The quantum cohomology of flag varieties and the periodicity of the Schubert structure constants (Q2655163)

Consider \(F(k_{\bullet}, n)\), the partial flag variety of subspaces of \(\mathbb C^n\) of fixed dimensions \(k_1<k_2<\ldots<k_r\). The paper under review studies the three-point GW invariants of \(F(k_{\bullet}, n)\). Several questions about these invariants are considered. First, the author gives conditions on a curve class that guarantee the vanishing of the three point genus 0 GW invariants in that curve class. Secondly, to compute the non-zero three point invariants, the author is led to the study of the evaluation morphism at the three markings \[ \mathrm{ev}_1\times \mathrm{ev}_2\times \mathrm{ev}_3:\overline M_{0, 3}(F(k_{\bullet}, n), d_{\bullet})\to F(k_{\bullet}, n)\times F(k_{\bullet}, n)\times F(k_{\bullet}, n). \] This morphism is shown to be birational onto its image under certain assumptions on the curve class. Furthermore, when the evaluation morphism is birational onto its image, it is shown that, in a large number of cases, the 3-point invariants equal certain intersections of three Schubert cycles in a different flag variety. (See also [\textit{A. S. Buch, A. Kresch, H. Tamvakis}, J. Am. Math. Soc. 16, No. 4, 901--915 (2003; Zbl 1063.53090)]) for an analysis in the case of Grassmannians). Finally, this correspondence leads to certain periodicity properties of the Schubert structure constants for the ordinary cohomology of partial flag varieties.