We prove some combinatorial results related to a formula on Hodge integrals conjectured by Mariño and Vafa. These results play important roles in the proof and applications of this formula by the author jointly with Chiu-Chu Melissa Liu and Kefeng Liu. We also compare with some related results on Hurwitz numbers and obtain some closed expressions for the generating series of Hurwitz numbers and the related Hodge integrals.
In 2009 Kokotov, Korotkin and Zograf gave a formula for the class of the Hodge bundle on the Hurwitz space of admissible covers of genus g and degree d of the projective line. They gave an analytic proof of it. In this note we give an algebraic proof and an extension of the result.
Ekedahl, Lando, Shapiro, and Vainshtein announced a remarkable formula expressing Hurwitz numbers (counting covers of the projective line with specified simple branch points, and specified branching over one other point) in terms of Hodge integrals. We give a proof of this formula using virtual localization on the moduli space of stable maps, and describe how the proof could be simplified by the proper algebro-geometric definition of a "relative space".
Hodge classes on the moduli space of admissible covers with monodromy group G are associated to irreducible representations of G. We evaluate all linear Hodge integrals over moduli spaces of admissible covers with abelian monodromy in terms of multiplication in an associated wreath group algebra. In case G is cyclic and the representation is faithful, the evaluation is in terms of double Hurwitz numbers. In case G is trivial, the formula specializes to the well-known result of Ekedahl-Lando-Shapiro-Vainshtein for linear Hodge integrals over the moduli space of curves in terms of single Hurwitz…
In this paper we find an explicit formula for the number of topologically different ramified coverings $C\to\CP^1$ (C is a compact Riemann surface of genus g) with only one complicated branching point in terms of Hodge integrals over the moduli space of genus g curves with marked points.
In this paper we describe explicit generating functions for a large class of Hurwitz-Hodge integrals. These are integrals of tautological classes on moduli spaces of admissible covers, a (stackily) smooth compactification of the Hurwitz schemes. Admissible covers and their tautological classes are interesting mathematical objects on their own, but recently they have proved to be a useful tool for the study of the tautological ring of the moduli space of curves, and the orbifold Gromov-Witten theory of DM stacks. Our main tool is Atiyah-Bott localization: its underlying philosophy is to transla…
In this paper, we present some Hurwitz-Hodge integral identities which are derived from the Laplace transform of the cut-and-join equation for the orbifold Hurwitz numbers. As an application, we prove a conjecture on Hurwitz-Hodge integral proposed by J. Zhou in 2008.
Let G be the group A_4 or Z_2xZ_2. We compute the integral of λ_g on the Hurwitz locus H_G\subset M_g of curves admitting a degree 4 cover of P^1 having monodromy group G. We compute the generating functions for these integrals and write them as a trigonometric expression summed over the positive roots of the E_6 and D_4 root systems respectively. As an application, we prove the Crepant Resolution Conjecture for the orbifolds [C^3/A_4] and [C^3/(Z_2xZ_2)].
Using Atiyah-Bott localization on the space of stable maps to the stack quotient $[\mathbb{P}^1/\mathbb{Z}_2]$, we find recursions that determine all Hodge integrals with descendent insertions at one marked point on the hyperelliptic locus $\overline{\mathcal{H}}_{g, 2g + 2} \subseteq \overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g, 2g + 2}$. The initial conditions required for our recursions are gravitational descendents at one marked point, which are known to be $\frac{1}{2}$. We discover a new structure concerning these intersection numbers: for a fixed monomial of $λ$-classes, the resulting family of hyperellip…
Virasoro constraints are applied to degree zero Gromov-Witten theory of weighted projective stacks $\mathbb{P}(1,N)$ and $\mathbb{P}(1,1,N)$ to obtain formulas of descendant cyclic Hurwitz-Hodge integrals in higher genera.
We provide a formula describing the G-module structure of the Hurwitz-Hodge bundle for admissible G-covers in terms of the Hodge bundle of the base curve, and more generally, for describing the G-module structure of the push-forward to the base of any sheaf on a family of admissible G-covers. This formula can be interpreted as a representation-ring-valued relative Riemann-Hurwitz formula for families of admissible G-covers.
