A new partition identity coming from complex dynamics

Abstract

We present a new identity involving compositions (i.e. ordered partitions of natural numbers). The Formula has its origin in complex dynamical systems and appears when counting, in the polynomial family $\{f_c:z\mapsto z^d+c\}$, periodic critical orbits with equivalent itineraries. We give two different proofs of the identity; one following the original approach in dynamics and another with purely combinatorial methods.

8 pages, 1 figure