Curves on K3 surfaces and modular forms

We study the virtual geometry of the moduli spaces of curves and sheaves on K3 surfaces in primitive classes. Equivalences relating the reduced Gromov-Witten invariants of K3 surfaces to characteristic numbers of stable pairs moduli spaces are proven. As a consequence, we prove the Katz-Klemm-Vafa conjecture evaluating $\lambda_g$ integrals (in all genera) in terms of explicit modular forms. Indeed, all K3 invariants in primitive classes are shown to be governed by modular forms. The method of proof is by degeneration to elliptically fibered rational surfaces. New formulas relating reduced virtual classes on K3 surfaces to standard virtual classes after degeneration are needed for both maps and sheaves. We also prove a Gromov-Witten/Pairs correspondence for toric 3-folds. Our approach uses a result of Kiem and Li to produce reduced classes. In Appendix A, we answer a number of questions about the relationship between the Kiem-Li approach, traditional virtual cycles, and symmetric obstruction theories. The interplay between the boundary geometry of the moduli spaces of curves, K3 surfaces, and modular forms is explored in Appendix B by A. Pixton.Comment: An incorrect example in Appendix A, pointed out to us by Dominic Joyce, has been replaced by a reference to a new paper arXiv:1204.3958 containing a corrected exampl

Calabi-Yau manifolds from pairs of non-compact Calabi-Yau manifolds

Most of Calabi-Yau manifolds that have been considered by physicists are complete intersection Calabi-Yau manifolds of toric varieties or some quotients of product types. Purpose of this paper is to introduce a different and rather new kind of construction method of Calabi-Yau manifolds by pasting two non-compact Calabi-Yau manifolds. We will also in some details explain a curious and mysterious similarity with construction of some $G_2$-manifolds (also called Joyce manifolds), which are base spaces for M-theory.Comment: 10 pages. Accepted for publication in JHE

Gopakumar-Vafa invariants via vanishing cycles

In this paper, we propose an ansatz for defining Gopakumar-Vafa invariants of Calabi-Yau threefolds, using perverse sheaves of vanishing cycles. Our proposal is a modification of a recent approach of Kiem-Li, which is itself based on earlier ideas of Hosono-Saito-Takahashi. We conjecture that these invariants are equivalent to other curve-counting theories such as Gromov-Witten theory and Pandharipande-Thomas theory. Our main theorem is that, for local surfaces, our invariants agree with PT invariants for irreducible one-cycles. We also give a counter-example to the Kiem-Li conjectures, where our invariants match the predicted answer. Finally, we give examples where our invariant matches the expected answer in cases where the cycle is non-reduced, non-planar, or non-primitive.Comment: 63 pages, many improvements of the exposition following referee comments, final version to appear in Inventione