Generalized hypergeometric equations and $2$d TQFT for dormant opers in characteristic $\leq 7$

Abstract

This note studies $\mathrm{PGL}_n$-opers arising from generalized hypergeometric differential equations in prime characteristic $p$. We prove that these opers are rigid within the class of dormant opers. By combining this rigidity result with previous work in the enumerative geometry of dormant opers, we obtain a complete and explicit description of the $2$d TQFTs that compute the number of dormant $\mathrm{PGL}_n$-opers for primes $p \leq 7$.