Enumeration of maps

This article discusses the relationship between random matrices and maps, i.e. graphs drawn on surfaces, with particular emphasis on the one-matrix model and how it can be used to solve a map enumeration problem. It first provides an overview of maps and related objects, recalling the basic definitions related to graphs and defining maps as graphs embedded into surfaces before considering a coding of maps by pairs of permutations. It then examines the connection between matrix integrals and maps, focusing on the Hermitian one-matrix model with a polynomial potential and how the formal expansion of its free energy around a Gaussian point (quadratic potential) can be represented by diagrams identifiable with maps. The article also illustrates how the solution of the map enumeration problem can be deduced by means of random matrix theory (RMT). Finally, it explains how the matrix model result can be translated into a bijective proof.

Enumerative Formulae for Unrooted Planar Maps: a Pattern

We present uniformly available simple enumerative formulae for unrooted planar $n$-edge maps (counted up to orientation-preserving isomorphism) of numerous classes including arbitrary, loopless, non-separable, eulerian maps and plane trees. All the formulae conform to a certain pattern with respect to the terms of the sum over $t\mid n,\,t\! < \!n.$ Namely, these terms, which correspond to non-trivial automorphisms of the maps, prove to be of the form $\phi\left({n\over t}\right)\alpha\,r^t {k\,t\choose t}$, where $\phi(m)$ is the Euler function, $k$ and $r$ are integer constants and $\alpha$ is a constant or takes only two rational values. On the contrary, the main, "rooted" summand corresponding to $t=n$ contains an additional factor which is a rational function of $n$. Two simple new enumerative results are deduced for bicolored eulerian maps. A collateral aim is to briefly survey recent and old results of unrooted planar map enumeration.