Schubert calculus of richardson varieties stable under spherical Levi subgroups (Q2435034)

Let \(G=\mathrm{GL}(n)\) be the general linear group of rank \(n\) over the complex numbers. Let \(T\) be a maximal torus of \(G\), and \(B\), \(B^-\) opposite Borel subgroups of \(G\) with respect to \(T\). A basis of the cohomology of the flag variety of \(G\) is given by the classes of the \(B\)-orbit closures, the Schubert varieties. Let \(L\) be the Levi subgroup \(\mathrm{GL}(p)\times \mathrm{GL}(q)\) of \(G\), with \(p+q=n\). It is a symmetric (hence spherical) subgroup of \(G\). In the flag variety the author consider the intersection of a \(B\)-orbit closure and a \(B^-\)-orbit closure, a Richardson variety, in the case it is \(L\)-stable, and determines its cohomology class in terms of the basis given by the Schubert varieties. He therefore gives a so-called positive formula for some structure constants of the cohomology ring, i.e.\ a formula expressing the structure constant as sum of positive integers with combinatorial meaning. Since the subgroup \(L\) is spherical in \(G\), every (irreducible) \(L\)-stable subvariety of the flag variety has a dense \(L\)-orbit. The main result is thus obtained by reinterpreting, in terms of specific permutations, expressions for the cohomology classes of \(L\)-orbit closures in the flag variety due to \textit{M. Brion} [Comment. Math. Helv. 76, No. 2, 263--299 (2001; Zbl 1043.14012)].