Richard Brak - The University of Melbourne
Combinatorics of the constant term
I will briefly outline the constant term method for solving certain classes of lattice path problems. The method, although not as always efficient as some others, does have a rich combinatorial interpretation. I will show connections with transfer matrices, the Bethe Ansatz, eigenvectors, orthogonal polynomials, zero sums, partial fractions, Greens functions and the method of images. I will finish off with the solution of a certain lattice path problem first studied in the 60's.