Gromov-Witten invariants in algebraic geometry (Q1359169)

In a paper by \textit{K. Behrend} and \textit{Yu. Manin} [Duke Math. J. 85, No. 1, 1-60 (1996; Zbl 0872.14019)] the problem of constructing the Gromov-Witten invariants of a smooth projective variety \(V\) was reduced to defining a `virtual fundamental class' \[ [{\overline M}_{g,n}(V,\beta)]^{\text{virt}} \in A_{(1-g)(\dim V -3) - \beta (\omega_V) +n}({\overline M}_{g,n}(V,\beta)) \] in the Chow group of the algebraic stack \({\bar M}_{g,n}(V,\beta)\) of stable maps of class \(\beta \in H_2(V)\) from an \(n\)-marked prestable curve of genus \(g\) to \(V\). In this paper the author treats the general case using the construction of \textit{K. Behrend} and \textit{B. Fantechi} [Invent. Math. 128, No. 1, 45-88 (1997; see the preceding review)]. In that paper virtual fundamental classes are constructed using an obstruction theory and the intrinsic normal cone. The obstruction serves to give rise to a vector bundle stack \(\mathfrak E\), into which the intrinsic normal cone \(\mathfrak C\) can be embedded as a closed subcone stack. The virtual fundamental class is then obtained by intersecting \(\mathfrak C\) with the zero section of \(\mathfrak E\). This is a beautiful consequence of the very important papers mentioned above and that started with similar analytical constructions by \textit{J. Li} and \textit{G. Tian} [J. Am. Math. Soc. 11, No. 1, 119-174 (1998)].