evaluating on the Jucys-Murphy elements of the group algebra. The resulting central elements act diagonally on the basis of orthogonal idempotents and the eigenvalues $r^{G(z)}_\lambda$ are the {\em content product} coefficients appearing in the double Schur function expansion. Both the geometrical meaning of weighted Hurwitz numbers, as weighted sums over $n$-sheeted branched coverings, and the combinatorial one, as weighted enumeration of paths in the Cayley graph of $S_n$ generated by transpositions follow from expansion of the Cauchy-Littlewood generating functions over dual pairs of bases of the algebra of symmetric functions. The coefficients in the resulting $\tau$-function expansion over products of power sum symmetric functions are the weighted Hurwitz numbers. Replacement of the Cauchy-Littlewood generating function by that for Macdonald polynomials provides $(q,t)$-deformations that yield generating functions for quantum weighted Hurwitz numbers., Comment: 53 pages. Ref. [15] added. Minor typos corrected

The construction of hypergeometric 2D Toda $\tau$-functions as generating functions for quantum Hurwitz numbers is extended here to multispecies families. Both the enumerative geometrical significance of these multispecies quantum Hurwitz numbers as weighted enumerations of branched coverings of the Riemann sphere and their combinatorial significance in terms of weighted paths in the Cayley graph of $S_n$ are derived., Comment: 11 pages.This is the revised version posted March 30, 2015

Double Hurwitz numbers enumerating weighted $n$-sheeted branched coverings of the Riemann sphere or, equivalently, weighted paths in the Cayley graph of $S_n$ generated by transpositions are determined by an associated weight generating function. A uniquely determined $1$-parameter family of 2D Toda $\tau$-functions of hypergeometric type is shown to consist of generating functions for such weighted Hurwitz numbers. Four classical cases are detailed, in which the weighting is uniform: Okounkov's double Hurwitz numbers, for which the ramification is simple at all but two specified branch points; the case of Belyi curves, with three branch points, two with specified profiles; the general case, with a specified number of branch points, two with fixed profiles, the rest constrained only by the genus; and the signed enumeration case, with sign determined by the parity of the number of branch points. Using the exponentiated quantum dilogarithm function as weight generator, three new types of weighted enumerations are introduced. These determine {\em quantum} Hurwitz numbers depending on a deformation parameter $q$. By suitable interpretation of $q$, the statistical mechanics of quantum weighted branched covers may be related to that of Bosonic gases. The standard double Hurwitz numbers are recovered in the classical limit., Comment: Final version, appearing in J. Math. Phys. 58, 083503 (2017)

A multiparametric family of 2D Toda $\tau$-functions of hypergeometric type is shown to provide generating functions for composite, signed Hurwitz numbers that enumerate certain classes of branched coverings of the Riemann sphere and paths in the Cayley graph of $S_n$. The coefficients $F^{c_1, ..., c_l}_{d_1, ..., d_m}(\mu, \nu)$ in their series expansion over products $P_\mu P'_\nu$ of power sum symmetric functions in the two sets of Toda flow parameters and powers of the $l+m$ auxiliary parameters are shown to enumerate $|\mu|=|\nu|=n$ fold branched covers of the Riemann sphere with specified ramification profiles $ \mu$ and $\nu$ at a pair of points, and two sets of additional branch paints, satisfying certain additional conditions on their ramification profile lengths. The first group consists of $l$ branch points, with ramification profile lengths fixed to be the numbers $(n-c_1, ..., n- c_l)$; the second consists of $m$ further groups of "coloured" branch points, of variable number, for which the sums of the complements of the ramification profile lengths within the groups are fixed to equal the numbers $(d_1, ..., d_m)$. The latter are counted with sign determined by the parity of the total number of such branch points. The coefficients $F^{c_1, ..., c_l}_{d_1, ..., d_m}(\mu, \nu)$ are also shown to enumerate paths in the Cayley graph of the symmetric group $S_n$ generated by transpositions, starting, as in the usual double Hurwitz case, at an element in the conjugacy class of cycle type $\mu$ and ending in the class of type $\nu$, but with the first $l$ consecutive subsequences of $(c_1, ..., c_l)$ transpositions strictly monotonically increasing, and the subsequent subsequences of $(d_1, ..., d_m)$ transpositions weakly increasing., Comment: 22 pages. References updated. To appear in Commun. Math. Whys. (in press, 2015)

