arXiv subjects

Dominic Joyce

Publications and source records attributed to Dominic Joyce.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

B-complex manifolds with generalized corners. I. Newlander-Nirenberg Theorems

We generalize complex manifolds to manifolds with corners $X$, and to manifolds with generalized corners (g-corners) in the sense of the second author arXiv:1501.00401, using complex structures on the b-tangent bundle (log tangent bundle) ${}^bTX$. We prove a formal Newlander-Nirenberg type theorem showing that along each corner stratum of $X$, the b-complex structure agrees with a standard model to infinite order. In the sequel we show that if $S$ is a log smooth log $\mathbb C$-scheme, or log smooth log complex analytic space, then the Kato-Nakayama space $S^{\rm KN}$ has the structure of a b-complex manifold with g-corners. Using our Newlander-Nirenberg theorem we give necessary and sufficient conditions for a b-complex manifold with g-corners to be a Kato-Nakayama space.

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arXiv2026

The Pandharipande-Thomas rationality conjecture for superpositive curve classes on projective complex 3-manifolds

Let $X$ be a projective complex 3-manifold. An effective curve class $\beta\in H_2(X,\mathbb Z)$ is called positive if $c_1(X)\cdot\beta>0$, and superpositive if all the effective summands of $\beta$ are positive. If $X$ is Fano then all curve classes are superpositive. In arXiv:2111.04694 the second author developed a theory of enumerative invariants in abelian categories and wall-crossing formulae. We use this theory to prove conjectures by Pandharipande and Thomas on the rationality and poles of generating functions of Pandharipande-Thomas invariants of $X$ with descendent insertions, for superpositive curve classes.

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arXiv2025

Stratified manifolds with corners

We define categories of stratified manifolds (s-manifolds) and stratified manifolds with corners (s-manifolds with corners). An s-manifold $\bf X$ of dimension $n$ is a Hausdorff, locally compact topological space $X$ with a stratification $X=\coprod_{i\in I}X^i$ into locally closed subsets $X^i$ which are smooth manifolds of dimension $\le n$, satisfying some conditions. S-manifolds can be very singular, but still share many good properties with ordinary manifolds, e.g. an oriented s-manifold $\bf X$ has a fundamental class $[\bf X]_{\rm fund}$ in Steenrod homology $H_n^{St}(X,\mathbb Z)$, and transverse fibre products exist in the category of s-manifolds. S-manifolds are designed for applications in Symplectic Geometry. In future work we hope to show that after suitable perturbations, the moduli spaces $\mathcal M$ of $J$-holomorphic curves used to define Gromov-Witten invariants, Lagrangian Floer cohomology, Fukaya categories, and so on, can be made into s-manifolds or s-manifolds with corners, and their fundamental classes used to define Gromov-Witten invariants, Lagrangian Floer cohomology, ....

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arXiv2025

Bordism categories and orientations of moduli spaces

To define enumerative invariants in geometry, one often needs orientations on moduli spaces of geometric objects. This monograph develops a new bordism-theoretic point of view on orientations of moduli spaces. Let $X$ be a manifold with geometric structure, and $\cal M$ a moduli space of geometric objects on $X$. Our theory aims to answer the questions: (i) Can we prove $\cal M$ is orientable for all $X,\cal M$? (ii) If not, can we give computable sufficient conditions on $X$ that guarantee $\cal M$ is orientable? (iii) Can we specify extra data on $X$ which allow us to construct a canonical orientation on $\cal M$? We define 'bordism categories', such as $Bord_n^{Spin}(BG)$ with objects $(X,P)$ for $X$ a compact spin $n$-manifold and $P\to X$ a principal $G$-bundle, for $G$ a Lie group. Bordism categories can be understood by computing bordism groups of classifying spaces using Algebraic Topology. Orientation problems are encoded in functors from a bordism category to ${\mathbb Z}_2$-torsors. We apply our theory to study orientability and canonical orientations for moduli spaces of $G_2$-instantons and associative 3-folds in $G_2$-manifolds, for moduli spaces of Spin(7)-instantons and Cayley 4-folds in Spin(7)-manifolds, and for moduli spaces of coherent sheaves on Calabi-Yau 4-folds. The latter are needed to define Donaldson-Thomas type invariants of Calabi-Yau 4-folds. In many cases we prove orientability of $\cal M$, and show canonical orientations can be defined using a 'flag structure'.

