Rook numbers and the normal ordering problem

Abstract

For an element $w$ in the Weyl algebra generated by $D$ and $U$ with relation $DU=UD+1$, the normally ordered form is $w=\sum c_{i,j}{U}^i{D}^j$. We demonstrate that the normal order coefficients $c_{i,j}$ of a word $w$ are rook numbers on a Ferrers board. We use this interpretation to give a new proof of the rook factorization theorem, which we use to provide an explicit formula for the coefficients $c_{i,j}$. We calculate the Weyl binomial coefficients: normal order coefficients of the element $(D+U{)}^n$ in the Weyl algebra. We extend all these results to the $q$-analogue of the Weyl algebra. We discuss further generalizations using $i$-rook numbers.

14 pages, presented as poster in FPSAC'04