On $q$-analogs of descent and peak polynomials

Abstract: Descent polynomials and peak polynomials, which enumerate permutations with given descent and peak sets respectively, have recently received considerable attention. We give several formulas for $q$-analogs of these polynomials which refine the enumeration by the length of the permutations. In the case of $q$-descent polynomials we prove that the coefficients in one basis are strongly $q$-log concave, and conjecture this property in another basis. For peaks, we prove that the $q$-peak polynomial is palindromic in $q$, resolving a conjecture of Diaz-Lopez, Harris, and Insko.