A log/tropical take on Hurwitz numbers

Abstract: I will present some joint work with Hannah Markwig and Dhruv Ranganathan, in which we interpret double Hurwitz numbers as intersection numbers of the double ramification cycle with a logarithmic boundary class on the moduli space of curves. This approach removes the "need" for a branch morphism and therefore allows the generalization to related enumerative problems on moduli spaces of pluricanonical divisors - which have a natural combinatorial structure coming from their tropical interpretation. I will discuss some generalizations springing out from this approach that are currently being pursued in joint work with Hannah Markwig and Johannes Schmitt.

algebraic geometry

Audience: researchers in the topic

Stanford algebraic geometry seminar

Series comments: The seminar was online for a significant period of time, but for now is solely in person. More seminar information (including slides and videos, when available): agstanford.com