On generalized Sethi-Vafa-Witten formulas

Abstract

We present a formula for computing proper pushforwards of classes in the Chow ring of a projective bundle under the projection $\pi:\Pbb(\Escr)\rightarrow B$, for $B$ a non-singular compact complex algebraic variety of any dimension. Our formula readily produces generalizations of formulas derived by Sethi,Vafa, and Witten to compute the Euler characteristic of elliptically fibered Calabi-Yau fourfolds used for F-theory compactifications of string vacua. The utility of such a formula is illustrated through applications, such as the ability to compute the Chern numbers of any non-singular complete intersection in such a projective bundle in terms of the Chern class of a line bundle on $B$.