1998/10/30 by C. Faber, Faber, C., R. Pandharipande +1 · 5 citations
Mathematics · Physics and Astronomy · #Algebraic Geometry (math.AG) #FOS: Mathematics #FOS: Physical sciences #High Energy Physics - Theory (hep-th) #hep-th #math.AG
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.math/9810173
24 pages, LaTeX2e
arxiv created 1998/10/30 · arxiv updated 2009/11/30
Integrals of the Chern classes of the Hodge bundle in Gromov-Witten theory are studied. We find a universal system of differential equations which determines the generating function of these integrals from the standard descendent potential (for any target X). We use virtual localization and classical degeneracy calculations to find trigonometric closed form solutions for special Hodge integrals over the moduli space of pointed curves. These formulas are applied to two computations in Gromov-Witten theory for Calabi-Yau 3-folds. The genus g, degree d multiple cover contribution of a rational curve is found to be simply proportional to the Euler characteristic of Mg. The genus g, degree 0 Gromov-Witten invariant is calculated (in agreement with recent string theoretic calculations of Gopakumar-Vafa and Marino-Moore). Finally, with Zagier's help, our Hodge integral formulas imply a general genus prediction of the punctual Virasoro constraints applied to the projective line.