Two methods of constructing 2D Toda $\tau$-functions that are generating functions for certain geometrical invariants of a combinatorial nature are related. The first involves generation of paths in the Cayley graph of the symmetric group $S_n$ by multiplication of the conjugacy class sums $C_\lambda \in C[S_n]$ in the group algebra by elements of an abelian group of central elements. Extending the characteristic map to the tensor product $C[S_n]\otimes C[S_n]$ leads to double expansions in terms of power sum symmetric functions, in which the coefficients count the number of such paths. Applying the same map to sums over the orthogonal idempotents leads to diagonal double Schur function expansions that are identified as $\tau$-functions of hypergeometric type. The second method is the standard construction of $\tau$-functions as vacuum state matrix elements of products of vertex operators in a fermionic Fock space with elements of the abelian group of convolution symmetries. A homomorphism between these two group actions is derived and shown to be intertwined by the characteristic map composed with fermionization. Applications include Okounkov's generating function for double Hurwitz numbers, which count branched coverings of the Riemann sphere with nonminimal branching at two points, and various analogous combinatorial counting functions., Comment: 26 pages. Eq. (3.5, (3.6), (3.7)) corrected. Further references added. To appear in LMP (in press, 2015)

We study \tau-functions of the KP hierarchy in terms of abelian group actions on finite dimensional Grassmannians, viewed as subquotients of the Hilbert space Grassmannians of Sato, Segal and Wilson. A determinantal formula of Gekhtman and Kasman involving exponentials of finite dimensional matrices is shown to follow naturally from such reductions. All reduced flows of exponential type generated by matrices with arbitrary nondegenerate Jordan forms are derived, both in the Grassmannian setting and within the fermionic operator formalism. A slightly more general determinantal formula involving resolvents of the matrices generating the flow, valid on the big cell of the Grassmannian, is also derived. An explicit expression is deduced for the Pl\"ucker coordinates appearing as coefficients in the Schur function expansion of the \tau-function., Comment: 45 pages. References updated

An element [\Phi] of the Grassmannian of n-dimensional subspaces of the Hardy space H^2, extended over the field C(x_1,..., x_n), may be associated to any polynomial basis {\phi} for C(x). The Pl\"ucker coordinates S^\phi_{\lambda,n}(x_1,..., x_n) of \Phi, labelled by partitions \lambda, provide an analog of Jacobi's bi-alternant formula, defining a generalization of Schur polynomials. Applying the recursion relations satisfied by the polynomial system to the analog of the complete symmetric functions generates a doubly infinite matrix of symmetric polynomials that determine an element [H] of the Grassmannian. This is shown to coincide with [\Phi], implying a set of {\it quantum Jacobi-Trudi identities} that generalize a result obtained by Sergeev and Veselov for the case of orthogonal polynomials. The symmetric polynomials S^\phi_{\lambda,n}(x_1,..., x_n) are shown to be KP (Kadomtsev-Petviashvili) tau-functions in terms of the monomial sums [x] in the parameters x_a, viewed as KP flow variables. A fermionic operator representation is derived for these, as well as for the infinite sums \sum_{\lambda}S_{\lambda,n}^\phi([x]) S^\theta_{\lambda,n} ({\bf t}) associated to any pair of polynomial bases (\phi, \theta), which are shown to be 2D Toda lattice \tau-functions. A number of applications are given, including classical group character expansions, matrix model partition functions and generators for random processes., Comment: 32 pages. References added. Character expansions for classical groups added. Title modified. Examples 4.1 and 4.2 revised

We consider multiple sums and multi-integrals as tau functions of the BKP hierarchy using neutral fermions as the simplest tool for deriving these. The sums are over projective Schur functions $Q_\alpha$ for strict partitions $\alpha$. We consider two types of such sums: weighted sums of $Q_\alpha$ over strict partitions $\alpha$ and sums over products $Q_\alpha Q_\gamma$. In this way we obtain discrete analogues of the beta-ensembles ($\beta=1,2,4$). Continuous versions are represented as multiple integrals. Such sums and integrals are of interest in a number of problems in mathematics and physics., Comment: 16 pages

The Schur function expansion of Sato-Segal-Wilson KP tau-functions is reviewed. The case of tau-functions related to algebraic curves of arbitrary genus is studied in detail. Explicit expressions for the Pl\"ucker coordinate coefficients appearing in the expansion are obtained in terms of directional derivatives of the Riemann theta function or Klein sigma function along the KP flow directions. Using the fundamental bi-differential, it is shown how the coefficients can be expressed as polynomials in terms of Klein's higher genus generalizations of Weierstrass' zeta and P functions. The cases of genus two hyperelliptic and genus three trigonal curves are detailed as illustrations of the approach developed here., Comment: 48 pages

