Schubert classes in the equivariant cohomology of the Lagrangian Grassmannian (Q2381956)

Let \(V\) be a vector space of even dimension. The Lagrangian Grassmannian \(\text{LG}_n(V)\) parametrizes Lagrangian vector subspaces of a (even dimensional) vector space equipped with a bilinear symplectic form. A subspace of \(V\) is said to be Lagrangian if it coincides with its symplectic annihilator. The cohomology of \(\text{LG}_n\) is known to be freely generated by the classes of certain Schubert varieties \(X(\lambda)\), which are parametrized by sequences \(\lambda=(\lambda_1,\ldots, \lambda_n)\) of \(n\) integers such that \(n\geq \lambda_1> \ldots>\lambda_n\geq 1\). The symplectic group \(\text{Sp}(V)\) acts naturally on \(\text{LG}_n(V)\) and hence any maximal torus \(T\) does. As a consequence the Schubert varieties \(X(\lambda)\), as above, turn out to be \(T\)-invariant, reflecting the fact that the coordinate Lagrangian subspaces are \(T\)-fixed points of \(\text{LG}_n\). General standard facts about equivariant cohomology ensure that the equivariant cohomology \(H_T^*(\text{LG}_n)\) is generated by the \(T\)-equivariant classes \(\sigma(\lambda)\) of \(X(\lambda)\). The main result of this beautiful and very well written paper is the statement, and the proof, of an explicit formula for the the restriction of the classes \(\sigma(\lambda)\) to the torus fixed points of \(\text{LG}_n\). The paper is concerned with a very central topic related with many different areas of mathematics, attracting the interest of many mathematicians. The first part of the introduction takes a special care to describe the state of art of the subject, by quoting and discussing the contributions of many important authors. Section 2 collects some basic fundamental definitions, notation and facts which are needed in the rest of the paper, making the article almost self contained (at least for algebraic geometers). Furthermore, in Section 3, the author recalls the definition of Schubert varieties in the Lagrangian context. The main theorem is proven in section 6 by checking that a certain function satisfies a recurrence relation with a initial condition characterizing the factorial Schur \(Q\)-function. Section 8 is devoted to the presentation of the \(T\)-equivariant cohomology ring of the Lagrangian Grassmannian, while Section 5, together with a very useful appendix, recalls the properties of the Schur \(Q\)-functions. The paper ends with a comprehensive list of references, orienting the reader along the mazes of this beautiful part of mathematics. The paper under review, on the other hand, goes far beyond its mathematical contributions, candidating itself to be a new useful and important reference for people interested in the subject.