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arXiv2023

Bordism categories and orientations of gauge theory moduli spaces

This is the second paper of a series that develops a bordism-theoretic point of view on orientations in enumerative geometry. The first paper is arXiv:2312.06818. This paper focuses on those applications to gauge theory that can be established purely using formal arguments and calculations from algebraic topology. We prove that the orientability of moduli spaces of connections in gauge theory for all principal $G$-bundles $P\to X$ over compact spin $n$-manifolds at once is equivalent to the vanishing of a certain morphism $\Omega_n^{\rm Spin}(\mathcal L BG)\to{\mathbb Z}_2$ on the $n$-dimensional spin bordism group of the free loop space of the classifying space of $G,$ and we give a complete list of all compact, connected Lie groups $G$ for which this holds. Moreover, we apply bordism techniques to prove that mod-$8$ Floer gradings exist for moduli spaces of $G_2$-instantons for all principal SU(2)-bundles. We also prove that there are canonical orientations for all principal U$(m)$-bundles $P\to X$ over compact spin $8$-manifolds satisfying $c_2(P)-c_1(P)^2=0.$ The proof is based on an interesting relationship to principal $E_8$-bundles. These canonical orientations play an important role in many conjectures about Donaldson-Thomas type invariants on Calabi-Yau $4$-folds, and resolve an apparent paradox in these conjectures.

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arXiv2021

Enumerative invariants and wall-crossing formulae in abelian categories

Enumerative invariants in Algebraic Geometry 'count' $\tau$-(semi)stable objects $E$ with fixed topological invariants $[E]=a$ in some geometric problem, using a virtual class $[{\cal M}_a^{\rm ss}(\tau)]_{\rm virt}$ in homology, for the moduli spaces ${\cal M}_a^{\rm st}(\tau)\subseteq{\cal M}_a^{\rm ss}(\tau)$ of $\tau$-(semi)stable objects. We get numbers by taking integrals $\int_{[{\cal M}_a^{\rm ss}(\tau)]_{\rm virt}}\Upsilon$ for cohomology classes $\Upsilon$. Let $\cal A$ be a $\mathbb C$-linear abelian category in Algebraic Geometry. There are two moduli stacks of objects in $\cal A$: the usual moduli stack $\cal M$, and the 'projective linear' moduli stack $\cal M^{\rm pl}$. We give $H_*({\cal M})$ the structure of a vertex algebra, and $H_*({\cal M}^{\rm pl})$ a Lie algebra. Virtual classes $[{\cal M}_a^{\rm ss}(\tau)]_{\rm virt}$ lie in $H_*({\cal M}^{\rm pl})$. We develop a universal theory of enumerative invariants in such $\mathcal A$. Virtual classes $[{\cal M}_a^{\rm ss}(\tau)]_{\rm virt}$ are only defined when ${\cal M}_a^{\rm st}(\tau)={\cal M}_a^{\rm ss}(\tau)$. We define invariants $[{\cal M}_a^{\rm ss}(\tau)]_{\rm inv}$ in $H_*({\cal M}^{\rm pl})$ for all $a$, with $[{\cal M}_a^{\rm ss}(\tau)]_{\rm inv}=[{\cal M}_a^{\rm ss}(\tau)]_{\rm virt}$ when ${\cal M}_a^{\rm st}(\tau)={\cal M}_a^{\rm ss}(\tau)$. If $\tau,\tau'$ are stability conditions on $\cal A$, we prove a wall-crossing formula writing $[{\cal M}_a^{\rm ss}(\tau')]_{\rm inv}$ in terms of the $[{\cal M}_b^{\rm ss}(\tau)]_{\rm inv}$, using the Lie bracket on $H_*({\cal M}^{\rm pl})$. We apply our results for $\cal A$ the representations of a quiver or quiver with relations, or coh$(X)$ for $X$ a curve, surface or Fano 3-fold, or a category of 'pairs' in coh$(X)$ for $X$ a curve or surface. This proves conjectures in Gross-Joyce-Tanaka arXiv:2005.05637.

