Cohomology classes of interval positroid varieties and a conjecture of Liu (Q1991410)

Summary: To each finite subset of \(\mathbb{Z}^2\) (a diagram), one can associate a subvariety of a complex Grassmannian (a diagram variety), and a representation of a symmetric group (a Specht module). \textit{R. I. Liu} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 364, No. 2, 1089--1107 (2012; Zbl 1235.05147)] has conjectured that the cohomology class of a diagram variety is represented by the Frobenius characteristic of the corresponding Specht module. We give a counterexample to this conjecture. However, we show that for the diagram variety of a permutation diagram, Liu's conjectured cohomology class \(\sigma\) is at least an upper bound on the actual class \(\tau\), in the sense that \(\sigma-\tau\) is a nonnegative linear combination of Schubert classes. To do this, we exhibit the appropriate diagram variety as a component in a degeneration of one of Knutson's interval positroid varieties (up to Grassmann duality). A priori, the cohomology classes of these interval positroid varieties are represented by affine Stanley symmetric functions. We give a different formula for these classes as ordinary Stanley symmetric functions, one with the advantage of being Schur-positive and compatible with inclusions between Grassmannians.