Generalized convolution symmetries of integrable hierarchies of KP and 2KP-Toda type multiply the Fourier coefficients of the elements of the Hilbert space $\HH= L^2(S^1)$ by a specified sequence of constants. This induces a corresponding transformation on the Hilbert space Grassmannian $\Gr_{\HH_+}(\HH)$ and hence on the Sato-Segal-Wilson \tau-functions determining solutions to the KP and 2-Toda hierarchies. The corresponding action on the associated fermionic Fock space is also diagonal in the standard orthonormal base determined by occupation sites and labeled by partitions. The Pl\"ucker coordinates of the element element $W \in \Gr_{\HH_+}(\HH)$ defining the initial point of these commuting flows are the coefficients in the single and double Schur function of the associated \tau function, and are therefore multiplied by the corresponding diagonal factors under this action. Applying such transformations to matrix integrals, we obtain new matrix models of externally coupled type that are hence also KP or 2KP-Toda \tau-functions. More general multiple integral representations of \tau functions are similarly obtained, as well as finite determinantal expressions for them., Comment: 29 pages. The paper has been revised to correct a number of typos, add details in the proofs of Propositions 4.1, 4.2 and 4.4, and clarify the introduction of convolution symmetries. This version will appear in a special MSRI volume based on the Fall 2011 semester devoted to Random Matrix Theory (eds. P. Forrester and P. Deift)

Approaches to scientific journal publishing that provide free access to all readers are challenging the standard subscription-based model. But in domains that have a well-functioning system of publicly accessible preprint repositories like arXiv, Open Access is already effectively available. In physics, such repositories have long coexisted constructively with refereed, subscription based journals. Trying to replace this by a system based on journals whose revenue is derived primarily from fees charged to authors is unlikely to provide a better guarantee of Open Access, and may be in conflict with the maintenance of high quality standards., Comment: 5 pages. Detailed version of an article to appear in Physics World, in an abbreviated form, under the title "Free For All"

This work concerns superharmonic perturbations of a Gaussian measure given by a special class of positive weights in the complex plane of the form $w(z) = \exp(-|z|^2 + U^{\mu}(z))$, where $U^{\mu}(z)$ is the logarithmic potential of a compactly supported positive measure $\mu$. The equilibrium measure of the corresponding weighted energy problem is shown to be supported on subharmonic generalized quadrature domains for a large class of perturbing potentials $U^{\mu}(z)$. It is also shown that the $2\times 2$ matrix d-bar problem for orthogonal polynomials with respect to such weights is well-defined and has a unique solution given explicitly by Cauchy transforms. Numerical evidence is presented supporting a conjectured relation between the asymptotic distribution of the zeroes of the orthogonal polynomials in a semi-classical scaling limit and the Schwarz function of the curve bounding the support of the equilibrium measure, extending the previously studied case of harmonic polynomial perturbations with weights $w(z)$ supported on a compact domain., Comment: CRM preprint, 28 pages. To appear in: Complex Analysis and Operator Theory (Special volume in honour of Bjorn Gustafsson). Two references added (Oct. 2, 2008)

We give a simple algebraic derivation of a useful determinantal identity for multilevel systems such as random matrix chains and finite determinantal point processes, with applications to the calculation of point correlators, gap probabililties and Janossy densities., Comment: 17 pages

This is a review of Lee Smolin's "The Trouble with Physics". The main gist of the review is that the physics of the past three decades has been rich with new discoveries in a large number of domains. The Standard Model, while providing a successful framework for the electroweak and strong interactions still needs to be developed further to fully account fot the mass of strong interaction data collected over the decades. A multitude of new phenomena have been discovered however, or predicted theoretically, in the physics of very low temperatures (e.g. fractional Hall effect, Bose-Einstein condensation) and quantum macroscopic effects (liquid crystals, high temperature superconductivity), some of which remain to be fully explained. Therefore if there is any "Trouble with Physics", as implied by the author of this book, it mainly concerns speculative work on Superstring theory, which may or may not turn out to agree with the results of observation. The subject as a whole does not appear to be in trouble., Comment: 5 pages, book review

We give a new method for the evaluation of a class of integrals of rational symmetric functions in N pairs of variables {x_a, y_a}_{a=1,... N} arising in coupled matrix models, valid for a broad class of two-variable measures. The result is expressed as the determinant of a matrix whose entries consist of the associated biorthogonal polynomials, their Hilbert transforms, evaluated at the zeros and poles of the integrand, and bilinear expressions in these. The method is elementary and direct, using only standard determinantal identities, partial fraction expansions and the property of biorthogonality. The corresponding result for one-matrix models and integrals of rational symmetric functions in N variables {x_a}_{a=1,... N} is also rederived in a simple way using this method, Comment: 21 pages

