The local Gromov-Witten invariants of configurations of rational curves (Q2501680)

Let \(Z\subset X\) be a closed subvariety of a smooth Calabi-Yau threefold, and consider \(\beta\in H_2(X,\mathbb Z)\). Under suitable hypothesis, one endows the substack \(\mathcal M_g(Z,\beta)\subset\mathcal M_g(X,\beta)\) of stable curves whose image is contained in \(Z\) with a virtual fundamental class of dimension zero. The local Gromov-Witten invariant of \(Z\) corresponding to \(\beta\) is by definition the degree of this cycle. In the paper under review the authors explicitly compute the local invariants for the following configurations of rational curves in a Calabi-Yau threefold: the minimal trivalent configuration (the topological vertex), and a chain of rational curves. They prove that these local invariants are equal to certain global Gromov-Witten invariants of a blow-up of \(\mathbb P^3\) at points. The authors' main motivation arises from the results of \textit{M.~Aganagic, A.~Klemm, M.~Mariño, C.~Vafa} [Commun. Math. Phys. 254, 425--478 (2005; Zbl 1114.81076)], and \textit{J.~Li, C.-C.~M.~Liu, K.~Liu, J.~Zhou} [A Mathematical Theory of the Topological Vertex, \texttt{math.AG/0408426}], where is shown that the Gromov-Witten invariants of toric Calabi-Yau threefolds are determined by the local invariants of the topological vertex. The computations provide further evidence equating the vertex amplitudes derived from physical and mathematical theories of the topological vertex.