Open r-spin theory III: A prediction for higher genus

Abstract

In our previous two papers, we constructed an r-spin theory in genus zero for Riemann surfaces with boundary and fully determined the corresponding intersection numbers, providing an analogue of Witten's r-spin conjecture in genus zero in the open setting. In particular, we proved that the generating series of open r-spin intersection numbers is determined by the genus-zero part of a special solution of a certain extension of the Gelfand–Dickey hierarchy, and we conjectured that the whole solution controls the open r-spin intersection numbers in all genera, which do not yet have a geometric definition. In this paper, we provide geometric and algebraic evidence for the correctness of this conjecture.