The equivariant Gromov-Witten theory of \(\mathbb P^1\) (Q2500436)

The authors give an explicit description of the equivariant Gromov-Witten theory of \(\mathbb P^1\). Namely, they prove that the equivariant Gromov-Witten potential of \(\mathbb P^1\) satisfies the \(2\)nd Toda equation. In particular, all Gromov-Witten invariants of positive degree are determined by those of degree zero. This result also completes the proof of the GW/H-correspondence introduced in their previous article [Ann. Math. (2) 163, 517--560 (2006; Zbl 1105.14076)]. The proof is done in several steps. The key point is to prove that the generating function of the equivariant GW-invariants of \(\mathbb P^1\) equals a certain vacuum expectation value on the infinite wedge product (see Theorem 3). In order to prove Theorem 3, the authors proceed as follows: First, using the equivariant localization formula of \textit{T.~Graber} and \textit{R.~Pandharipande} [Invent. Math. 135, 487--518 (1999; Zbl 0953.14035)], they express the generating function of the degree \(d\) equivariant GW-invariants of \(\mathbb P^1\) in terms of the Hodge integrals over the moduli space \({\overline M}_{g,n}\) (see Proposition 1). Secondly, using the `ELSV-formula' obtained by \textit{T.~Ekedahl, S.~Lando, M.~Shapiro} and \textit{A.~Vainshtein} [Invent. Math. 146, 297--327 (2001; Zbl 1073.14041)], and then dealing with complex analytical issues, the authors prove that the generating series for the \(n\)-point Hodge integrals equals the vacuum expectation of a certain operator on the infinite wedge space (see Theorem 2). With the help of the formula given in Theorem 3, they establish that the Gromov-Witten potential satisfies the \(2\)nd Toda equation (see Theorem 5 and 7). The results of this article are further used by the same authors in [Invent. Math. 163, 47--108 (2006; Zbl 1140.14047)] to establish the Virasoro constraints for the relative Gromov-Witten theory of smooth target curves.