Let Z_3 act on C^2 by non-trivial opposite characters. Let X =[C^2/Z_3] be the orbifold quotient, and let Y be the unique crepant resolution. We show the equivariant genus 0 Gromov-Witten potentials of X and Y are equal after a change of variables -- verifying the Crepant Resolution Conjecture for the pair (X,Y). Our computations involve Hodge integrals on trigonal Hurwitz spaces which are of independent interest. In a self contained Appendix, we derive closed formulas for these Hurwitz-Hodge integrals.
We use algebraic methods to compute the simple Hurwitz numbers for arbitrary source and target Riemann surfaces. For an elliptic curve target, we reproduce the results previously obtained by string theorists. Motivated by the Gromov-Witten potentials, we find a general generating function for the simple Hurwitz numbers in terms of the representation theory of the symmetric group S_n. We also find a generating function for Hodge integrals on the moduli space M_{g,2} of Riemann surfaces with two marked points, similar to that found by Faber and Pandharipande for the case of one marked point.
In this note, we use the method of [3] to give a simple proof of famous Witten conjecture. Combining the coefficients derived in our note and this method, we can derive more recursion formulas of Hodge integrals.
We give a thorough study of Hurwitz stacks both in Galois and non galois case. The construction is applied to revisit somme classical examples, the stack of stable curves equipped with a level structure, and the stacks of tamely ramified cyclic covers. We exhibit some tautological cohomology classes, and give some universal relations between them. Applications are given to Cornalba-Harris type relations, and to some Hurwitz-Hodge integrals.
Hurwitz numbers, which count certain covers of the projective line (or, equivalently, factorizations of permuations into transpositions), have been extensively studied for over a century. The Gromov-Witten potential F of a point, the generating series for Hodge integrals on the moduli space of curves, has been a central object of study in Gromov-Witten theory. We define a slightly enriched Gromov-Witten potential G (including integrals involving one "lambda-class"), and show that after a non-trivial change of variables, G=H in positive genus, where H is a generating series for Hurwitz numbers.…
This article is an extended version of preprint math.AG/9902104. We find an explicit formula for the number of topologically different ramified coverings of a sphere by a genus g surface with only one complicated branching point in terms of Hodge integrals over the moduli space of genus g curves with marked points.
We prove two explicit formulae for one-part double Hurwitz numbers with completed 3-cycles. We define "combinatorial Hodge integrals" from these numbers in the spirit of the celebrated ELSV formula. The obtained results imply some explicit formulae and properties of the combinatorial Hodge integrals.
We compute the Picard groups with integral coefficients of the Hurwitz stacks parametrizing degree $4$ and $5$ covers of $\mathbb{P}^1$. As a consequence, we also determine the integral Picard groups of the Hurwitz stacks parametrizing simply branched covers. For simple branching, the Picard groups are finite, with order depending on the genus.
We propose a new, conjectural recursion solution for Hurwitz numbers at all genera. This conjecture is based on recent progress in solving type B topological string theory on the mirrors of toric Calabi-Yau manifolds, which we briefly review to provide some background for our conjecture. We show in particular how this B-model solution, combined with mirror symmetry for the one-leg, framed topological vertex, leads to a recursion relation for Hodge integrals with three Hodge class insertions. Our conjecture in Hurwitz theory follows from this recursion for the framed vertex in the limit of infi…
For any finite abelian group G, the equivariant Gromov-Witten invariants of C^r/G can be viewed as a certain kind of abelian Hurwitz-Hodge integrals. In this note, we use Tseng's orbifold quantum Riemann-Roch theorem to express this kind of abelian Hurwitz-Hodge integrals as a sum over Feynman graphs, where the weight of each graph is expressed in terms of descendant integrals over moduli spaces of stable curves and representations of G. This expression will play a crucial role in the proof of the remodeling conjecture (arXiv:0709.1453, arXiv:0807.0597) for affine toric Calabi-Yau 3-orbifolds …
We generalise a result of Kazarian regarding Kadomtsev-Petviashvili integrability for single Hodge integrals to general cohomological field theories related to Hurwitz-type counting problems or hypergeometric tau-functions. The proof uses recent results on the relations between hypergeometric tau-functions and topological recursion, as well as the Eynard-DOSS correspondence between topological recursion and cohomological field theories. In particular, we recover the result of Alexandrov of KP integrability for triple Hodge integrals with a Calabi-Yau condition.
