Holomorphic Anomaly Equations Research Articles

Resurgent Structure of the Topological String and the First Painlevé Equation

We present an explicit formula for the Stokes automorphism acting on the topological string partition function. When written in terms of the dual partition function, our formula implies that flat coordinates in topological string theory transform as quantum periods, and according to the Delabaere-Dillinger-Pham formula. We first show how the formula follows from the non-linear Stokes phenomenon of the Painlevé I equation, together with the connection between its $\tau$-function and topological strings on elliptic curves. Then, we show that this formula is also a consequence of a recent conjecture on the resurgent structure of the topological string, based on the holomorphic anomaly equations, and it is in fact valid for arbitrary Calabi-Yau threefolds.

Non-perturbative topological string theory on compact Calabi-Yau 3-folds

We obtain analytic and numerical results for the non-perturbative amplitudes of topological string theory on arbitrary, compact Calabi-Yau manifolds. Our approach is based on the theory of resurgence and extends previous special results to the more general case. In particular, we obtain explicit trans-series solutions of the holomorphic anomaly equations. Our results predict the all orders, large genus asymptotics of the topological string free energies, which we test in detail against high genus perturbative series obtained recently in the compact case. We also provide additional evidence that the Stokes constants appearing in the resurgent structure are closely related to integer BPS invariants.

On the resurgent structure of quantum periods

Quantum periods appear in many contexts, from quantum mechanics to local mirror symmetry. They can be described in terms of topological string free energies and Wilson loops, in the so-called Nekrasov-Shatashvili limit. We consider the trans-series extension of the holomorphic anomaly equations satisfied by these quantities, and we obtain exact multi-instanton solutions for these trans-series. Building on this result, we propose a unified perspective on the resurgent structure of quantum periods. We show for example that the Delabaere-Pham formula, which was originally obtained in quantum mechanical examples, is a generic feature of quantum periods. We illustrate our general results with explicit calculations for the double-well in quantum mechanics, and for the quantum mirror curve of local \mathbb{P}^2ℙ2.

Regularized Integrals on Elliptic Curves and Holomorphic Anomaly Equations

We derive residue formulas for the regularized integrals (introduced by Li and Zhou in Commun Math Phys 388:1403–1474, 2021) on configuration spaces of elliptic curves. Based on these formulas, we prove that the regularized integrals satisfy holomorphic anomaly equations, providing a mathematical formulation of the so-called contact term singularities. We also discuss residue formulas for the ordered A-cycle integrals and establish their relations with those for the regularized integrals.

Holomorphic anomalies, fourfolds and fluxes

We investigate holomorphic anomalies of partition functions underlying string compactifications on Calabi-Yau fourfolds with background fluxes. For elliptic fourfolds the partition functions have an alternative interpretation as elliptic genera of N = 1 supersymmetric string theories in four dimensions, or as generating functions for relative, genus zero Gromov-Witten invariants of fourfolds with fluxes. We derive the holomorphic anomaly equations by starting from the BCOV formalism of topological strings, and translating them into geometrical terms. The result can be recast into modular and elliptic anomaly equations. As a new feature, as compared to threefolds, we find an extra contribution which is given by a gravitational descendant invariant. This leads to linear terms in the anomaly equations, which support an algebra of derivatives mapping between partition functions of the various flux sectors. These geometric features are mirrored by certain properties of quasi-Jacobi forms. We also offer an interpretation of the physics from the viewpoint of the worldsheet theory, and comment on holomorphic anomalies at genus one.

Towards refining the topological strings on compact Calabi-Yau 3-folds

We make a proposal for calculating refined Gopakumar-Vafa numbers (GVN) on elliptically fibered Calabi-Yau 3-folds based on refined holomorphic anomaly equations. The key examples are smooth elliptic fibrations over (almost) Fano surfaces. We include a detailed review of existing mathematical methods towards defining and calculating the (unrefined) Gopakumar-Vafa invariants (GVI) and the GVNs on compact Calabi-Yau 3-folds using moduli of stable sheaves, in a language that should be accessible to physicists. In particular, we discuss the dependence of the GVNs on the complex structure moduli and on the choice of an orientation. We calculate the GVNs in many instances and compare the B-model predictions with the geometric calculations. We also derive the modular anomaly equations from the holomorphic anomaly equations by analyzing the quasi-modular properties of the propagators. We speculate about the physical relevance of the mathematical choices that can be made for the orientation.

