Matrix model for the total descendant potential of a simple singularity of type \(D\) (Q2044432)

The motivation for this work comes from the celebrated conjecture of \textit{E. Witten} [in: Surveys in differential geometry. Vol. I: Proceedings of the conference on geometry and topology, held at Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA, April 27-29, 1990. Providence, RI: American Mathematical Society; Bethlehem, PA: Lehigh University. 243--310 (1991; Zbl 0757.53049)], that the intersection theory on the Deligne-Mumford moduli spaces \(M_{g,n}\) is governed by the KdV hierarchy. The conjecture was proved by \textit{M. Kontsevich} [Commun. Math. Phys. 147, No. 1, 1--23 (1992; Zbl 0756.35081)]. In this paper, a Hermitian matrix model for the total descendant potential with a simple D-type singularity is obtained. This is a generalization of the Kontsevich model. The construction is carried out by using the theory of the two-component BKP hierarchy. The resulting model provides both a solution in tau functions form of the KdV hierarchy and an extension of the Feynman diagram, which can be related to the intersection theory on moduli spaces \(M_{g,n}\).