Symmetric polynomials, generalized Jacobi-Trudi identities and τ-functions

Abstract

An element [Φ] of the Grassmannian of n-dimensional subspaces of the Hardy space H^2, extended over the field C(x_1,..., x_n), may be associated to any polynomial basis ϕ for C(x). The Plücker coordinates S^ϕ_{λ,n}(x_1,..., x_n) of Φ, labelled by partitions λ, provide an analog of Jacobi's bi-alternant formula, defining a generalization of Schur polynomials. Applying the recursion relations satisfied by the polynomial system to the analog of the complete symmetric functions generates a doubly infinite matrix of symmetric polynomials that determine an element [H] of the Grassmannian. This is shown to coincide with [Φ], implying a set of {\it quantum Jacobi-Trudi identities} that generalize a result obtained by Sergeev and Veselov for the case of orthogonal polynomials. The symmetric polynomials S^ϕ_{λ,n}(x_1,..., x_n) are shown to be KP (Kadomtsev-Petviashvili) tau-functions in terms of the monomial sums [x] in the parameters x_a, viewed as KP flow variables. A fermionic operator representation is derived for these, as well as for the infinite sums \sum_λS_{λ,n}^ϕ([x]) S^θ_{λ,n} ({\bf t}) associated to any pair of polynomial bases (ϕ, θ), which are shown to be 2D Toda lattice τ-functions. A number of applications are given, including classical group character expansions, matrix model partition functions and generators for random processes.