Holomorphic anomaly equation for and the Nekrasov-Shatashvili limit of local

AbstractWe prove a higher genus version of the genus$0$local-relative correspondence of van Garrel-Graber-Ruddat: for$(X,D)$a pair withXa smooth projective variety andDa nef smooth divisor, maximal contact Gromov-Witten theory of$(X,D)$with$\lambda _g$-insertion is related to Gromov-Witten theory of the total space of${\mathcal O}_X(-D)$and local Gromov-Witten theory ofD.Specializing to$(X,D)=(S,E)$forSa del Pezzo surface or a rational elliptic surface andEa smooth anticanonical divisor, we show that maximal contact Gromov-Witten theory of$(S,E)$is determined by the Gromov-Witten theory of the Calabi-Yau 3-fold${\mathcal O}_S(-E)$and the stationary Gromov-Witten theory of the elliptic curveE.Specializing further to$S={\mathbb P}^2$, we prove that higher genus generating series of maximal contact Gromov-Witten invariants of$({\mathbb P}^2,E)$are quasimodular and satisfy a holomorphic anomaly equation. The proof combines the quasimodularity results and the holomorphic anomaly equations previously known for local${\mathbb P}^2$and the elliptic curve.Furthermore, using the connection between maximal contact Gromov-Witten invariants of$({\mathbb P}^2,E)$and Betti numbers of moduli spaces of semistable one-dimensional sheaves on${\mathbb P}^2$, we obtain a proof of the quasimodularity and holomorphic anomaly equation predicted in the physics literature for the refined topological string free energy of local${\mathbb P}^2$in the Nekrasov-Shatashvili limit.

Gromov–Witten theory of elliptic fibrations : Jacobi forms and holomorphic anomaly equations

We conjecture that the relative Gromov-Witten potentials of elliptic fibrations are (cycle-valued) lattice quasi-Jacobi forms and satisfy a holomorphic anomaly equation. We prove the conjecture for the rational elliptic surface in all genera and curve classes numerically. The generating series are quasi-Jacobi forms for the lattice $E_8$. We also show the compatibility of the conjecture with the degeneration formula. As Corollary we deduce that the Gromov-Witten potentials of the Schoen Calabi-Yau threefold (relative to $\mathbb{P}^1$) are $E_8 \times E_8$ quasi-bi-Jacobi forms and satisfy a holomorphic anomaly equation. This yields a partial verification of the BCOV holomorphic anomaly equation for Calabi-Yau threefolds. For abelian surfaces the holomorphic anomaly equation is proven numerically in primitive classes. The theory of lattice quasi-Jacobi forms is reviewed. In the Appendix the conjectural holomorphic anomaly equation is expressed as a matrix action on the space of (generalized) cohomological field theories. The compatibility of the matrix action with the Jacobi Lie algebra is proven. Holomorphic anomaly equations for K3 fibrations are discussed in an example.

Crepant resolution and the holomorphic anomaly equation for [C3/Z3

We study the orbifold Gromov–Witten theory of the quotient [ C 3 / Z 3 ] in all genera. Our first result is a proof of the holomorphic anomaly equations in the precise form predicted by B-model physics. Our second result is an exact crepant resolution correspondence relating the Gromov–Witten theories of [ C 3 / Z 3 ] and local P 2 . The proof of the correspondence requires an identity proven in the Appendix by T. Coates and H. Iritani.

Holomorphic Anomaly Equations for the Formal Quintic

We define a formal Gromov–Witten theory of the quintic threefold via localization on $${\mathbb {P}}^4$$ . Our main result is a direct geometric proof of holomorphic anomaly equations for the formal quintic in precisely the same form as predicted by B-model physics for the true Gromov–Witten theory of the quintic threefold. The results suggest that the formal quintic and the true quintic theories should be related by transformations which respect the holomorphic anomaly equations. Such a relationship has been recently found by Q. Chen, S. Guo, F. Janda, and Y. Ruan via the geometry of new moduli spaces.

A Fock sheaf for Givental quantization

We give a global, intrinsic, and co-ordinate-free quantization formalism for Gromov-Witten invariants and their B-model counterparts, which simultaneously generalizes the quantization formalisms described by Witten, Givental, and Aganagic-Bouchard-Klemm. Descendant potentials live in a Fock sheaf, consisting of local functions on Givental's Lagrangian cone that satisfy the (3g-2)-jet condition of Eguchi-Xiong; they also satisfy a certain anomaly equation, which generalizes the Holomorphic Anomaly Equation of Bershadsky-Cecotti-Ooguri-Vafa. We interpret Givental's formula for the higher-genus potentials associated to a semisimple Frobenius manifold in this setting, showing that, in the semisimple case, there is a canonical global section of the Fock sheaf. This canonical section automatically has certain modularity properties. When X is a variety with semisimple quantum cohomology, a theorem of Teleman implies that the canonical section coincides with the geometric descendant potential defined by Gromov-Witten invariants of X. We use our formalism to prove a higher-genus version of Ruan's Crepant Transformation Conjecture for compact toric orbifolds. When combined with our earlier joint work with Jiang, this shows that the total descendant potential for compact toric orbifold X is a modular function for a certain group of autoequivalences of the derived category of X.

