Asymptotics of multivariate sequences, part III: quadratic points

Yuliy Baryshnikov, Robin Pemantle

Published 2008-10-27, updated 2011-08-11Version 3

We consider a number of combinatorial problems in which rational generating functions may be obtained, whose denominators have factors with certain singularities. Specifically, there exist points near which one of the factors is asymptotic to a nondegenerate quadratic. We compute the asymptotics of the coefficients of such a generating function. The computation requires some topological deformations as well as Fourier-Laplace transforms of generalized functions. We apply the results of the theory to specific combinatorial problems, such as Aztec diamond tilings, cube groves, and multi-set permutations.