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arXiv2020

Universal structures in $\mathbb C$-linear enumerative invariant theories

An enumerative invariant theory in Algebraic Geometry, Differential Geometry, or Representation Theory, is the study of invariants which 'count' $\tau$-(semi)stable objects $E$ with fixed topological invariants $[E]=\alpha$ in some geometric problem, using a virtual class $[{\cal M}_\alpha^{\rm ss}(\tau)]_{\rm virt}$ in some homology theory for the moduli spaces ${\cal M}_\alpha^{\rm st}(\tau)\subseteq{\cal M}_\alpha^{\rm ss}(\tau)$ of $\tau$-(semi)stable objects. Examples include Mochizuki's invariants counting coherent sheaves on surfaces, Donaldson-Thomas type invariants counting coherent sheaves on Calabi-Yau 3- and 4-folds and Fano 3-folds, and Donaldson invariants of 4-manifolds. We make conjectures on new universal structures common to many enumerative invariant theories. Such theories have two moduli spaces ${\cal M},{\cal M}^{\rm pl}$, where the second author gives $H_*({\cal M})$ the structure of a graded vertex algebra, and $H_*({\cal M}^{\rm pl})$ a graded Lie algebra, closely related to $H_*({\cal M})$. The virtual classes $[{\cal M}_\alpha^{\rm ss}(\tau)]_{\rm virt}$ take values in $H_*({\cal M}^{\rm pl})$. Defining $[{\cal M}_\alpha^{\rm ss}(\tau)]_{\rm virt}$ when ${\cal M}_\alpha^{\rm st}(\tau)\ne{\cal M}_\alpha^{\rm ss}(\tau)$ (in gauge theory, when the moduli space contains reducibles) is a difficult problem. We conjecture that there is a natural way to define $[{\cal M}_\alpha^{\rm ss}(\tau)]_{\rm virt}$ in homology over $\mathbb Q$, and that the resulting classes satisfy a universal wall-crossing formula under change of stability condition $\tau$, written using the Lie bracket on $H_*({\cal M}^{\rm pl})$. We prove our conjectures for moduli spaces of representations of quivers without oriented cycles. Our conjectures in Algebraic Geometry using Behrend-Fantechi virtual classes are proved in the sequel arXiv:2111.04694.

