Reality and transversality for Schubert calculus in OG\((n, 2n+1)\) (Q2275753)

In 2009 \textit{E. Mukhin, V. Tarasov} and \textit{A. Varchenko} proved the Shapiro-Shapiro conjecture [Ann. Math. (2) 170, No. 2, 863--881 (2009; Zbl 1213.14101)], [J. Am. Math. Soc. 22, No. 4, 909--940 (2009; Zbl 1205.17026)]. Their theorem asserts that, given distinct real points \(a_1, \dots, a_s\) of the real projective line \(\mathbb R\mathbb P^1\), and given partitions \(\lambda_1, \dots,\lambda_s\) with appropriate \(|\lambda_1 |+\dots +|\lambda_s|\), then in the Grassmannian \(Gr(d,\mathbb C_{m-1}[z])\) the intersection of Schubert cycles \(X_{\lambda_1}(a_1)\cap\dots\cap X_{\lambda_s}(a_s)\) is finite, transverse and real. Here \(X_{\lambda_i}(a_i)\) denotes the Schubert variety corresponding to the partition \(\lambda_i\) and to the osculating flag to the rational normal curve. In the article under review, a similar theorem is proved for the orthogonal Grassmannian \(OG(n,\mathbb C_{2n}[z])\), where the vector space \(\mathbb C_{2n}[z]\) is endowed with the symmetric bilinear form defined by \[ \langle\sum_{k=0}^{2n}a_k\frac{z^k}{k!},\sum_{l=0}^{2n}b_l\frac{z^l}{l!}\rangle=\sum_{m=0}^{2n}(-1)^ma_mb_{2n-m}. \] A few consequences are listed about the Wronski map and the Littlewood-Richardson rule for the orthogonal Grassmannian \(OG(n,2n+1)\).