All Questions
Tagged with string-theory ag.algebraic-geometry
41 questions
34
votes
4
answers
5k
views
Mathematical uses of string theory
It is widely believed that correctness of string theory as a physical theory will not be decided in the near future. Regardless whether this will turn out to be correct or not, mathematical concepts ...
29
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Topologically distinct Calabi-Yau threefolds
In dimensions 1 and 2 there is only one, respectively 2, compact Kaehler manifolds with zero first Chern class, up to diffeomorphism. However, it is an open problem whether or not the number of ...
27
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Are Donaldson-Thomas invariants "A-model" or "B-model" ?
Donaldson-Thomas invariants are the (virtual) Euler characteristics of moduli spaces of elements of the derived category of coherent sheaves (with some fixed Chern class, satisfying some stability ...
18
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Do all $\mathcal{N}=2$ Gauge Theories "Descend" from String Theory?
I asked this on PhysicsSE, but I think it also fits here as it's related to algebro-geometric connections to string and gauge theory.
I'm thinking about the beautiful story of "geometrical ...
18
votes
0
answers
549
views
Donaldson-Thomas Theory and "Quantum Foam" for Mathematicians
Let $X$ be a smooth, projective Calabi-Yau threefold. From an algebro-geometric perspective, the Donaldson-Thomas invariants $\text{DT}_{\beta, n}(X)$ are virtual counts of ideal sheaves on $X$ with ...
16
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Donaldson-Thomas Invariants in Physics
First of all, I am sorry for there are a bunch of questions (though all related)and may not be well framed.
What are the DT invariants in physics. When one is computing DT invariants for a Calabi-Yau ...
15
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Higher genus closed string B-model
The closed string A-model is mathematically described by Gromov-Witten invariants of a compact symplectic manifold $X$. The genus 0 GW invariants give the structure of quantum cohomology of $X$, which ...
15
votes
0
answers
599
views
Open conjectures on the Fukaya category coming from physics
This is a slightly vague question (for which I apologize in advance): can somebody give examples to open conjectures on the behavior of the $Fuk(M,\omega)$ that come from string theory and can be ...
14
votes
2
answers
3k
views
what is the stringy Kähler moduli space?
I saw the stringy moduli space mentioned in a few papers but with little no explanation. I vaguely understand it is supposed to be the moduli space of complex structures on the mirror manifold.
Could ...
14
votes
0
answers
577
views
State of the art of BPS and Donaldson-Thomas invariants for toric Calabi-Yau threefolds
I am trying to understand what has been done with regards to computing BPS invariants and Donaldson-Thomas type invariants of Calabi-Yau threefolds. To make the question more focused, let's say that I ...
11
votes
3
answers
1k
views
In Gromov-Witten theory, why is the string coupling constant weighted by $2g-2$?
Let $X$ be a Calabi-Yau threefold and let us fix a homology class $\beta\in H_2(X,\mathbb Z)$, just for simplicity. The generating series of Gromov-Witten invariants of $X$ in class $\beta$, $$\mathsf ...
11
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Vafa-Witten invariants for mathematicians
As Richard Thomas has written (we paraphrase just slightly), mathematical physicists Vafa and Witten introduced new "invariants" of four-dimensional spaces in a paper:
A Strong Coupling Test of S-...
11
votes
1
answer
822
views
Large Complex Structure Limit of Calabi-Yau family and uniqueness of limit
Let $\mathcal X$ be a smooth complex manifold of dimension $n+1$. We say $\mathcal X \to ∆$ is a large complex structure limit if and only if it’s maximal unipotent degeneration .
$T: H^n(\mathcal ...
11
votes
0
answers
600
views
The Grassmannian Gr(2,8) and an E7 surprise
Are there any mathematical explanations for the following surprising facts?
$$\int_{Gr(2,8)} c_{\text{top}}(TX(-2)) = 6556 = \frac{1}{2} \deg(E_7/P(\alpha_7)) + 1,$$
and
$$\int_{Gr(2,6)} c_{\text{top}}...
