A weighted topological quantum field theory for Quot schemes on curves

Abstract

We study Quot schemes of vector bundles on algebraic curves. Marian and Oprea gave a description of a topological quantum field theory (TQFT) studied by Witten in terms of intersection numbers on Quot schemes of trivial bundles. Since these Quot schemes can have the wrong dimension, virtual classes are required. But Quot schemes of general vector bundles always have the right dimension. Using the degree of the general vector bundle as an additional parameter, we construct a weighted TQFT containing both Witten's TQFT and the small quantum cohomology TQFT of the Grassmannian. This weighted TQFT is completely geometric (no virtual classes are needed), can be explicitly computed, and recovers known formulas enumerating the points of finite Quot schemes.