Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: We prove that the product of chains $\mathbf m\times\mathbf n$ is not Schur positive whenever $n\ge4$ and $m\ge3n-1$. Writing $m=n+k$, we exhibit a negative Schur coefficient indexed by $(2n+k-1,2n+k-3,\ldots,k+5,k,k,4)$ and evaluate it explicitly as $(n-2)!$ times a polynomial of degree three in $k$. Together with earlier results, this establishes the two-case interpretation of the conjecture of Li, Qiu, Yang, and Zhang: these products are not Schur positive when $n=2$ and $m\ge8$, or when $n\ge3$ and $m\ge n+5$.
Source: arXiv (Cornell University)
Author: Zhang, Kai
Institution: Beijing Institute of Technology
Language: English
Subfield: Discrete Mathematics and Combinatorics
Field: Mathematics
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7216448399