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arXiv2020

Orientation data for moduli spaces of coherent sheaves over Calabi-Yau 3-folds

Let $X$ be a compact Calabi-Yau 3-fold, and write $\mathcal M,\bar{\mathcal M}$ for the moduli stacks of objects in coh$(X),D^b$coh$(X)$. There are natural line bundles $K_{\mathcal M}\to\mathcal M$, $K_{\bar{\mathcal M}}\to\bar{\mathcal M}$, analogues of canonical bundles. Orientation data on $\mathcal M,\bar{\mathcal M}$ is an isomorphism class of square root line bundles $K_{\mathcal M}^{1/2},K_{\bar{\mathcal M}}^{1/2}$, satisfying a compatibility condition on the stack of short exact sequences. It was introduced by Kontsevich and Soibelman arXiv:1006.270 in their theory of motivic Donaldson-Thomas invariants, and is important in categorifying Donaldson-Thomas theory using perverse sheaves. We show that natural orientation data can be constructed for all compact Calabi-Yau 3-folds, and also for compactly-supported coherent sheaves and perfect complexes on noncompact Calabi-Yau 3-folds $X$ with a spin smooth projective compactification $X\hookrightarrow Y$. This proves a long-standing conjecture in Donaldson-Thomas theory. These are special cases of a more general result. Let $X$ be a spin smooth projective 3-fold. Using the spin structure we construct line bundles $K_{\mathcal M}\to\mathcal M$, $K_{\bar{\mathcal M}}\to\bar{\mathcal M}$. We define spin structures on $\mathcal M,\bar{\mathcal M}$ to be isomorphism classes of square roots $K_{\mathcal M}^{1/2},K_{\bar{\mathcal M}}^{1/2}$. We prove that natural spin structures exist on $\mathcal M,\bar{\mathcal M}$. They are equivalent to orientation data when $X$ is a Calabi-Yau 3-fold with the trivial spin structure. We prove this using our previous paper arXiv:1908.03524, which constructs 'spin structures' (square roots of a certain complex line bundle $K_P\to\mathcal B_P$) on differential-geometric moduli stacks $\mathcal B_P$ of connections on a principal U$(m)$-bundle $P\to X$ over a compact spin 6-manifold $X$.

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arXiv2019

$C^\infty$-algebraic geometry with corners

If $X$ is a manifold then the set $C^\infty(X)$ of smooth functions $f:X\to\mathbb R$ is a $C^\infty$-ring, a rich algebraic structure with many operations. $C^\infty$-schemes are schemes over $C^\infty$-rings, a way of using Algebro-Geometric techniques in Differential Geometry. They include smooth manifolds, but also many singular and infinite-dimensional spaces. They have applications to Synthetic Differential Geometry, and to derived manifolds. In this book, a sequel to the second author's monograph on $C^\infty$-algebraic geometry arXiv:1001.0023, we define and study new categories of $C^\infty$-rings with corners and $C^\infty$-schemes with corners, which generalize manifolds with corners in the same way that $C^\infty$-rings and $C^\infty$-schemes generalize manifolds. These will be used in future work as the foundations of theories of derived manifolds and derived orbifolds with corners. This book is based on the PhD thesis of the first author, supervised by the second author.

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arXiv2019

On spin structures and orientations for gauge-theoretic moduli spaces

Let $X$ be a compact manifold, $G$ a Lie group, $P \to X$ a principal $G$-bundle, and $\mathcal{B}_P$ the infinite-dimensional moduli space of connections on $P$ modulo gauge. For a real elliptic operator $E_\bullet$ we previously studied orientations on the real determinant line bundle over $\mathcal{B}_P$. These are used to construct orientations in the usual sense on smooth gauge theory moduli spaces, and have been extensively studied since the work of Donaldson. Here we consider complex elliptic operators $F_\bullet$ and introduce the idea of spin structures, square roots of the complex determinant line bundle of $F_\bullet$. These may be used to construct spin structures in the usual sense on smooth complex gauge theory moduli spaces. We study the existence and classification of such spin structures. Our main result identifies spin structures on $X$ with orientations on $X \times S^1$. Thus, if $P \to X$ and $Q \to X \times S^1$ are principal $G$-bundles with $Q|_{X\times\{1\}} \cong P$, we relate spin structures on $(\mathcal{B}_P,F_\bullet)$ to orientations on $(\mathcal{B}_Q,E_\bullet)$ for a certain class of operators $F_\bullet$ on $X$ and $E_\bullet$ on $X\times S^1$. Combined with arXiv:1811.02405, we obtain canonical spin structures for positive Diracians on spin 6-manifolds and gauge groups $G=U(m), SU(m)$. In a sequel arXiv:2001.00113 we apply this to define canonical orientation data for all Calabi-Yau 3-folds $X$ over the complex numbers, as in Kontsevich-Soibelman arXiv:0811.2435, solving a long-standing problem in Donaldson-Thomas theory.

