Toda Equations and Piecewise Polynomiality for Mixed Double Hurwitz Numbers

This article introduces mixed double Hurwitz numbers, which interpolate combinatorially between the classical double Hurwitz numbers studied by Okounkov and the monotone double Hurwitz numbers introduced recently by Goulden, Guay-Paquet and Novak. Generalizing a result of Okounkov, we prove that a certain generating series for the mixed double Hurwitz numbers solves the 2-Toda hierarchy of partial differential equations. We also prove that the mixed double Hurwitz numbers are piecewise polynomial, thereby generalizing a result of Goulden, Jackson and Vakil.