Kontsevich's formula and the WDVV equations in tropical geometry (Q2463523)

\textit{M. Kontsevich}'s formula [Commun. Math. Phys. 164, 525--562 (1994; Zbl 0853.14020)] enables us to compute in a recursive way the number \(N_d\) of rational curves in the complex projective plane \(\mathbb{P} ^2\) passing through \(3d-1\) given points in general position. The associativity equation of quantum cohomology (the WDVV equations) is the main tool in deriving this formula. The authors establish the same results in tropical geometry. They construct the moduli space \(\mathcal{M}_n\) of all \(n\)-marked tropical curves with exactly \(n\) unbounded edges, and in a similar way, the moduli space \(\mathcal{M}_{d,\, n}\) of \(n\)-marked tropical curves of degree \(d\) which are pure-dimensional finite polyhedral complexes. After this construction they define the evaluation, the so-called ``forgetful'' maps, and a morphism \(\pi\) between \(\mathcal{M}_{d,\, n}\) and \(\mathbb{R}^{2n-2}\times\mathcal{M}_4\) (\(n=3d\)) which is a kind of an evaluation map on the first component of the target space and the forgetful map on the second one. They define also the notions of multiplicity and degree of a morphism between polyhedral complexes which agree with the definition given by [\textit{G. Mikhalkin}, Proc. ICM, Madrid, Spain, August 22--30, 2006. Volume II: Invited lectures. 827--852 (2006; Zbl 1103.14034) and J. Am. Math. Soc. 18, 313--377 (2005; Zbl 1092.14068)] when applied to the evaluation maps. One of the results of the paper tell us that the degree of \(\pi\) do not depend on the configuration of the \(n\)-marked points as long as they are in \(\pi\)-general position. Using geometric, combinatorial and tropical deformation tools, the authors give a beautiful proof of the main theorem of this paper the so-called now ``Kontsevich's tropical formula''.