Gopakumar–Vafa invariant
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theoretical physics Theoretical physics is a branch of physics that employs mathematical models and abstractions of physical objects and systems to rationalize, explain and predict natural phenomena. This is in contrast to experimental physics, which uses experim ...
, Rajesh Gopakumar and
Cumrun Vafa Cumrun Vafa ( fa, کامران وفا ; born 1 August 1960) is an Iranian-American theoretical physicist and the Hollis Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy at Harvard University. Early life and education Cumrun Vafa was born in Tehra ...
introduced in a series of papers new topological invariants, called Gopakumar–Vafa invariants, that represent the number of
BPS state BPS, Bps or bps may refer to: Science and mathematics *Plural of bp, base pair, a measure of length of DNA *Plural of bp, basis point, one one-hundredth of a percentage point - ‱ *Battered person syndrome, a physical and psychological condition ...
s on a Calabi–Yau 3-fold. They lead to the following generating function for the
Gromov–Witten invariant In mathematics, specifically in symplectic topology and algebraic geometry, Gromov–Witten (GW) invariants are rational numbers that, in certain situations, count pseudoholomorphic curves meeting prescribed conditions in a given symplectic man ...
s on a Calabi–Yau 3-fold ''M'': :\sum_^\infty~\sum_ \text(g,\beta)q^\lambda^=\sum_^\infty~\sum_^\infty~\sum_\text(g,\beta)\frac\left(2\sin\left(\frac\right)\right)^q^ , where * \beta is the class of
pseudoholomorphic curve In mathematics, specifically in topology and geometry, a pseudoholomorphic curve (or ''J''-holomorphic curve) is a smooth map from a Riemann surface into an almost complex manifold that satisfies the Cauchy–Riemann equations, Cauchy–Riemann equa ...
s with
genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...
''g'', * \lambda is the topological string coupling, * q^\beta=\exp(2\pi i t_\beta) with t_\beta the Kähler parameter of the curve class \beta, * \text(g,\beta) are the Gromov–Witten invariants of curve class \beta at genus g, * \text(g,\beta) are the number of BPS states (the Gopakumar–Vafa invariants) of curve class \beta at genus g.


As a partition function in topological quantum field theory

Gopakumar–Vafa invariants can be viewed as a partition function in
topological quantum field theory In gauge theory and mathematical physics, a topological quantum field theory (or topological field theory or TQFT) is a quantum field theory which computes topological invariants. Although TQFTs were invented by physicists, they are also of mathe ...
. They are proposed to be the partition function in Gopakumar–Vafa form: :Z_=\exp\left sum_^\infty~\sum_^\infty~\sum_\text(g,\beta)\frac\left(2\sin\left(\frac\right)\right)^q^\right .


Notes


References

* * * * * Quantum field theory Algebraic geometry String theory {{quantum-stub