Random $k$-noncrossing RNA Structures

Abstract

In this paper we derive polynomial time algorithms that generate random $k$-noncrossing matchings and $k$-noncrossing RNA structures with uniform probability. Our approach employs the bijection between $k$-noncrossing matchings and oscillating tableaux and the $P$-recursiveness of the cardinalities of $k$-noncrossing matchings. The main idea is to consider the tableaux sequences as paths of stochastic processes over shapes and to derive their transition probabilities.