English

Positivity among P-partition generating functions

Combinatorics 2025-09-17 v3

Abstract

We seek simple conditions on a pair of labeled posets that determine when the difference of their (P,ω)(P,\omega)-partition enumerators is FF-positive, i.e., positive in Gessel's fundamental basis. This is a quasisymmetric analogue of the extensively studied problem of finding conditions on a pair of skew shapes that determine when the difference of their skew Schur functions is Schur-positive. We determine necessary conditions and separate sufficient conditions for FF-positivity, and show that a broad operation for combining posets preserves positivity properties. We conclude with classes of posets for which we have conditions that are both necessary and sufficient.

Cite

@article{arxiv.2006.10087,
  title  = {Positivity among P-partition generating functions},
  author = {Nathan R. T. Lesnevich and Peter R. W. McNamara},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2006.10087},
  year   = {2025}
}

Comments

31 pages, 20 figures. Incorporates correction to an ancillary theorem about caterpillar posets. Thanks to Doriann Albertin, Jean-Christophe Aval and Hugo Mlodecki for finding the error

R2 v1 2026-06-23T16:24:49.215Z