Advances in Algebraic Geometry Motivated by Physics

Advances in Algebraic Geometry Motivated by Physics Synopsis

Our knowledge of objects of algebraic geometry such as moduli of curves, (real) Schubert classes, fundamental groups of complements of hyperplane arrangements, toric varieties, and variation of Hodge structures, has been enhanced recently by ideas and constructions of quantum field theory, such as mirror symmetry, Gromov-Witten invariants, quantum cohomology, and gravitational descendants. These are some of the themes of this refereed collection of papers, which grew out of the special session, ""Enumerative Geometry in Physics,"" held at the AMS meeting in Lowell, MA, April 2000. This session brought together mathematicians and physicists who reported on the latest results and open questions; all the abstracts are included as an Appendix, and also included are papers by some who could not attend. The collection provides an overview of state-of-the-art tools, links that connect classical and modern problems, and the latest knowledge available.