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arXiv2018

On motivic vanishing cycles of critical loci

Let $U$ be a smooth scheme over an algebraically closed field $\mathbb K$ of characteristic zero and $f:U\to{\mathbb A}^1$ a regular function, and write $X=$Crit$(f)$, as a closed subscheme of $U$. The motivic vanishing cycle $MF_{U,f}^ϕ$ is an element of the $\hatμ$-equivariant motivic Grothendieck ring ${\mathcal M}^{\hatμ}_X$ defined by Denef and Loeser math.AG/0006050 and Looijenga math.AG/0006220, and used in Kontsevich and Soibelman's theory of motivic Donaldson-Thomas invariants, arXiv:0811.2435. We prove three main results: (a) $MF_{U,f}^ϕ$ depends only on the third-order thickenings $U^{(3)},f^{(3)}$ of $U,f$. (b) If $V$ is another smooth scheme, $g:V\to{\mathbb A}^1$ is regular, $Y=$Crit$(g)$, and $Φ:U\to V$ is an embedding with $f=g\circΦ$ and $Φ\vert_X:X\to Y$ an isomorphism, then $Φ\vert_X^*(MF_{V,g}^ϕ)$ equals $MF_{U,f}^ϕ$ "twisted" by a motive associated to a principal ${\mathbb Z}_2$-bundle defined using $Φ$, where now we work in a quotient ring $\bar{\mathcal M}^{\hatμ}_X$ of ${\mathcal M}^{\hatμ}_X$. (c) If $(X,s)$ is an "oriented algebraic d-critical locus" in the sense of Joyce arXiv:1304.4508, there is a natural motive $MF_{X,s} \in\bar{\mathcal M}^{\hatμ}_X$, such that if $(X,s)$ is locally modelled on Crit$(f:U\to{\mathbb A}^1)$, then $MF_{X,s}$ is locally modelled on $MF_{U,f}^ϕ$. Using results from arXiv:1305.6302, these imply the existence of natural motives on moduli schemes of coherent sheaves on a Calabi-Yau 3-fold equipped with "orientation data", as required in Kontsevich and Soibelman's motivic Donaldson-Thomas theory arXiv:0811.2435, and on intersections of oriented Lagrangians in an algebraic symplectic manifold. This paper is an analogue for motives of results on perverse sheaves of vanishing cycles proved in arXiv:1211.3259. We extend this paper to Artin stacks in arXiv:1312.0090.

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arXiv2018

Orientability of moduli spaces of Spin(7)-instantons and coherent sheaves on Calabi-Yau 4-folds

This paper concerns orientability of moduli spaces of Spin(7)-instantons on compact 8-manifolds $X$ with Spin(7)-structure for the Lie groups SU($m$) and U($m$), and of moduli spaces of coherent sheaves on Calabi-Yau 4-folds. Such orientations are needed to define enumerative invariants 'counting' Spin(7) instantons, or coherent sheaves on Calabi-Yau 4-folds $X$. The previous version of the paper, version 2, published in Advances in Mathematics 368 (2020), claimed to prove all these moduli spaces are orientable. VERSION 3 BEGINS WITH AN ERRATUM. THERE IS A MISTAKE IN THE PROOF OF THEOREM 1.11 OF VERSION 2, AND THE THEOREM ITSELF, ONE OF OUR MAIN RESULTS, IS FALSE. THE 8-MANIFOLD SU(3) IS A COUNTEREXAMPLE. COROLLARIES 1.12 AND 1.17 OF VERSION 2 DEPEND ON THEOREM 1.11, AND SO MAY ALSO BE FALSE, THOUGH WE DO NOT HAVE COUNTEREXAMPLES. OUR OTHER MAIN RESULT, THEOREM 1.15, IS UNAFFECTED BY THE MISTAKE. THE AUTHORS APOLOGIZE FOR THIS. Joyce-Upmeier arXiv:2503.20456 (197 pages) gives a new theory for studying orientability of moduli spaces using 'bordism categories'. Amongst other results they prove corrected versions of Theorem 1.11 and Corollaries 1.12 and 1.17, which hold with an extra assumption on $H^3(X,\mathbb Z)$. In version 3, we highlight and explain the mistakes, but we do not correct them, as this would take many pages. Except for Theorem 1.15, readers are advised to read, and cite, Joyce-Upmeier arXiv:2503.20456 instead of this paper.