10
votes
6
answers
3k
views
What is a branched Riemann surface with cuts?
Edit: Let me restate the main claim being made in these two papers,
Consider the "branched" Riemann surface which has "n" sheets stuck along the intervals, $[z_i, z_{i+1}]$ for $i=1,..,2N$ then it is ...
10
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Gromov-Witten and integrability.
The generation function of the Gromow-Witten invariants (with descendants) of the point is known to be Kontsevich-Witten tau-function of KdV, partition functions of $P^1$ and equivariant $P^1$ are ...
10
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Instanton Moduli Space on ALE Spaces
I asked this on MathStackExchange and was instructed it would be better here.
I've recently been learning about moduli spaces of instantons on $\mathbb{C}^{2}=\mathbb{R}^{4}$. From what I can gather,...
8
votes
1
answer
596
views
Cartographic group and flat stringy connection
There's a literature about dessins d'enfants (including my previous question here), and one amazing thing about them is that absolute Galois group Gal Q acts on ...
8
votes
1
answer
842
views
Virasoro constraints for the generating function of Hurwitz numbers.
Generating function of the simple Hurwitz numbers is known to be connected with Gromov-Witten potential of the point (Kontsevich $\tau$-function) (see e.g. Ian Goulden, David Jackson and Ravi Vakil). ...
8
votes
1
answer
566
views
Multiple Hodge integrals and integrability
It is known that a generating function of the linear Hodge integrals is a tau function of the KP hierarchy, namely a one-parameter deformation of the Kontsevich-Witten tau-function (see Kazarian). ...
8
votes
1
answer
805
views
How to construct the mirror partner of a blowup?
Question: Let's assume we have a pair $(X,\check{X})$ that are mirror dual to each other in the sense of Homological mirror symmetry (EDIT: this does not have to be CY n-folds, but can also be a Fano ...
8
votes
0
answers
1k
views
triangulated/derived categories in Physics and algebraic geometry
Why do physicists care about the triangulated/derived categories?
I mean what are the problems we want to approach using the machinery of triangulated/derived categories. e.g. in homological mirror ...
7
votes
1
answer
853
views
Why is the inertia stack of a smooth Deligne-Mumford stacks called inertia?
Let $\mathcal{X}$ be a smooth Deligne-Mumford stack. Then there is an associated stack $I\mathcal{X}$, called the inertia stack of $\mathcal{X}$.
Why is the inertia stack called "inertia"?
We can ...
7
votes
1
answer
431
views
Incorporating Divisors (D4-branes) into Donaldson-Thomas Theory?
Let $X$ be a Calabi-Yau threefold. Ordinary Donaldson-Thomas theory is formulated as a virtual count of ideal sheaves $\mathcal{I}$ with discrete invariants $\text{ch}(\mathcal{I}) = (1,0, -\beta, -n)...
7
votes
0
answers
401
views
Integrality of the mirror map -- non-GKZ examples? Counterexamples?
The mirror map in mirror symmetry is the change-of-variables between the natural coordinatizations on the two mirror sides and is typically a highly-complicated transcendental function (indeed, should ...
7
votes
0
answers
225
views
Relation between Donaldson invariants and GW invariants
What is known about the relation of Donaldson invariants on a complex surface $\Sigma$ and GW invariants (or equivalent) of local Calabi-Yau 3folds such as the canonical bundle of $\Sigma$? (if any of ...
7
votes
0
answers
535
views
Physicists Euler number conjecture
Physicist's Euler number conjecture says:
If $G \subset SL(n,\mathbb{C})$ is a finite group, $X=\mathbb{C}^n/G$ is the quotient space and $f:Y \rightarrow X$ a crepant resolution (always exists for $...
6
votes
1
answer
577
views
Gromov-Witten and integrability 2.
This is a followup of my previous question Gromov-Witten and integrability. As I have learned from the answer (but guessed before), GW potentials of the point and $P^1$ (with different modifications) ...
