Intersection numbers and automorphisms of stable curves (Q1045740)

Hodge integrals are intersection numbers between tautological classes on moduli spaces of stable curves. In this article, the authors study denominators of Hodge integrals. Of most interest in this paper are denominators arising from intersections of psi classes on the moduli space of genus \(g\) curves with \(n\) marked points. Their common multiple is denoted by \(D_{g,n}\). These numbers are related to automorphism groups of curves. It is shown that the automorphism group of a curve of genus \(g^{\prime}\) greater than two divides \(D_{g,3}\) for \(g\geq g^{\prime}\). The authors study prime factors of \(D_{g,n}\). In the last section, a conjectural multinomial-type property for intersection numbers is given.