Counting rational curves equivariantly
Time and place
12:30–1:20 PM on Thursday, September 11th, 2025; NAC 6/113
Candace Bethea (Brown University)
Abstract
This talk will be a friendly introduction to using topological invariants in enumerative geometry. I will talk about how one might use equivariant homotopy theory to answer enumerative questions under the presence of a finite group action and give examples. Finally, I will discuss recent work joint with Kirsten Wickelgren on an equivariant count of orbits of rational plane cubics through an invariant set of 8 points in general position under a finite group action on CP^2, valued in the representation ring and Burnside ring. This recovers a signed count of real rational cubics when Z/2 acts on CP^2 by complex conjugation.
