Positivity in the Grothendieck group of complex flag varieties. (Q1858273)

Let \(G\) be a complex semisimple simply-connected algebraic group and let \(P\) be a parabolic subgroup. Consider the flag variety \(X_:=G/P\) and the Schubert subvarieties \(X_w:= \overline{BwP/P}\subset G/P\) for any \(w\in W/W_P\), where \(W\) is the Weyl group of \(G\), \(W_P\) is the Weyl group of \(P\) and \(B\) is a Borel subgroup of \(G\) contained in \(P\). Then, the classes \([{\mathcal O}_{X_w}]\) of structure sheaves of \(X_w\) form a \(\mathbb{Z}\)-basis of the \(K\)-group \(K(X)\) of \(X\). Write, under the product in \(K(X)\), for any \(u,\,v\in W/W_P\): \[ [{\mathcal O}_{X_u}]= \sum_{w\in W/W_P} c^w_{u,v}[{\mathcal O}_{X_w}], \] for some \(c^w_{u,v}\in \mathbb{Z}\). Then, the main result of the paper under review asserts that \[ c^w_{u,v}(-1)^{\text{codim\,}X_u+ \text{codim\,}X_v+ \text{codim\,}X_w}\geq 0. \] This was conjectured by \textit{A. Buch} [Acta Math. 189, 37--78 (2002; Zbl 1090.14015)] and proved by him for the Grassmannians. The author, in fact, proves the following more general result asked by \textit{W. Graham} [Duke Math. J. 102, 599--614 (2001; Zbl 1069.14055)]: Let \(Y\subset X\) be a closed subvariety with rational singularities. Express \[ [{\mathcal O}_Y]= \sum_{w\in W/W_P} c^w_Y[{\mathcal O}_{X_w}],\text{ for }c^w_Y\in \mathbb{Z}. \] Then, \((-1)^{\text{codim\,}X_w+ \text{codim\,}Y} c^w_Y\geq 0\).