The enumerative geometry of $K3$ surfaces and modular forms (Q4942943)

Given a K3 surface \(X\) and a holomorphic curve \(C\) in it representing a primitive homology class, there is an invariant \(N_g(n)\) (for \(C^2/2=g+n-1\)) of the deformation class of the Kähler structure of \(X\) preserving the \((1,1)\)-type of \(C\) that counts the number of curves of geometric genus \(g\) with \(n\) nodes in \(|C|\) passing through \(g\) points of \(X\) (curves with singularities worse than nodes are in some cases counted with multiplicity). One can then consider the generating function \(F_g(q)=\sum_{n\geq 0} N_g(n) q^{g+n-1}\). In this interesting paper the authors give explicit formulas for \(F_g\) in terms of quasi-modular forms. More precisely, they prove that \(F_g(q)=(DG_2)Ig/\Delta\), where \(D\) is the logarithmic derivation with respect to \(q\), \(G_2\) is the Eisenstein series and \(\Delta\) is the discriminant. When \(g=0\) the formula proves for primitive classes a conjectural expression due to \textit{S.-T. Yau} and \textit{E. Zaslow} [Nuc. Phys. B 471, No. 3, 503-512 (1996; Zbl 0964.81521)] formerly proven by Beauville in some cases. The method developed in the paper are different from those of Yau-Zaslow and Beauville. For \(g\geq 0\) and also for primitive classes it proves some Göttsche conjectures [\textit{L. Göttsche}, Commun. Math. Phys. 196, No. 3, 523-533 (1998; Zbl 0934.14038)] (Göttsche conjectures apply to algebraic surfaces and not only to K3). The proof is based on the use of the large diffeomorphisms group of the K3 to move \(C\) to a particular class on an elliptic K3 with a section and 24 nodal fibres and to compute directly the invariants in the new situation. It also proven that for generic choices of \(X\) and the point, the invariants \(N_g(n)\) are enumerative, that is, they actually count the number of curves of geometric genus \(g\) with \(n\) nodes in \(|C|\). The authors apply their methods as well to certain rational surfaces, like the blowing-up of the projective plane at nine distinct points, obtaining the generating function also in this case.