Stable quotients and the holomorphic anomaly equation

We study the fundamental relationship between stable quotient invariants and the B-model for local P2 in all genera. Our main result is a direct geometric proof of the holomorphic anomaly equation in the precise form predicted by B-model physics. The method yields new holomorphic anomaly equations for an infinite class of twisted theories on projective spaces.An example of such a twisted theory is the formal quintic defined by a hyperplane section of P4 in all genera via the Euler class of a complex. The formal quintic theory is found to satisfy the holomorphic anomaly equations conjectured for the true quintic theory. Therefore, the formal quintic theory and the true quintic theory should be related by transformations which respect the holomorphic anomaly equations.

Holomorphic anomaly equations and the Igusa cusp form conjecture

Let S be a K3 surface and let E be an elliptic curve. We solve the reduced Gromov–Witten theory of the Calabi–Yau threefold $$S \times E$$ for all curve classes which are primitive in the K3 factor. In particular, we deduce the Igusa cusp form conjecture. The proof relies on new results in the Gromov–Witten theory of elliptic curves and K3 surfaces. We show the generating series of Gromov–Witten classes of an elliptic curve are cycle-valued quasimodular forms and satisfy a holomorphic anomaly equation. The quasimodularity generalizes a result by Okounkov and Pandharipande, and the holomorphic anomaly equation proves a conjecture of Milanov, Ruan and Shen. We further conjecture quasimodularity and holomorphic anomaly equations for the cycle-valued Gromov–Witten theory of every elliptic fibration with section. The conjecture generalizes the holomorphic anomaly equations for elliptic Calabi–Yau threefolds predicted by Bershadsky, Cecotti, Ooguri, and Vafa. We show a modified conjecture holds numerically for the reduced Gromov–Witten theory of K3 surfaces in primitive classes.

Airy Equation for the Topological String Partition Function in a Scaling Limit

We use the polynomial formulation of the holomorphic anomaly equations governing perturbative topological string theory to derive the free energies in a scaling limit to all orders in perturbation theory for any Calabi-Yau threefold. The partition function in this limit satisfies an Airy differential equation in a rescaled topological string coupling. One of the two solutions of this equation gives the perturbative expansion and the other solution provides geometric hints of the non-perturbative structure of topological string theory. Both solutions can be expanded naturally around strong coupling.

On direct integration for mirror curves of genus two and an almost meromorphic Siegel modular form

This work considers aspects of almost holomorphic and meromorphic Siegel modular forms from the perspective of physics and mathematics. The first part is concerned with (refined) topological string theory and the direct integration of the holomorphic anomaly equations. Here, a central object to compute higher genus amplitudes, which serve as the generating functions of various enumerative invariants, is provided by the so-called propagator. We derive a universal expression for the propagator for geometries that have mirror curves of genus two which is given by the derivative of the logarithm of Igusa's cusp form of weight 10. In addition, we illustrate our findings by solving the refined topological string on the resolutions of the three toric orbifolds of order three, five and six. In the second part, we give explicit expressions for lowering and raising operators on Siegel modular forms, and define almost holomorphic Siegel modular forms based on them. Extending the theory of Fourier-Jacobi expansions to almost holomorphic Siegel modular forms and building up on recent work by Pitale, Saha, and Schmidt, we can show that there is no analogue of the almost holomorphic elliptic second Eisenstein series. In the case of genus 2, we provide an almost meromorphic substitute for it. This, in particular, leads us to a generalization of Ramanujan's differential equation for the second Eisenstein series. The two parts are intertwined by the observation that the meromorphic analogue of the almost holomorphic second Eisenstein series coincides with the physical propagator. In addition, the generalized Ramanujan identities match precisely the physical consistency conditions that need to be imposed on the propagator.

