The quantum cohomology of blow-ups of \(\mathbb{P}^2\) and enumerative geometry (Q1128145)

The paper is concerned with the computation of the number \(N_{d,\alpha}\) of rational curves on \({\mathbb P}^2\) of degree \(d\) that pass through \(r\) given points \(x_i\) with multiplicities \(\alpha_i\) and \(3d-\sum_i\alpha_i-1\) other general points. These numbers appear as coefficients in the quantum cohomology potential function for the blow-up of \({\mathbb P}^2\) in \(r\) points. In the first part of the paper the associativity relations for the quantum product are used to derive recursion formulas for \(N_{d,\alpha}\). This formal computation is analogous to the computations of \textit{M. Kontsevich} and \textit{Yu. Manin} [Commun. Math. Phys. 164, No. 3, 525-562 (1994; Zbl 0853.14020)] for the plane itself. The major part of the paper is devoted to the question when this virtual number \(N_{d,\alpha}\) correctly counts rational curves with the required properties. This is shown to be the case under the following hypotheses: \(d>0\), \(\alpha_i\geq 0\) for all \(i\) and either \(n_{d,\alpha}>0\) or \(n_{d,\alpha}\geq 0\) and \(\alpha_i\in\{1,2\}\) for some \(i\). In this case each solution is an immersion of \({\mathbb P}^1\) into the blow-up. Finally, using Cremona transformations the authors slightly extend the range of parameters \((d,\alpha)\) where \(N_{d,\alpha}\) has a correct enumerative interpretation beyond the limits of the main theorem. The paper concludes with tables for \(N_{d,\alpha}\) in the range \(d\leq 7\). These computations correct a number of \textit{P. Di Francesco} and \textit{C. Itzykson} [in: The moduli space of curves, Proc. Conf., Texel Island 1994, Prog. Math. 129, 81-148 (1995; Zbl 0868.14029)] for \(d=6\).