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arXiv2018

Canonical orientations for moduli spaces of $G_2$-instantons with gauge group SU(m) or U(m)

Suppose $(X, g)$ is a compact, spin Riemannian 7-manifold, with Dirac operator $D$. Let $G$ be SU$(m)$ or U$(m)$, and $E\to X$ be a rank $m$ complex bundle with $G$-structure. Write ${\mathcal B}_E$ for the infinite-dimensional moduli space of connections on $E$, modulo gauge. There is a natural principal ${\mathbb Z}_2$-bundle $O^D_E\to{\mathcal B}_E$ parametrizing orientations of det$\,D_{{\rm Ad }A}$ for twisted elliptic operators $D_{{\rm Ad }A}$ at each $[A]$ in ${\mathcal B}_E$. A theorem of Walpuski shows $O^D_E$ is trivializable. We prove that if we choose an orientation for det$\,D$, and a flag structure on X in the sense of Joyce arXiv:1610.09836, then we can define canonical trivializations of $O^D_E$ for all such bundles $E\to X$, satisfying natural compatibilities. Now let $(X,\varphi,g)$ be a compact $G_2$-manifold, with d$(*\varphi)=0$. Then we can consider moduli spaces ${\mathcal M}_E^{G_2}$ of $G_2$-instantons on $E\to X$, which are smooth manifolds under suitable transversality conditions, and derived manifolds in general, with ${\mathcal M}_E^{G_2}\subset{\mathcal B}_E$. The restriction of $O^D_E$ to ${\mathcal M}_E^{G_2}$ is the ${\mathbb Z}_2$-bundle of orientations on ${\mathcal M}_E^{G_2}$. Thus, our theorem induces canonical orientations on all such $G_2$-instanton moduli spaces ${\mathcal M}_E^{G_2}$. This contributes to the Donaldson-Segal programme arXiv:0902.3239, which proposes defining enumerative invariants of $G_2$-manifolds $(X,\varphi,g)$ by counting moduli spaces ${\mathcal M}_E^{G_2}$, with signs depending on a choice of orientation. This paper is a sequel to Joyce-Tanaka-Upmeier arXiv:1811.01096, which develops the general theory of orientations on gauge-theoretic moduli spaces, and gives applications in dimensions 3,4,5 and 6. A third paper Cao-Gross-Joyce arXiv:1811.09658 studies orientations on moduli spaces in dimension 8.