6
votes
1
answer
726
views
Degree-3 curves on the Calabi–Yau quintic
Robbert Dijkgraaf said,1
concerning the simplest
Calabi–Yau space, the quintic:
"A classical result from the 19th century states that the number of lines — degree-one curves — is equal to 2,875. ...
6
votes
0
answers
392
views
Mathematics of $\mathcal{N}=2$ Gauge Theory and Instantons
Someone may suggest I post this on PhysicsSE, but I would prefer to not have a physicist answer in jargon I cannot understand. In fact, the reason I'm asking this is that I'm sort of drowning in the ...
4
votes
2
answers
268
views
Spectral Flow Invariance for Calabi-Yau Sigma Models
I am a mathematician who has become interested in some of the mathematics of string theory, of which I am largely ignorant, so please excuse any idiocies in what follows.
If $X$ is a Calabi-Yau $d$-...
4
votes
0
answers
211
views
Bridgeland stability for restricted Kahler moduli?
Let $X$ be a simply-connected, smooth, projective Calabi-Yau threefold. To my understanding, Bridgeland introduced stability conditions on triangulated categories to give a proper mathematical ...
3
votes
0
answers
343
views
Localization of the pushforward in equivariant cohomology
I am reading Nekrasov's paper and in page 2 he considers the $G \times T^2$ equivariant cohomology of the (compactified) moduli space $\tilde{M_k}$ of $U(N)$ instantons on $\mathbb{C}^2$. Here $G$ ...
2
votes
0
answers
143
views
Enumerative geometry and restricted plane partitions
Donaldson-Thomas theory is an enumerative theory for virtual counts of ideal sheaves (with trivial determinant) of the structural sheaf $\mathcal{O}_{X}$ of some smooth projective manifold $X$.
There ...
2
votes
0
answers
157
views
Holomorphic anomaly at genus 1
For computing instantons contributions from worldsheet torus to target torus, one can evaluate zero modes contribution of genus 1 partition function given by following expression:
$$Tr(-1)^FF_LF_Rq^{...
2
votes
0
answers
174
views
Perverse sheaves and maximal genus Gopakumar-Vafa invariants
Let $f: X \to Y$ be a proper morphism between complex varieties (the varieties as well as the map may be non-smooth) and let $\phi \in \text{Perv}(X)$ be a perverse sheaf on $X$. Given this data, it ...
2
votes
0
answers
105
views
Possible Context for this "Siegel-like" Modular Form Construction?
The following construction of something very nearly a Siegel modular form of degree 2 arose in my research. I'm outside the worlds of automorphic forms and number theory, so I'm wondering if it ...
2
votes
0
answers
349
views
SYZ conjecture for varieties of general type or Fano
Let $X$ and $Y$ are Calabi-Yau varieties and mirror to each other. Then from HMS the Fukaya Floer category of Lagrangian intersections in $X$, is equivalent to bounded derived category of coherent ...
2
votes
0
answers
197
views
computation with Hilbert scheme of $n$ points on $\mathbb C^2$ [closed]
How can we show that
$$\sum_{n = 0}^\infty q^n \operatorname{char}_T S^n(\mathbb C[x,y])=
\prod_{p_1,p_2\geq 0}\frac{1}{1-t_1^{p_1}t_2^{p_2}q}$$
where $\operatorname{char}_T V$ denotes the character ...
1
vote
3
answers
2k
views
Computing chern classes for products of varieties
I'm currently facing the problem of computing chern classes for Varieties. More precisely the product of such varieties.
Let $C_i$ be a variety in $\mathbb{CP}^2$ given by the Weierstraß $\wp$-map.
I ...
1
vote
0
answers
184
views
Divisor cohomology through spectral sequences
I don't know if it belongs here but anyway, I need to compute arithmetic genus of divisors pulled back from a Fano base space to a bundle (which may or mayn't be trivial) defined through the ...