Computing a pyramid partition generating function with dimer shuffling

We verify a recent conjecture of Kenyon/Szendroi, arXiv:0705.3419, by computing the generating function for pyramid partitions. Pyramid partitions are closely related to Aztec Diamonds; their generating function turns out to be the partition function for the Donaldson--Thomas theory of a non-commutative resolution of the conifold singularity {x1x2 -x3x4 = 0}. The proof does not require algebraic geometry; it uses a modified version of the domino shuffling algorithm of Elkies, Kuperberg, Larsen and Propp.Comment: 19 pages, 13 figures. v2: fixed minor typos, updated references and future work; added some definitions to Section

Wall Crossing and M-theory

We study BPS bound states of D0 and D2 branes on a single D6 brane wrapping a Calabi-Yau 3-fold X. When X has no compact 4-cyles, the BPS bound states are organized into a free field Fock space, whose generators correspond to BPS states of spinning M2 branes in M-theory compactified down to 5 dimensions by a Calabi-Yau 3-fold X. The generating function of the D-brane bound states is expressed as a reduction of the square of the topological string partition function, in all chambers of the Kahler moduli space.Comment: 19 pages, 1 figur

Open BPS Wall Crossing and M-theory

Consider the degeneracies of BPS bound states of one D6 brane wrapping Calabi-Yau X with D0 branes and D2 branes. When we include D4-branes wrapping Lagrangian cycle L in addition, D2-branes can end on them. These give rise to new bound states in the d=2, N=(2,2) theory of the D4 branes. We call these "open" BPS states, in contrast to closed BPS states that arise from D-branes without boundaries. Lifting this to M-theory, we show that the generating function is captured by free Fock space spanned by M2-brane particles ending on M5 branes wrapping L. This implies that the open BPS bound states are counted by the square of the open topological string partition function on X, reduced to the corresponding chamber. Our results give new predictions for open BPS invariants and their wall crossing phenomena when we change the open and closed string moduli. We relate our results to the work of Cecotti and Vafa on wall crossing in the two dimensional N=(2,2) theories. The findings from the crystal melting model for the open BPS invariants proposed recently fit well with the M-theory predictions.Comment: 18 pages, 1 figur