Alternating sign matrix

The seven alternating sign matrices of size 3

In mathematics, an alternating sign matrix is a square matrix of 0s, 1s, and −1s such that the sum of each row and column is 1 and the nonzero entries in each row and column alternate in sign. These matrices generalize permutation matrices and arise naturally when using Dodgson condensation to compute a determinant.[1] They are also closely related to the six-vertex model with domain wall boundary conditions from statistical mechanics. They were first defined by William Mills, David Robbins, and Howard Rumsey in the former context.

  1. ^ Hone, Andrew N. W. (2006), "Dodgson condensation, alternating signs and square ice", Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, 364 (1849): 3183–3198, doi:10.1098/rsta.2006.1887, MR 2317901