We prove that a generalisation of simple Hurwitz numbers due to Johnson, Pandharipande and Tseng satisfy the topological recursion of Eynard and Orantin. This generalises the Bouchard-Marino conjecture and places Hurwitz-Hodge integrals, which arise in the Gromov--Witten theory of target curves with orbifold structure, in the context of the Eynard-Orantin topological recursion.
Despite the failure of the integral Hodge conjecture, we show that the rational Hodge conjecture implies an integral version (modulo torsion) of the absolute Hodge conjecture.
If X is a smooth projective complex threefold, the Hodge conjecture holds for degree 4 rational Hodge classes on X. Kollar gave examples where it does not hold for integral Hodge classes of degree 4, that is integral Hodge classes need not be classes of algebraic 1-cycles with integral coefficients. We show however that the Hodge conjecture holds for integral Hodge classes of degree 4 on a uniruled or a Calabi-Yau threefold.
Starting from the ELSV formula, we derive a number of new equations on the generating functions for Hodge integrals over the moduli space of complex curves. This gives a new simple and uniform treatment of certain known results on Hodge integrals like Witten's conjecture, Virasoro constrains, Faber's lambda_g conjecture etc. Among other results we show that a properly arranged generating function for Hodge integrals satisfies the equations of the KP hierarchy.
In this ``experimental'' research, we use known topological recursion relations in genera-zero, -one, and -two to compute the n-point descendant Gromov-Witten invariants of P^1 for arbitrary degrees and low values of n. The results are consistent with the Virasoro conjecture and also lead to explicit computations of all Hodge integrals in these genera. We also derive new recursion relations for simple Hurwitz numbers similar to those of Graber and Pandharipande.
We calculate the hyperelliptic Hodge integral lambda_g lambda_{g-1} / (1 - psi) for use in arXiv:math/0702219. The proof uses the WDVV equations for the genus zero Gromov--Witten invariants of P(1,1,2).
In this paper we discuss an obstruction to the integral Hodge conjecture, which arises from certain behavior of vanishing cycles. This allows us to construct new counter-examples to the integral Hodge conjecture. One typical such counter-example is the product of a very general hypersurface of odd dimension and an Enriques surface. Our approach generalizes the degeneration argument of Benoist-Ottem.
We define a map $\mathcal{P}_M$ attached to any polarized Hodge module $M$ such that the restriction of $\mathcal{P}_M$ to a locus on which $M$ is a variation of Hodge structures induces the usual period integral pairing for this variation of Hodge structures. In the case that $M$ is the minimal extension of a simple polarized variation of Hodge structures $V$, we show that the homotopy image of $\mathcal{P}_M$ is the minimal extension of the graph morphism of the usual period integral map for $V$.
We show that the generating series of some Hodge integrals involving one or two partitions are tau-functions of the KP hierarchy or the 2-Toda hierarchy respectively. We also formulate a conjecture on the connection between relative invariants and integrable hierarchies. The conjecture is verified in some examples.
This paper initiates a study of Hodge integrals on moduli spaces of pseudostable curves. We prove an explicit comparison formula that allows one to effectively compute any pseudostable Hodge integral in terms of intersection numbers on moduli spaces of stable curves, and we use this comparison to prove that pseudostable Hodge integrals are equal to their stable counterparts when they are linear in lambda classes, but not when they are nonlinear. This suggests that pseudostable Gromov-Witten invariants are equal to usual Gromov-Witten invariants for target curves, but not for higher-dimensional…
We prove the integral Hodge conjecture for one-cycles on a principally polarized complex abelian variety whose minimal class is algebraic. In particular, any product of Jacobians of smooth projective curves over the complex numbers satisfies the integral Hodge conjecture for one-cycles. The main ingredient is a lift of the Fourier transform to integral Chow groups. Similarly, we prove the integral Tate conjecture for one-cycles on the Jacobian of a proper curve of compact type over the separable closure of a finitely generated field. Furthermore, abelian varieties satisfying such a conjecture …
We prove the Gopakumar-Marino-Vafa formula for special cubic Hodge integrals. The GMV formula arises from Chern-Simons/string duality applied to the unknot in the three sphere. The GMV formula is a q-analog of the ELSV formula for linear Hodge integrals. We find a system of bilinear localization equations relating linear and special cubic Hodge integrals. The GMV formula then follows easily from the ELSV formula. An operator form of the GMV formula is presented in the last section of the paper.
