Arithmetic geometry of quantum connections on Calabi-Yau $3$-folds

Abstract

Fix a prime $p > 3$. Working over $\mathbb{Z}_p$, we show that the quantum connection of any closed Calabi-Yau threefold gives rise to a Fontaine-Laffaile module when restricted to the even degree and torsion-free part of $p$-adic quantum cohomology, whose associated Frobenius endomorphism has leading order term prescribed by the $p$-adic Gamma class. After reducing mod $p$, the divided Frobenius endomorphism defines an analogue of the inverse Cartier operator on mod $p$ quantum cohomology. We establish an $A$-model analogue of a classical result due to Katz: the conjugation of the $p$-curvature of the mod $p$ quantum connection by the inverse Cartier operator is equal to the Frobenius pullback of the quantum product, the $A$-model counterpart of the Kodaira-Spencer class. Moreover, we identify the quantum Steenrod operation with the $p$-curvature of the mod $p$ quantum connection in this setting for any prime $p$. We propose several conjectures concerning how these arithmetic structures may extend to quantum connections on more general semi-positive symplectic manifolds.