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arXiv2018

On orientations for gauge-theoretic moduli spaces

Let $X$ be a compact manifold, $D$ a real elliptic operator on $X$, $G$ a Lie group, $P\to X$ a principal $G$-bundle, and ${\mathcal B}_P$ the infinite-dimensional moduli space of all connections $\nabla_P$ on $P$ modulo gauge, as a topological stack. For each $[\nabla_P]\in{\mathcal B}_P$, we can consider the twisted elliptic operator $D^{\nabla_{Ad(P)}}$ on X. This is a continuous family of elliptic operators over the base ${\mathcal B}_P$, and so has an orientation bundle $O^D_P\to{\mathcal B}_P$, a principal ${\mathbb Z}_2$-bundle parametrizing orientations of Ker$D^{\nabla_{Ad(P)}}\oplus$Coker$D^{\nabla_{Ad(P)}}$ at each $[\nabla_P]$. An orientation on $({\mathcal B}_P,D)$ is a trivialization $O^D_P\cong{\mathcal B}_P\times{\mathbb Z}_2$. In gauge theory one studies moduli spaces $\mathcal M$ of connections $\nabla_P$ on $P$ satisfying some curvature condition, such as anti-self-dual instantons on Riemannian 4-manifolds $(X, g)$. Under good conditions $\mathcal M$ is a smooth manifold, and orientations on $({\mathcal B}_P,D)$ pull back to orientations on $\mathcal M$ in the usual sense under the inclusion ${\mathcal M}\hookrightarrow{\mathcal B}_P$. This is important in areas such as Donaldson theory, where one needs an orientation on $\mathcal M$ to define enumerative invariants. We explain a package of techniques, some known and some new, for proving orientability and constructing canonical orientations on $({\mathcal B}_P,D)$, after fixing some algebro-topological information on $X$. We use these to construct canonical orientations on gauge theory moduli spaces, including new results for moduli spaces of flat connections on 2- and 3-manifolds, instantons, Kapustin-Witten and Vafa-Witten equations on 4-manifolds, and the Haydys-Witten equations on 5-manifolds. Two sequels arXiv:1811.02405, arXiv:1811.09658 discuss orientations in 7 and 8 dimensions.

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arXiv2018

A 'Darboux theorem' for derived schemes with shifted symplectic structure

We prove a 'Darboux theorem' for derived schemes with symplectic forms of degree $k<0$, in the sense of Pantev, Toen, Vaquie and Vezzosi arXiv:1111.3209. More precisely, we show that a derived scheme $X$ with symplectic form $ω$ of degree $k$ is locally equivalent to (Spec $A,ω'$) for Spec $A$ an affine derived scheme whose cdga $A$ has Darboux-like coordinates in which the symplectic form $ω'$ is standard, and the differential in $A$ is given by Poisson bracket with a Hamiltonian function $H$ in $A$ of degree $k+1$. When $k=-1$, this implies that a $-1$-shifted symplectic derived scheme $(X,ω)$ is Zariski locally equivalent to the derived critical locus Crit$(H)$ of a regular function $H:U\to{\mathbb A}^1$ on a smooth scheme $U$. We use this to show that the underlying classical scheme of $X$ has the structure of an 'algebraic d-critical locus', in the sense of Joyce arXiv:1304.4508. In the sequels arXiv:1211.3259, arXiv:1305.6428, arXiv:1312.0090, arXiv:1504.00690, 1506.04024 we will discuss applications of these results to categorified and motivic Donaldson-Thomas theory of Calabi-Yau 3-folds, and to defining new Donaldson-Thomas type invariants of Calabi-Yau 4-folds, and to defining 'Fukaya categories' of Lagrangians in algebraic symplectic manifolds using perverse sheaves, and we will extend the results of this paper and arXiv:1211.3259, arXiv:1305.6428 from (derived) schemes to (derived) Artin stacks, and to give local descriptions of Lagrangians in $k$-shifted symplectic derived schemes. Bouaziz and Grojnowski arXiv:1309.2197 independently prove a similar 'Darboux Theorem'.

