Keywords

• instanton
• Quot scheme
• quiver representation

Abstract Tetrahedron instantons were recently introduced by Pomoni-Yan-Zhang in string theory, as a way to describe systems of D0-D6 branes with defects. We propose a rigorous geometric (and Physics-free!) interpretation of their work. We will explain how to naturally construct the moduli space of tetrahedron instantons as a Quot scheme, parametrizing quotients of a torsion sheaf over a certain singular threefold, and how to construct a virtual fundamental class in this setting using quiver representations. Finally, we will show how to formalize mathematically the invariants considered by Pomoni-Yan-Zhang (initially defined via supersymmetric localization in Physics) and how to rigorously compute them using torus actions and the combinatorics of plane partitions, solving some open conjectures.

Joint work with Nadir Fasola.