The vertex on a strip (Q2457740)

In order to compute Gromov-Witten (also known to physicist as A-model topological string amplitudes) invariants of smooth toric Calabi-Yau threefolds, \textit{M. Aganagic, A. Klemm, M. Mariño} and \textit{C. Vafa} [Commun. Math. Phys. 254, No. 2, 425--478 (2005; Zbl 1114.81076)] introduced the ``topological vertex'' algorithm. This algorithm involves intricate summations over Young tableaux and could thus benefit from a simpler and more compact expression. In this paper, the authors study threefolds whose toric diagram triangulates a strip. They derive a set of combinatorial rules which associates to each component of the toric diagram its contribution. These rules are then used to verify Nekrasov's conjecture and to deduce the invariance under flops of topological string amplitudes.