Hopf algebras and Markov chains: two examples and a theory
The operation of squaring (coproduct followed by product) in a combinatorial Hopf algebra is shown to induce a Markov chain in natural bases. Chains constructed in this way include widely studied methods of card shuffling, a natural rock-breaking process, and Markov chains on simplicial complexes. Many of these chains can be explicitly diagonalized using the primitive elements of the algebra and the combinatorics of the free Lie algebra. For card shuffling, this gives an explicit description of the eigenvectors. For rock-breaking, an explicit description of the quasi-stationary distribution and sharp rates to absorption follow.
hopf algebras shuffling free lie algebras rock breaking models