Asymptotics for random walks in alcoves of affine Weyl groups

Abstract

Asymptotic results are derived for the number of random walks in alcoves of affine Weyl groups (which are certain regions in $n$-dimensional Euclidean space bounded by hyperplanes), thus solving problems posed by Grabiner [J. Combin. Theory Ser. A 97 (2002), 285-306]. These results include asymptotic expressions for the number of vicious walkers on a circle, and as well for the number of vicious walkers in an interval. The proofs depart from the exact results of Grabiner [loc. cit.], and require as diverse means as results from symmetric function theory and the saddle point method, among others.