We prove that the product of an Enriques surface and a very general curve of genus at least 1 does not satisfy the integral Hodge conjecture for 1-cycles. This provides the first examples of smooth projective complex threefolds of Kodaira dimension zero for which the integral Hodge conjecture fails, and the first examples of non-algebraic torsion cohomology classes of degree 4 on smooth projective complex threefolds.
We prove a closed formula for integrals of the cotangent line classes against the top Chern class of the Hodge bundle on the moduli space of stable pointed curves. These integrals are computed via relations obtained from virtual localization in Gromov-Witten theory. An analysis of several natural matrices indexed by partitions is required.
We provide a closed form expression for linear Hodge integrals on the hyperelliptic locus. Specifically, we find a succinct combinatorial formula for all intersection numbers on the hyperelliptic locus with one $λ$-class, and powers of a $ψ$-class pulled back along the branch map. This is achieved by using Atiyah-Bott localization on a stack of stable maps into the orbifold $[\mathbb{P}^1/\mathbb{Z}_2]$.
We formulate a version of the integral Hodge conjecture for categories, prove the conjecture for two-dimensional Calabi-Yau categories which are suitably deformation equivalent to the derived category of a K3 or abelian surface, and use this to deduce cases of the usual integral Hodge conjecture for varieties. Along the way, we prove a version of the variational integral Hodge conjecture for families of two-dimensional Calabi-Yau categories, as well as a general smoothness result for relative moduli spaces of objects in such families. Our machinery also has applications to the structure of int…
We establish the real integral Hodge conjecture for 1-cycles on various classes of uniruled threefolds (conic bundles, Fano threefolds with no real point, some del Pezzo fibrations) and on conic bundles over higher-dimensional bases which themselves satisfy the real integral Hodge conjecture for 1-cycles. In addition, we show that rationally connected threefolds over non-archimedean real closed fields do not satisfy the real integral Hodge conjecture in general and that over such fields, Bröcker's EPT theorem remains true for simply connected surfaces of geometric genus zero but fails for some…
We prove that there exists a pencil of Enriques surfaces defined over $\mathbb{Q}$ with non-algebraic integral Hodge classes of non-torsion type. This gives the first example of a threefold with the trivial Chow group of zero-cycles on which the integral Hodge conjecture fails. As an application, we construct a fourfold which gives the negative answer to a classical question of Murre on the universality of the Abel-Jacobi maps in codimension three.
We exhibit a set of recursive relations that completely determine all equivariant Gromov-Witten invariants of the quotient orbifold C^3/Z_3. We interpret such invariants as G-Hodge Integrals, and produce relations among them via Atiyah-Bott localization on moduli spaces of twisted stable maps to gerbes over the projective line.
We establish a polynomial recursion formula for linear Hodge integrals. It is obtained as the Laplace transform of the cut-and-join equation for the simple Hurwitz numbers. We show that the recursion recovers the Witten-Kontsevich theorem when restricted to the top degree terms, and also the combinatorial factor of the lambda_g formula as the lowest degree terms.
We use the universal generation of algebraic cycles to relate (stable) rationality to the integral Hodge conjecture. We show that the Chow group of 1-cycles on a cubic hypersurface is universally generated by lines. Applications are mainly in cubic hypersurfaces of low dimensions. For example, we show that if a generic cubic fourfold is stably rational then the Beauville--Bogomolov form on its variety of lines, viewed as an integral Hodge class on the self product of its variety of lines, is algebraic. In dimension $3$ and $5$, we relate stable rationality with the geometry of the associated i…
We study higher genus Fan--Jarvis--Ruan--Witten theory of any chain polynomial with any group of symmetries. Precisely, we give an explicit way to compute the cup product of Polishchuk and Vaintrob's virtual class with the top Chern class of the Hodge bundle. Our formula for this product holds in any genus and without any assumption on the semi-simplicity of the underlying cohomological field theory.
