Abstract. We present a simple encoding of plane triangulations (aka. maximal planar graphs) by plane trees with two leaves per inner node. Our encoding is a bijection taking advantage of the minimal Schnyder tree decomposition of a plane triangulation. Coding and decoding take linear time. As a byproduct we derive: (i) a simple interpretation of the formula for the number of plane triangulations with n vertices, (ii) a linear random sampling algorithm, (iii) an explicit and simple information theory optimal encoding. 1

We propose a new linear time algorithm to represent a planar graph. Based on a specific triangulation of the graph, our coding takes on average 5.03 bits per node, and 3.37 bits per node if the graph is maximal. We derive from this representation that the number of unlabeled planar graphs with n nodes is at most 2 n+O(log n) where 5.007. The current lower bound is 2 n+(log n) for 4.71. We also show that almost all unlabeled and almost all labeled n-node planar graphs have at least 1.70n edges and at most 2.54n edges.

Abstract. The family of well-orderly maps is a family of planar maps with the property that every connected planar graph has at least one plane embedding which is a well-orderly map. We show that the number of well-orderly maps with n nodes is at most 2 αn+O(log n) , where α ≈ 4.91. A direct consequence of this is a new upper bound on the number p(n) of unlabeled planar graphs with n nodes, log 2 p(n) � 4.91n. The result is then used to show that asymptotically almost all (labeled or unlabeled), (connected or not) planar graphs with n nodes have between 1.85n and 2.44n edges. Finally we obtain as an outcome of our combinatorial analysis an explicit linear time encoding algorithm for unlabeled planar graphs using, in the worst-case, a rate of 4.91 bits per node and of 2.82 bits per edge. 1

A watermelon is a set of p Bernoulli paths starting and ending at the same ordinate, that do not intersect. In this paper, we show the convergence in distribution of two sorts of watermelons (with or without wall condition) to processes which generalize the Brownian bridge and the Brownian excursion in R p. These limit processes are defined by stochastic differential equations. The distributions involved are those of eigenvalues of some Hermitian random matrices. We give also some properties of these limit processes. 1

We propose a new linear time algorithm to represent a planar graph. Based on a speci c triangulation of the graph, our coding takes on average 5:03 bits per node, and 3:37 bits per node if the graph is maximal. We derive from this representation that the number of unlabeled planar graphs with n nodes is at most 2 n+O(log n) , where 5:007.

Abstract. A bijection Φ is presented between plane bipolar orientations with prescribed numbers of vertices and faces, and non-intersecting triples of upright lattice paths with prescribed extremities. This yields a combinatorial proof of the following formula due to R. Baxter for the number Θij of plane bipolar orientations with i non-polar vertices and j inner faces:

The Baxter number Bn can be written as Bn = � n 0 Θk,n−k−1 with Θk,ℓ = 2 (k + 1) 2 (k + 2)

We deal with the asymptotic enumeration of combinatorial structures on planar maps. Prominent instances of such problems are the enumeration of spanning trees, bipartite perfect matchings, and ice models. The notion of orientations with outdegrees prescribed by a function α: V → N unifies many different combinatorial structures, including the afore mentioned. We call these orientations α-orientations. The main focus of this paper are bounds for the maximum number of α-orientations that a planar map with n vertices can have, for different instances of α. We give examples of triangulations with 2.37 n Schnyder woods, 3-connected planar maps with 3.209 n Schnyder woods and inner triangulations with 2.91 n bipolar orientations. These lower bounds are accompanied by upper bounds of 3.56 n, 8 n and 3.97 n respectively. We also show that for any planar map M and any α the number of α-orientations is bounded from above by 3.73 n and describe a family of maps which have at least 2.598 n α-orientations.

We deal with the asymptotic enumeration of combinatorial structures on planar maps. Prominent instances of such problems are the enumeration of spanning trees, bipartite perfect matchings, and ice models. The notion of an α-orientation unifies many different combinatorial structures, including the afore mentioned. We ask for the number of αorientations and also for special instances thereof, such as Schnyder woods and bipolar orientations. The main focus of this paper are bounds for the maximum number of such structures that a planar map with n vertices can have. We give examples of triangulations with 2.37 n Schnyder woods, 3-connected planar maps with 3.209 n Schnyder woods and inner triangulations with 2.91 n bipolar orientations. These lower bounds are accompanied by upper bounds of 3.56 n, 8 n and 3.97 n respectively. We also show that for any planar map M and any α the number of α-orientations is bounded from above by 3.73 n and present a family of maps which have at least 2.598 n α-orientations for n big enough. 1

Abstract. We introduce a bijection between plane bipolar orientations with fixed numbers of vertices and faces, and non-intersecting triples of upright lattice paths with some specific extremities. Writing ϑij for the number of plane bipolar orientations with (i + 1) vertices and (j +1) faces, our bijection provides a combinatorial proof of the following formula due to Baxter: (1) ϑij = 2 (i + j − 2)! (i + j − 1)! (i + j)!