$s$-Catalan numbers and Littlewood-Richardson polynomials

Abstract

In this note, we study two generalizations of the Catalan numbers, namely the $s$-Catalan numbers and the spin $s$-Catalan numbers. These numbers first appeared in relation to quantum physics problems about spin multiplicities. We give a combinatorial description for these numbers in terms of Littlewood-Richardson coefficients, and explain some of the properties they exhibit in terms of Littlewood-Richardson polynomials.