Changes of variables in ELSV-type formulas (Q2460995)

The topic of the paper under review is the study of the number \(h_{g;b_1,\dots,b_n}\) of non-isomorphic degree \(d\) coverings of the sphere by a genus \(g\) Riemann surface with complete ramification over \(0\), \(n\) numbered preimages of \(\infty\) with multiplicities \(b_1,\dots,b_n\), and \(2g-1+n\) simple branch points. These numbers \(h_{g;b_1,\dots,b_n}\) were first studied by \textit{I.~P.~Goulden, D.~M.~Jackson} and \textit{R.~Vakil} [Adv. Math. 198, No. 1, 43--92 (2005; Zbl 1086.14022)], where they were called one-part double Hurwitz numbers. In that paper, the numbers \(h_{g;b_1,\dots,b_n}\) were conjecturally related to intersection theory on a (not yet determined) compactification of the universal Picard variety over the moduli space of genus \(g\) smooth complex curves with \(n\) marked points. In the article under review, the authors introduce a generating function for the one-part double Hurwitz numbers, and prove that its second logarithmic derivative satisfies a certain family of bilinear differential equations (the Hirota hierarchy). This is used to prove an analogous result for the generating function of intersection numbers of pull-backs of \(\psi\) classes on the (conjectural) universal Picard variety. For the definition of these hierarchies, see sect.~3 in the paper and the references given there. These equations, together with the string and dilaton equations proved in [loc. cit.], should allow to compute all intersection numbers under consideration. In an appendix, the method of the paper are used to compute intersections of \(\psi\)-classes and one \(\lambda\)-class on the moduli space of Deligne-Mumford stable curves, extending the results of \textit{M. E.~Kazarian} and \textit{S. K.~Lando} [J. Am. Math. Soc. 20, No. 4, 1079--1089 (2007; Zbl 1155.14004)].