Hankel determinants for convolution powers of Narayana polynomials

Abstract

We prove and generalize a conjecture of Johann Cigler on the Hankel determinants of convolution powers of Narayana polynomials. Our method follows a "guess-and-prove" strategy, relying on established techniques involving Hankel continued fractions. While the final forms of our theorems are given by simple closed expressions, the proofs require us to formulate and manage extremely large and intricate explicit expressions at intermediate stages. Most of the technically involved and lengthy formal verifications are carried out using a symbolic computation program, whose code is available on the author's personal webpage for independent verification. We emphasize that our program delivers rigorous symbolic proofs, rather than merely verifying the initial terms.