Factorization conjecture for the characteristic polynomial of the asymmetric annihilation Markov matrix

Let MLM_L be the Markov matrix for a system of size LL, with characteristic polynomial PL(x)P_L(x). Define

AL(x)=k=0L/2(x+2k)(L12k),BL(x)=k=0L/2(x+2k+1)(L12k+1).A_L(x)=\prod_{k=0}^{\lceil L/2\rceil}(x+2k)^{\binom{L-1}{2k}},\qquad B_L(x)=\prod_{k=0}^{\lfloor L/2\rfloor}(x+2k+1)^{\binom{L-1}{2k+1}}.

Characteristic-polynomial factorization conjecture. The characteristic polynomial and its successive ratios are

PL(x)=AL(x)AL(x+2α+β)BL(x+β)BL(x+2α),P_L(x)=A_L(x)A_L(x+2\alpha+\beta)B_L(x+\beta)B_L(x+2\alpha), PL+1(x)PL(x)=BL(x+1)BL(x+2α+β+1)AL(x+β+1)AL(x+2α+1).\frac{P_{L+1}(x)}{P_L(x)}=B_L(x+1)B_L(x+2\alpha+\beta+1)A_L(x+\beta+1)A_L(x+2\alpha+1).

If true, this would imply that the Markov matrix has only 2L2L distinct eigenvalues; the paper supports the formula by explicit calculations, but does not establish it in general.

Sources & referencesView supporting material

Primary source

Arvind Ayyer and Kirone Mallick, “Exact results for an asymmetric annihilation process with open boundaries”, arXiv:0910.0693 (2009).

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