In this note we derive some consequences from the Mariño-Vafa formula and the cut-and-join equation, these include unified simple proofs of the $λ_g$ conjecture and some other Hodge integral identities. We also describe a proof of the ELSV formula relating Hurwitz numbers and Hodge integrals by using the cut-and-join equation, following our proof of the Mariño-Vafa formula.
We discuss the space of sections and certain bisections on a quadric surfaces bundle $X$ over a smooth curve. The Abel-Jacobi from these spaces to the intermediate Jacobian will be shown to be dominant with rationally connected fibers. As an application, we prove that the integral Hodge conjecture holds for degree four integral Hodge classes of fourfolds fibered by quadric bundles over a smooth curve. This gives an alternative proof of a result of Colliot-Th{é}l{è}ne and Voisin.
We formulate the "real integral Hodge conjecture", a version of the integral Hodge conjecture for real varieties, and raise the question of its validity for cycles of dimension 1 on uniruled and Calabi-Yau threefolds and on rationally connected varieties. We relate it to the problem of determining the image of the Borel-Haefliger cycle class map for 1-cycles, with the problem of deciding whether a real variety with no real point contains a curve of even geometric genus and with the problem of computing the torsion of the Chow group of 1-cycles of real threefolds. New results about these proble…
Given a smooth projective 3-fold Y, with $H^{3,0}(Y)=0$, the Abel-Jacobi map induces a morphism from each smooth variety parameterizing 1-cycles in Y to the intermediate Jacobian J(Y). We study in this paper the existence of families of 1-cycles in Y for which this induced morphism is surjective with rationally connected general fiber, and various applications of this property. When Y itself is rationally connected, we relate this property to the existence of an integral homological decomposition of the diagonal. We also study this property for cubic threefolds, completing the work of Iliev-Ma…
Given a smooth projective 3-fold Y, with $H^{3,0}(Y)=0$, the Abel-Jacobi map induces a morphism from each smooth variety parameterizing 1-cycles in Y to the intermediate Jacobian J(Y). We study in this paper the existence of families of 1-cycles in Y for which this induced morphism is surjective with rationally connected general fiber, and various applications of this property. When Y itself is rationally connected, we relate this property to the existence of an integral homological decomposition of the diagonal. We also study this property for cubic threefolds, completing the work of Iliev-Ma…
Degenerate contributions to higher genus Gromov-Witten invariants of Calabi-Yau 3-folds are computed via Hodge integrals. The vanishing of contributions of covers of elliptic curves conjectured by Gopakumar and Vafa is proven. A formula for degree 1 covers for all genus pairs is computed in agreement with M-theoretic calculations of Gopakumar and Vafa. Finally, these results lead to a proof of a formula in the tautological ring of the moduli space of curves previously conjectured by Faber.
We study Hodge Integrals on Moduli Spaces of Admissible Covers. Motivation for this work comes from Bryan and Pandharipande's recent work on the local GW theory of curves, where analogouos intersection numbers, computed on Moduli Spaces of Relative Stable Maps, are the structure coefficients for a Topological Quantum Field Theory. Admissible Covers provide an alternative compactification of the Moduli Space of Maps, that is smooth and doesn't contain boundary components of excessive dimension. A parallel, yet different, TQFT, can then be constructed. In this paper we compute, using localizatio…
Motivated by results for the HCIZ integral in Part I of this paper, we study the structure of monotone Hurwitz numbers, which are a desymmetrized version of classical Hurwitz numbers. We prove a number of results for monotone Hurwitz numbers and their generating series that are striking analogues of known results for the classical Hurwtiz numbers. These include explicit formulas for monotone Hurwitz numbers in genus 0 and 1, for all partitions, and an explicit rational form for the generating series in arbitrary genus. This rational form implies that, up to an explicit combinatorial scaling, m…