Resurgent Transseries and the Holomorphic Anomaly: Nonperturbative Closed Strings in Local $${\mathbb{C}\mathbb{P}^2}$$ C P 2

The holomorphic anomaly equations describe B-model closed topological strings in Calabi–Yau geometries. Having been used to construct perturbative expansions, it was recently shown that they can also be extended past perturbation theory by making use of resurgent transseries. These yield formal nonperturbative solutions, showing integrability of the holomorphic anomaly equations at the nonperturbative level. This paper takes such constructions one step further by working out in great detail the specific example of topological strings in the mirror of the local $${\mathbb{C}\mathbb{P}^2}$$ toric Calabi–Yau background, and by addressing the associated (resurgent) large-order analysis of both perturbative and multi-instanton sectors. In particular, analyzing the asymptotic growth of the perturbative free energies, one finds contributions from three different instanton actions related by $${\mathbb{Z}_3}$$ symmetry, alongside another action related to the Kähler parameter. Resurgent transseries methods then compute, from the extended holomorphic anomaly equations, higher instanton sectors and it is shown that these precisely control the asymptotic behavior of the perturbative free energies, as dictated by resurgence. The asymptotic large-order growth of the one-instanton sector unveils the presence of resonance, i.e., each instanton action is necessarily joined by its symmetric contribution. The structure of different resurgence relations is extensively checked at the numerical level, both in the holomorphic limit and in the general nonholomorphic case, always showing excellent agreement with transseries data computed out of the nonperturbative holomorphic anomaly equations. The resurgence relations further imply that the string free energy displays an intricate multi-branched Borel structure, and that resonance must be properly taken into account in order to describe the full transseries solution.

Resurgent Transseries and the Holomorphic Anomaly

The gauge theoretic large N expansion yields an asymptotic series which requires a nonperturbative completion to be well defined. Recently, within the context of random matrix models, it was shown how to build resurgent transseries solutions encoding the full nonperturbative information beyond the ’t Hooft genus expansion. On the other hand, via large N duality, random matrix models may be holographically described by B-model closed topological strings in local Calabi–Yau geometries. This raises the question of constructing the corresponding holographically dual resurgent transseries, tantamount to nonperturbative topological string theory. This paper addresses this point by showing how to construct resurgent transseries solutions to the holomorphic anomaly equations. These solutions are built upon (generalized) multi-instanton sectors, where the instanton actions are holomorphic. The asymptotic expansions around the multi-instanton sectors have both holomorphic and anti-holomorphic dependence, may allow for resonance, and their structure is completely fixed by the holomorphic anomaly equations in terms of specific polynomials multiplied by exponential factors and up to the holomorphic ambiguities—which generalizes the known perturbative structure to the full transseries. In particular, the anti-holomorphic dependence has a somewhat universal character. Furthermore, in the non-perturbative sectors, holomorphic ambiguities may be fixed at conifold points. This construction shows the nonperturbative integrability of the holomorphic anomaly equations and sets the ground to start addressing large-order analysis and resurgent nonperturbative completions within closed topological string theory.

On gauge theory and topological string in Nekrasov-Shatashvili limit

We study the Nekrasov-Shatashvili limit of the \( \mathcal{N} \) = 2 supersymmetric gauge theory and topological string theory on certain local toric Calabi-Yau manifolds. In this limit one of the two deformation parameters ϵ1,2 of the Ω background is set to zero and we study the perturbative expansion of the topological amplitudes around the remaining parameter. We derive differential equations from Seiberg-Witten curves and mirror geometries, which determine the higher genus topological amplitudes up to a constant. We show that the higher genus formulae previously obtained from holomorphic anomaly equations and boundary conditions satisfy these differential equations. We also provide a derivation of the holomorphic anomaly equations in the Nekrasov-Shatashvili limit from these differential equations.

Direct integration for general Ω backgrounds

We extend the direct integration method of the holomorphic anomaly equations to general Ω backgrounds ǫ1 6= −ǫ2 for pure SU(2) N=2 Super-Yang-Mills theory and topological string theory on non-compact Calabi-Yau threefolds. We find that an extension of the holomorphic anomaly equation, modularity and boundary conditions provided by the perturbative terms as well as by the gap condition at the conifold are sufficient to solve the generalized theory in the above cases. In particular we use the method to solve the topological string for the general Ω backgrounds on non-compact toric Calabi-Yau spaces. The conifold boundary condition follows from that the N=2 Schwinger-Loop calculation with BPS states coupled to a self-dual and an anti-self-dual field strength. We calculate such BPS states also for the decompactification limit of Calabi-Yau spaces with regular K3 fibrations and half K3s embedded in Calabi-Yau backgrounds. minxin.huang@ipmu.jp aklemm@th.physik.uni-bonn.de

Solving the topological string on K3 fibrations

We present solutions of the holomorphic anomaly equations for compact two-parameter Calabi-Yau manifolds which are hypersurfaces in weighted projective space. In particular we focus on K3-fibrations where due to heterotic type II duality the topological invariants in the fibre direction are encoded in certain modular forms. The formalism employed provides holomorphic expansions of topological string amplitudes everywhere in moduli space.