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arXiv2018

Kuranishi spaces as a 2-category

This is a survey of the author's paper arXiv:1409.6908 and in-progress book. 'Kuranishi spaces' were introduced in the work of Fukaya, Oh, Ohta and Ono in symplectic geometry (see e.g. arXiv:1503.07631), as the geometric structure on moduli spaces of $J$-holomorphic curves. We propose a new definition of Kuranishi space, which has the nice property that they form a 2-category $\bf Kur$. Thus the homotopy category Ho$({\bf Kur})$ is an ordinary category of Kuranishi spaces. Any Fukaya-Oh-Ohta-Ono (FOOO) Kuranishi space $\bf X$ can be made into a compact Kuranishi space $\bf X'$ uniquely up to equivalence in $\bf Kur$ (that is, up to isomorphism in Ho$({\bf Kur})$), and conversely any compact Kuranishi space $\bf X'$ comes from some (nonunique) FOOO Kuranishi space $\bf X$. So FOOO Kuranishi spaces are equivalent to ours at one level, but our definition has better categorical properties. The same holds for McDuff and Wehrheim's 'Kuranishi atlases' in arXiv:1508.01556. Using results of Yang on polyfolds and Kuranishi spaces surveyed in arXiv:1510.06849, a compact topological space $X$ with a 'polyfold Fredholm structure' in the sense of Hofer, Wysocki and Zehnder (see e.g. arXiv:1407.3185) can be made into a Kuranishi space $\bf X$ uniquely up to equivalence in $\bf Kur$. Our Kuranishi spaces are based on the author's theory of Derived Differential Geometry (see e.g. arXiv:1206.4207), the study of classes of derived manifolds and orbifolds that we call 'd-manifolds' and 'd-orbifolds'. There is an equivalence of 2-categories ${\bf Kur}\simeq{\bf dOrb}$, where $\bf dOrb$ is the 2-category of d-orbifolds. So Kuranishi spaces are really a form of derived orbifold. We discuss the differential geometry of Kuranishi spaces.

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arXiv2017

A Lagrangian Neighbourhood Theorem for shifted symplectic derived schemes

Pantev, Toen, Vaquié and Vezzosi arXiv:1111.3209 defined $k$-shifted symplectic derived schemes and stacks ${\bf X}$ for $k\in\mathbb Z$, and Lagrangians ${\bf f}:{\bf L}\to{\bf X}$ in them. They have important applications to Calabi-Yau geometry and quantization. Bussi, Brav and Joyce arXiv:1305.6302 proved a 'Darboux Theorem' giving explicit Zariski or étale local models for $k$-shifted symplectic derived schemes ${\bf X}$ for $k<0$ presenting them as twisted shifted cotangent bundles. We prove a 'Lagrangian Neighbourhood Theorem' giving explicit Zariski or etale local models for Lagrangians ${\bf f}:{\bf L}\to{\bf X}$ in $k$-shifted symplectic derived schemes ${\bf X}$ for $k<0$, relative to the Bussi-Brav-Joyce 'Darboux form' local models for ${\bf X}$. That is, locally such Lagrangians can be presented as twisted shifted conormal bundles. We also give a partial result when $k=0$. We expect our results will have future applications to $k$-shifted Poisson geometry (see arXiv:1506.03699), to defining 'Fukaya categories' of complex or algebraic symplectic manifolds, and to categorifying Donaldson-Thomas theory of Calabi-Yau 3-folds and 'Cohomological Hall algebras'.

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arXiv2017

A new construction of compact torsion-free $G_2$-manifolds by gluing families of Eguchi-Hanson spaces

We give a new construction of compact Riemannian 7-manifolds with holonomy $G_2$. Let $M$ be a torsion-free $G_2$-manifold (which can have holonomy a proper subgroup of $G_2$) such that $M$ admits an involution $\iota$ preserving the $G_2$-structure. Then $M/{\langle \iota \rangle}$ is a $G_2$-orbifold, with singular set $L$ an associative submanifold of $M$, where the singularities are locally of the form $\mathbb R^3 \times (\mathbb R^4 / \{\pm 1\})$. We resolve this orbifold by gluing in a family of Eguchi-Hanson spaces, parametrized by a nonvanishing closed and coclosed $1$-form $\lambda$ on $L$. Much of the analytic difficulty lies in constructing appropriate closed $G_2$-structures with sufficiently small torsion to be able to apply the general existence theorem of the first author. In particular, the construction involves solving a family of elliptic equations on the noncompact Eguchi-Hanson space, parametrized by the singular set $L$. We also present two generalizations of the main theorem, and we discuss several methods of producing examples from this construction.

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