The symplectic sum formula for Gromov-Witten invariants (Q1768027)

For two symplectic \(2n\)-manifolds \(X\) and \(Y\) with a symplectic \((2n-2)\)-submanifold \(V\) and a symplectic identification between two copies of \(V\) and a complex anti-linear isomorphism between normal bundles \(N_XV\) and \(N_YV\) of \(V\) in \(X\) and \(Y\), the symplectic sum \(Z= X\# Y\) is constructed. The symplectic sum formula expresses the Gromov-Witten invariants of \(Z\) in terms of relative GW invariants of \(X\) and \(Y\). Applications: new proofs for recent results in enumerative geometry: see \textit{E.-N. Ionel} and \textit{Th. H. Parker} [Math. Res. Lett. 5, No. 5, 563--576 (1998; Zbl 0943.53046) and Math. Ann. 314, No. 1, 127--158 (1999; Zbl 0948.53047)] and \textit{L. Lafforgue} [Invent. Math. 136, No. 1, 233--271 (1999; Zbl 0965.14024) and Erratum, Invent. Math. 145, No. 3, 619--620 (2001; Zbl 1041.14004)].