A new representation of the 2N fold integrals appearing in various two-matrix models that admit reductions to integrals over their eigenvalues is given in terms of vacuum state expectation values of operator products formed from two-component free fermions. This is used to derive the perturbation series for these integrals under deformations induced by exponential weight factors in the measure, expressed as double and quadruple Schur function expansions, generalizing results obtained earlier for certain two-matrix models. Links with the coupled two-component KP hierarchy and the two-component Toda lattice hierarchy are also derived., Comment: Submitted to: "Random Matrices, Random Processes and Integrable Systems", Special Issue of J. Phys. A, based on the Centre de recherches mathematiques short program, Montreal, June 20-July 8, 2005

The differential systems satisfied by orthogonal polynomials with arbitrary semiclassical measures supported on contours in the complex plane are derived, as well as the compatible systems of deformation equations obtained from varying such measures. These are shown to preserve the generalized monodromy of the associated rank-2 rational covariant derivative operators. The corresponding matrix models, consisting of unitarily diagonalizable matrices with spectra supported on these contours are analyzed, and it is shown that all coefficients of the associated spectral curves are given by logarithmic derivatives of the partition function or, more generally, the gap probablities. The associated isomonodromic tau functions are shown to coincide, within an explicitly computed factor, with these partition functions., Comment: 31 pages, 1 figure

A simple proof is given for a generalized form of a theorem of Soshnikov. The latter states that the Janossy densities for multilevel determinantal ensembles supported on measurable subspaces of a set of measure spaces are constructed by dualization of bases on dual pairs of N-dimensional function spaces with respect to a pairing given by integration on the complements of the given measurable subspaces. The generalization extends this to dualization with respect to measures modified by arbitrary sets of weight functions., Comment: PlainTex, 10 pages. Some notational corrections added. References updated. To appear in: International Mathematics Research notices

Finite-dimensional reductions of the 2D dispersionless Toda hierarchy, constrained by the ``string equation'' are studied. These include solutions determined by polynomial, rational or logarithmic functions, which are of interest in relation to the ``Laplacian growth'' problem governing interface dynamics. The consistency of such reductions is proved, and the Hamiltonian structure of the reduced dynamics is derived. The Poisson structure of the rationally reduced dispersionless Toda hierarchies is also derived, Comment: 18 pages LaTex, accepted to J.Math.Phys, Significantly updated version of the previous submission

We show how the superintegrability of certain systems can be deduced from the presence of multiple parameters in the rational Lax matrix representation. This is also related to the fact that such systems admit a separation of variables in parametric families of coordinate systems., Comment: 13 pages, LaTex file. Published in proceedings of workshop on Superintegrability in Classical and Quantum Systems, 16-21 Sept., 2002, CRM, Universite de Montreal, Montreal (Quebec)

For the rational, elliptic and trigonometric r-matrices, we exhibit the links between three "levels" of Poisson spaces: (a) Some finite-dimensional spaces of matrix-valued holomorphic functions on the complex line; (b) Spaces of spectral curves and sheaves supported on them; (c) Symmetric products of a surface. We have, at each level, a linear space of compatible Poisson structures, and the maps relating the levels are Poisson. This leads in a natural way to Nijenhuis coordinates for these spaces. At level (b), there are Hamiltonian systems on these spaces which are integrable for each Poisson structure in the family, and which are such that the Lagrangian leaves are the intersections of the symplective leaves over the Poisson structures in the family. Specific examples include many of the well-known integrable systems., Comment: 26 pages, Plain Tex

We present relations between Hirota-type bilinear operators, scalar products on spaces of symmetric functions and integrals defining matrix model partition functions. Using the fermionic Fock space representation, a proof of the expansion of an associated class of KP and 2-Toda tau functions $\tau_{r,n}$ in a series of Schur functions generalizing the hypergeometric series is given and related to the scalar product formulae. It is shown how special cases of such $\tau$-functions may be identified as formal series expansions of partition functions. A closed form exapnsion of $\log \tau_{r,n}$ in terms of Schur functions is derived., Comment: LaTex file. 15 pgs. Based on talks by J. Harnad and A. Yu. Orlov at the workshop: Nonlinear evolution equations and dynamical systems 2002, Cadiz (Spain) June 9-16, 2002. To appear in proceedings. (Minor typographical corrections added, abstract expanded)