Counting lattice points in compactified moduli spaces of curves (Q658418)

This paper extends the work [Math. Res. Lett. 17, No. 3, 467--481 (2010; Zbl 1225.32023)] of the second author on counting lattice points in the moduli space of curves \(\mathcal{M}_{g,n}\) to the setting of the of the moduli space of stable curves \(\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,n}\). The techniques are combinatorial in nature, using the techniques of stable fatgraphs and dual graphs, which give natural stratifications of the space \(\mathcal{M}_{g,n}\). By recording extra information (in particular tails, edges with open ends), they are able to extend many powerful results to the setting of stable curves. In particular, they are able to (Theorem 1.6) express the lattice point count as a weighted sum of certain coefficients over a collection of graphs. Their main theorems, Theorem 1.4 and 1.5, show that the stable lattice point count is a quasi-symmetric polynomial in the squares of the coefficients, that the coefficients of this polynomial are intersection numbers of certain characteristic classes, that the constant coefficient yields the orbifold Euler characteristic of \(\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,n}\), and that this polynomial satisfies a strong recurrence relation.