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Questions tagged [pfaffian]

Every question that is related to the Pfaffian polynomial and its traits.

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4 votes
1 answer
181 views

Algorithms to count perfect matchings in near planar graphs

It is well known that counting perfect matchings is tractable in planar graphs (due to Kastelyn). I am interested in classes of (for lack of a better word) "near" planar graphs (1-planar, ...
4 votes
0 answers
82 views

Combinatorial interpretation of a pfaffian identity?

Let $n$ be a positive even integer. We introduce three types of skew-symmetric matrices, $A_{n+2}$, $B_n$ and $C_n$ (the subscript denotes the dimension of the matrices) in terms of the variables $z_1,...
3 votes
1 answer
429 views

A specific integration with Grassmann variables

I have recently read (for example, here) that this relation below is true $$ \int dz \: e^{\frac{1}{2} \sum_{ij} z_i A_{ij} z_j} = Pf(\mathbf{A}), $$ where $Pf(\mathbf{A})$ is the Pfaffian of an even ...
3 votes
0 answers
119 views

Question on the model completeness of the real field expanded by restricted Pfaffian functions

Currently I'm reading "Model completeness results for expansions of the ordered field of real numbers by restricted Pfaffian functions and the exponential function" by Wilkie, and I do not ...
4 votes
2 answers
209 views

Computation of the pfaffian of a particular matrix

This question was originally asked in (https://math.stackexchange.com/questions/4265063/computation-of-the-pfaffian-of-a-particular-matrix). I did not find any satisfactory answer there. So I am ...
14 votes
1 answer
352 views

Generalizing the Pfaffian: families of matrices whose determinants are perfect powers of polynomials in the entries

Let $n$ be a positive integer, and let $M = (m_{ij})$ be a skew $2n \times 2n$ matrix. That is, we have $m_{ij} = -m_{ji}$ for $1 \leq i, j \leq 2n$. Then it is well-known that $$\det M = p(M)^2,$$ ...
2 votes
0 answers
131 views

Pfaffian generalization

The identity $$\left| \begin{array}{cccc} x & y_1 & y_2 & y_3 \\ z_1 & 0 & a & b \\ z_2 & -a & 0 & c \\ z_3 & -b & -c & 0 \\ \end{array} \right|=\...
8 votes
2 answers
577 views

Pfaffian representation of the Fermat quintic

It is known (see for instance Beauville - Determinantal hypersurfaces) that a generic homogeneous polynomial in $5$ variables of degree $5$ with complex coefficients can be written as the Pfaffian of ...
10 votes
0 answers
350 views

Local meaning of the Pfaffian of the curvature

The Ricci and scalar curvatures have very nice pointwise interpretations (using the local expression for the volume form for example). So, (at least Ricci) having special metrics (like Einstein) can ...
5 votes
1 answer
162 views

Rational map given by pfaffians

Consider a general skew-symmetric $(n+1)\times (n+1)$ matrix $Z$, and let su map $Z$ to the point of $\mathbb{P}^n$ determined by $[pf_0(Z):\dots:pf_n(Z)]$ where the $pf_i(Z)$ are the principal ...
12 votes
1 answer
741 views

Determinant is to Pfaffian as resultant is to what?

This is an irresponsible question: I do not have done any thinking on it, or even literature search. I just became curious whether there is some modification of the notion of a common root of two ...
11 votes
1 answer
952 views

Detailed modern references for basic properties of Pfaffians over commutative rings

Pfaffians are important to algebraic combinatorics, at least. This is to propose the making of a 'wiki' list, more modern, precise and compressed than e.g. the relevant Wikipedia page (nothing against ...
5 votes
2 answers
389 views

Pfaffian of several skew-linear transformations / matrices

Introduction: Let's assume we have a 2-form $\alpha=(1/2)\sum_{j,k=1}^n a_{jk}\ e_j\wedge e_k$, where $n=2m$, and $a_{jk}\in\mathbb C$. We know that $\alpha^{\wedge m}=\alpha\wedge\alpha\dots\wedge\...
7 votes
2 answers
650 views

Laplace-like / cofactor expansion for Pfaffian

Wikipedia presents a recursive definition of the Pfaffian of a skew-symmetric matrix as $$ \operatorname{pf}(A)=\sum_{{j=1}\atop{j\neq i}}^{2n}(-1)^{i+j+1+\theta(i-j)}a_{ij}\operatorname{pf}(A_{\hat{\...
4 votes
3 answers
1k views

Detecting if a polynomial is a Pfaffian

Given an explicit polynomial, is there any kind of trick/algorithm to check whether it is a pfaffian of a matrix with linear entries? The pfaffian can be defined as $\sqrt{{\rm det}(A) } $ when $A$ ...
3 votes
1 answer
403 views

the pfaffian-adjugate and its counterparts for matrices odd size

Let $R$ be a commutative ring (zero characteristic). Take a skew-symmetric matrix $A\in Mat^{skew-sym}(n,R)$. If $n$ is even, then $\det(A)=Pf^2(A)$ and there exists the "Pfaffian adjugate/adjoint" ...
11 votes
1 answer
864 views

Pfaffian equals complex determinant?

Let $V$ be a Euclidean vector space and let $V^{\mathbb{C}} = V \oplus V$ be its complexification, with complex structure $$J = \begin{pmatrix} 0 & -\mathrm{id}\\ \mathrm{id} & 0 \end{pmatrix}....
34 votes
1 answer
3k views

Does the Pfaffian have a geometric meaning?

While reviewing the proof of Gauss-Bonnet in John Lee's book, I noticed the following paragraph: " ...In a certain sense, this might be considered a very satisfactory generalization of Gauss-Bonnet. ...
2 votes
0 answers
175 views

Orthogonality of Pfaffian polynomials in $SO(2m)$

I've been struggling here to invert some integral equation involving Pfaffians, and it would be very nice if you could shed some light on the problem. Let's go to it. Let $V=\{-1,1\}^{m}$ and $S = \...
4 votes
2 answers
580 views

Singularities of Pfaffian hypersurfaces

Let $X\subset\mathbb{P}^4$ be an hypersurface of degree six given by the Pfaffian of a $6\times 6$ matrix $M$ whose entries are quadratic forms in the homogeneous coordinates of $\mathbb{P}^4$. I am ...