Perturbative scattering amplitudes in Yang-Mills theory have many unexpected properties, such as holomorphy of the maximally helicity violating amplitudes. To interpret these results, we Fourier transform the scattering amplitudes from momentum space to twistor space, and argue that the transformed amplitudes are supported on certain holomorphic curves. This in turn is apparently a consequence of an equivalence between the perturbative expansion of = 4 super Yang-Mills theory and the D-instanton expansion of a certain string theory, namely the topological B model whose target space is the Calabi-Yau supermanifold

Perturbative Gauge Theory as a String Theory in Twistor Space

We define new invariants of 3d Calabi-Yau categories endowed with a stability structure. Intuitively, they count the number of semistable objects with fixed class in the K-theory of the category ('number of BPS states with given charge' in physics language). Formally, our motivic DT-invariants are elements of quantum tori over a version of the Grothendieck ring of varieties over the ground field. Via the quasi-classical limit 'as the motive of affine line approaches to 1' we obtain numerical DT-invariants which are closely related to those introduced by Behrend. We study some properties of both motivic and numerical DT-invariants including the wall-crossing formulas and integrality. We discuss the relationship with the mathematical works (in the non-triangulated case) of Joyce, Bridgeland and Toledano-Laredo, as well as with works of physicists on Seiberg-Witten model (string junctions), classification of N=2 supersymmetric theories (Cecotti-Vafa) and structure of the moduli space of vector multiplets. Relating the theory of 3d Calabi-Yau categories with distinguished set of generators (called cluster collection) with the theory of quivers with potential we found the connection with cluster transformations and cluster varieties (both classical and quantum).

Stability structures, motivic Donaldson-Thomas invariants and cluster transformations

The 't Hooft expansion of SU(N) Chern-Simons theory on $S^3$ is proposed to be exactly dual to the topological closed string theory on the $S^2$ blow up of the conifold geometry. The $B$-field on the $S^2$ has magnitude $Ng_s=\lambda$, the 't Hooft coupling. We are able to make a number of checks, such as finding exact agreement at the level of the partition function computed on {\it both} sides for arbitrary $\lambda$ and to all orders in 1/N. Moreover, it seems possible to derive this correspondence from a linear sigma model description of the conifold. We propose a picture whereby a perturbative D-brane description, in terms of holes in the closed string worldsheet, arises automatically from the coexistence of two phases in the underlying U(1) gauge theory. This approach holds promise for a derivation of the AdS/CFT correspondence.

https://www.intlpress.com/site/pub/files/_fulltext/journals/atmp/1999/0003/0005/ATMP-1999-0003-0005-a005.pdf

On the Gauge Theory/Geometry Correspondence

It is shown how the topological string amplitudes encode the BPS structure of wrapped M2 branes in M-theory compactification on Calabi-Yau threefolds. This in turn is related to a twisted supersymmetric index in 5 dimensions which receives contribution only from BPS states. The spin dependence of BPS states in 5 dimensions is captured by the string coupling constant dependence of topological string amplitudes.

M theory and topological strings. 2.

We construct a cubic field theory which provides all genus amplitudes of the topological A-model for all non-compact toric Calabi-Yau threefolds. The topology of a given Feynman diagram encodes the topology of a fixed Calabi-Yau, with Schwinger parameters playing the role of Kahler classes of the threefold. We interpret this result as an operatorial computation of the amplitudes in the B-model mirror which is the quantum Kodaira-Spencer theory. The only degree of freedom of this theory is an unconventional chiral scalar on a Riemann surface. In this setup we identify the B-branes on the mirror Riemann surface as fermions related to the chiral boson by bosonization.

/pdf/the-topological-vertex-3lrad1kwkt.pdf

The Topological Vertex

The moduli space of stable relative maps to the projective line combines features of stable maps and admissible covers. We prove all standard Gromov-Witten classes on these moduli spaces of stable relative maps have tautological push-forwards to the moduli space of curves. In particular, the fundamental classes of all moduli spaces of admissible covers push-forward to tautological classes. Consequences for the tautological rings of the moduli spaces of curves include methods for generating new relations, uniform derivations of the socle and vanishing statements of the Gorenstein conjectures for the complete, compact type, and rational tail cases, tautological boundary terms for Ionel's, Looijenga's, and Getzler's vanishings, and applications to Gromov-Witten theory.

https://www.ems-ph.org/journals/show_pdf.php?issn=1435-9855&vol=7&iss=1&rank=2

Relative maps and tautological classes

We define the BPS invariants of Gopakumar-Vafa in the case of irreducible curve classes on Calabi-Yau 3-folds. The main tools are the theory of stable pairs in the derived category and Behrend's constructible function approach to the virtual class. We prove that for irreducible classes the stable pairs generating function satisfies the strong BPS rationality conjectures. 
We define the contribution of each curve to the BPS invariants. A curve $C$ only contributes to the BPS invariants in genera lying between the geometric genus and arithmetic genus of $C$. Complete formulae are derived for nonsingular and nodal curves. 
A discussion of primitive classes on K3 surfaces from the point of view of stable pairs is given in the Appendix via calculations of Kawai-Yoshioka. A proof of the Yau-Zaslow formula for rational curve counts is obtained. A connection is made to the Katz-Klemm-Vafa formula for BPS counts in all genera.

/pdf/stable-pairs-and-bps-invariants-4997ym324x.pdf

Stable pairs and BPS invariants

The local Gromov-Witten theory of curves is solved by localization and degeneration methods. Localization is used for the exact evalu- ation of basic integrals in the local Gromov-Witten theory of P 1 . A TQFT formalism is defined via degeneration to capture higher genus curves. Together, the results provide a compete and effective solution. The local Gromov-Witten theory of curves is equivalent to the lo- cal Donaldson-Thomas theory of curves, the quantum cohomology of the Hilbert scheme points of C 2 , and the orbifold quantum cohomol- ogy the symmetric product of C 2 . The results of the paper provide the local Gromov-Witten calculations required for the proofs of these equivalences.

/pdf/the-local-gromov-witten-theory-of-curves-1tlsonav7g.pdf

The local Gromov-Witten theory of curves

Elements of the tropical vertex group are formal families of symplectomorphisms of the 2-dimensional algebraic torus. We prove that ordered product factorizations in the tropical vertex group are equivalent to calculations of certain genus zero relative Gromov-Witten invariants of toric surfaces. The relative invariants which arise have full tangency to a toric divisor at a single unspecified point. The method uses scattering diagrams, tropical curve counts, degeneration formulas, and exact multiple cover calculations in orbifold Gromov-Witten theory

The tropical vertex

We define a cobordism theory in algebraic geometry based on normal crossing degenerations with double point singularities. The main result is the equivalence of double point cobordism to the theory of algebraic cobordism previously defined by Levine and Morel. Double point cobordism provides a simple, geometric presentation of algebraic cobordism theory. As a corollary, the Lazard ring given by products of projective spaces rationally generates all nonsingular projective varieties modulo double point degenerations.

Rahul Pandharipande

Papers

Relative maps and tautological classes

Stable pairs and BPS invariants

The local Gromov-Witten theory of curves

The tropical vertex

Algebraic cobordism revisited