Equivariant quantum cohomology of the Grassmannian via the rim hook rule (Q1649925)

It is known that multiplication of Schubert classes in the (small) quantum cohomology ring of a Grassmannian can be carried out using the rim hook algorithm (cf. [\textit{A. Bertram} et al., J. Algebra 219, No. 2, 728--746 (1999; Zbl 0936.05086)]). In this paper, the authors give an equivariant generalization of the rim hook algorithm which computes the product of equivariant canonical Schubert classes in the equivariant quantum cohomology of a Grassmannian. To be more precise, let \(T^n\) be an \(n\)-dimensional torus acting naturally on \(\mathrm{Gr}(k, n)\). The authors define a group homomorphism \[ \varphi: H^*_{T^{2n-1}}(\mathrm{Gr}(k, 2n-1))\to QH_{T^n}(\mathrm{Gr}(k, n)) \] which sends the \(i\)-th equivariant variable \(t_i\) to \(t_{i(\operatorname{mod}n)}\), and implements the classical rim hook algorithm to equivariant canonical Schubert classes. The equivariant Rim hook algorithm says that in order to compute the equivariant quantum product \(\sigma_\lambda\star\sigma_\mu\in QH_{T^n}^*(\mathrm{Gr}(k, n))\), where \(\lambda\) and \(\mu\) are Young diagrams within the \(k\times(n-k)\) rectangle, one can first compute within \(\mathrm{Gr}(k, 2n-1)\) the equivariant product \[ \sigma_\lambda\cdot\sigma_\mu=\sum_{\nu\subseteq k\times(2n-1-k)}c_{\lambda\mu}^\nu\sigma_\nu\in H_{T^{2n-1}}^*(\mathrm{Gr}(k, 2n-1)) \] which, for example, can be done using the Knutson-Tao puzzle rule (cf. [\textit{A. Knutson} and \textit{T. Tao}, Duke Math. J. 119, No. 2, 221--260 (2003; Zbl 1064.14063)]), and then apply the map \(\varphi\): \[ \sigma_\lambda\star\sigma_\mu=\sum_{\nu\subseteq k\times(2n-1-k)}\varphi(c_{\lambda\mu}^\nu)\varphi(\sigma_\nu). \] The authors prove the equivariant rim hook algorithm by showing that the product it defines satisfies two conditions which characterize equivariant quantum product, namely, associativity and the equivariant quantum Chevalley-Monk formula. In proving associativity, they introduce what they call the abacus model for Young diagrams in order to understand the action of \(\varphi\) on the equivariant variables. The authors also outline future directions relating the equivariant rim hook algorithm and cyclic factorial Schur polynomials they develop in this paper to the work on the connections between quantum and affine Schubert calculus by Peterson and Postnikov.