Counting tropical rational space curves with cross-ratio constraints

This is a follow-up paper of Goldner (Math Z 297(1–2):133–174, 2021), where rational curves in surfaces that satisfy general positioned point and cross-ratio conditions were enumerated. A suitable correspondence theorem provided in Tyomkin (Adv Math 305:1356–1383, 2017) allowed us to use tropical geometry, and, in particular, a degeneration technique called floor diagrams. This correspondence theorem also holds in higher dimension. In the current paper, we introduce so-called cross-ratio floor diagrams and show that they allow us to determine the number of rational space curves that satisfy general positioned point and cross-ratio conditions. The multiplicities of such cross-ratio floor diagrams can be calculated by enumerating certain rational tropical curves in the plane.

Refined floor diagrams from higher genera and lambda classes

We show that, after the change of variables $$q=e^{iu}$$ q = e iu , refined floor diagrams for $${\mathbb {P}}^2$$ P 2 and Hirzebruch surfaces compute generating series of higher genus relative Gromov–Witten invariants with insertion of a lambda class. The proof uses an inductive application of the degeneration formula in relative Gromov–Witten theory and an explicit result in relative Gromov–Witten theory of $${\mathbb {P}}^1$$ P 1 . Combining this result with the similar looking refined tropical correspondence theorem for log Gromov–Witten invariants, we obtain a non-trivial relation between relative and log Gromov–Witten invariants for $${\mathbb {P}}^2$$ P 2 and Hirzebruch surfaces. We also prove that the Block–Göttsche invariants of $${\mathbb {F}}_0$$ F 0 and $${\mathbb {F}}_2$$ F 2 are related by the Abramovich–Bertram formula.

Counting curves on Hirzebruch surfaces: tropical geometry and the Fock space

We study the stationary descendant Gromov–Witten theory of toric surfaces by combining and extending a range of techniques – tropical curves, floor diagrams and Fock spaces. A correspondence theorem is established between tropical curves and descendant invariants on toric surfaces using maximal toric degenerations. An intermediate degeneration is then shown to give rise to floor diagrams, giving a geometric interpretation of this well-known bookkeeping tool in tropical geometry. In the process, we extend floor diagram techniques to include descendants in arbitrary genus. These floor diagrams are then used to connect tropical curve counting to the algebra of operators on the bosonic Fock space, and are showno coincide with the Feynman diagrams of appropriate operators. This extends work of a number of researchers, including Block–Göttsche, Cooper–Pandharipande and Block–Gathmann–Markwig.

Refined curve counting with tropical geometry

The Severi degree is the degree of the Severi variety parametrizing plane curves of degree $d$ with ${\it\delta}$ nodes. Recently, Göttsche and Shende gave two refinements of Severi degrees, polynomials in a variable $y$, which are conjecturally equal, for large $d$. At $y=1$, one of the refinements, the relative Severi degree, specializes to the (non-relative) Severi degree. We give a tropical description of the refined Severi degrees, in terms of a refined tropical curve count for all toric surfaces. We also refine the equivalent count of floor diagrams for Hirzebruch and rational ruled surfaces. Our description implies that, for fixed ${\it\delta}$, the refined Severi degrees are polynomials in $d$ and $y$, for large $d$. As a consequence, we show that, for ${\it\delta}\leqslant 10$ and all $d\geqslant {\it\delta}/2+1$, both refinements of Göttsche and Shende agree and equal our refined counts of tropical curves and floor diagrams.

$q$-Floor Diagrams computing Refined Severi Degrees for Plane Curves

International audience The Severi degree is the degree of the Severi variety parametrizing plane curves of degree $d$ with $\delta$ nodes. Recently, Göttsche and Shende gave two refinements of Severi degrees, polynomials in a variable $q$, which are conjecturally equal, for large $d$. At $q=1$, one of the refinements, the relative Severi degree, specializes to the (non-relative) Severi degree. We give a combinatorial description of the refined Severi degrees, in terms of a $q$-analog count of Brugallé and Mikhalkin's floor diagrams. Our description implies that, for fixed $\delta$, the refined Severi degrees are polynomials in $d$ and $q$, for large $d$. As a consequence, we show that, for $\delta \leq 4$ and all $d$, both refinements of Göttsche and Shende agree and equal our $q$-count of floor diagrams. Le degré de Severi est le degré de la variété de Severi paramétrisant les courbes planes de degré $d$ à $\delta$ nœuds. Récemment, Göttsche et Shende ont donné deux raffinements des degrés de Severi, polynomiaux en la variable $q$, qui sont conjecturalement égaux pour $d$ assez grand. Pour $q=1$, un des ces raffinements, le degré de Severi relatif, se spécialise en le degré de Severi (non relatif). Nous donnons une description combinatoire des degrés de Severi raffinés, en fonction d'un comptage $q$-analogue des "floor diagrams'' de Brugallé et Mikhalkin. Notre description implique que, pour $\delta$ fixé, les degrés de Severi raffinés sont polynomiaux en $d$ et $q$, pour $d$ grand. On montre que, par conséquent, pour $\delta \leq 4$ et pour tout $d$, les deux raffinements de Göttsche et Shende coïncident et sont égaux à notre $q$-analogue de "floor diagrams''.

Universal Polynomials for Severi Degrees of Toric Surfaces

International audience The Severi variety parametrizes plane curves of degree $d$ with $\delta$ nodes. Its degree is called the Severi degree. For large enough $d$, the Severi degrees coincide with the Gromov-Witten invariants of $\mathbb{CP}^2$. Fomin and Mikhalkin (2009) proved the 1995 conjecture that for fixed $\delta$, Severi degrees are eventually polynomial in $d$. In this paper, we study the Severi varieties corresponding to a large family of toric surfaces. We prove the analogous result that the Severi degrees are eventually polynomial as a function of the multidegree. More surprisingly, we show that the Severi degrees are also eventually polynomial "as a function of the surface". Our strategy is to use tropical geometry to express Severi degrees in terms of Brugallé and Mikhalkin's floor diagrams, and study those combinatorial objects in detail. An important ingredient in the proof is the polynomiality of the discrete volume of a variable facet-unimodular polytope. La variété de Severi paramétrise les courbes planes de degré $d$ avec $\delta$ nœuds. Son degré s'appelle le degré de Severi. Pour $d$ assez grand, les degrés de Severi coïncident avec les invariants de Gromov-Witten de $\mathbb{CP}^2$. Fomin et Mikhalkin (2009) ont prouvé une conjecture de 1995 que pour $\delta$ fixé, les degrés de Severi sont à terme des polynômes en $d$. Nous étudions les variétés de Severi correspondant à une large famille de surfaces toriques. Nous prouvons le résultat analogue que les degrés de Severi sont à terme des fonctions polynomiales du multidegré. De manière plus surprenante, nous montrons que les degrés de Severi sont à terme des polynômes en tant que "fonction de la surface''. Notre stratégie est d'utiliser la géométrie tropicale pour exprimer les degrés de Severi en fonction des "floor diagrams" de Brugallé et Mikhalkin, et d'utiliser ces objets combinatoires en détail. Un autre ingrédient important de la preuve est la polynomialité du volume discret d'un polytope face-unimodulaire variable.