Quantum cohomology of the Hilbert scheme of points on A_n-resolutions

We determine the two-point invariants of the equivariant quantum cohomology of the Hilbert scheme of points of surface resolutions associated to type A_n singularities. The operators encoding these invariants are expressed in terms of the action of the affine Lie algebra \hat{gl}(n+1) on its basic representation. Assuming a certain nondegeneracy conjecture, these operators determine the full structure of the quantum cohomology ring. A relationship is proven between the quantum cohomology and Gromov-Witten/Donaldson-Thomas theories of A_n x P^1. We close with a discussion of the monodromy properties of the associated quantum differential equation and a generalization to singularities of type D and E.Comment: 37 pages, 2 figures; typos are correcte

Gopakumar-Vafa invariants via vanishing cycles

In this paper, we propose an ansatz for defining Gopakumar-Vafa invariants of Calabi-Yau threefolds, using perverse sheaves of vanishing cycles. Our proposal is a modification of a recent approach of Kiem-Li, which is itself based on earlier ideas of Hosono-Saito-Takahashi. We conjecture that these invariants are equivalent to other curve-counting theories such as Gromov-Witten theory and Pandharipande-Thomas theory. Our main theorem is that, for local surfaces, our invariants agree with PT invariants for irreducible one-cycles. We also give a counter-example to the Kiem-Li conjectures, where our invariants match the predicted answer. Finally, we give examples where our invariant matches the expected answer in cases where the cycle is non-reduced, non-planar, or non-primitive.Comment: 63 pages, many improvements of the exposition following referee comments, final version to appear in Inventione

Calabi-Yau manifolds from pairs of non-compact Calabi-Yau manifolds

Most of Calabi-Yau manifolds that have been considered by physicists are complete intersection Calabi-Yau manifolds of toric varieties or some quotients of product types. Purpose of this paper is to introduce a different and rather new kind of construction method of Calabi-Yau manifolds by pasting two non-compact Calabi-Yau manifolds. We will also in some details explain a curious and mysterious similarity with construction of some $G_2$-manifolds (also called Joyce manifolds), which are base spaces for M-theory.Comment: 10 pages. Accepted for publication in JHE