Triangulations and Maximal Cross-Ratio Degrees

Abstract

The cross-ratio degree problem is about counting rational curves with $n$ marked points satisfying $n-3$ cross-ratio conditions. This problem has a tropical analogue which provides the same number, as shown by a correspondence theorem. In general, there are no closed formulas for this counting problem. In the special case of cross-ratio conditions given by triangulations, a formula was found by Silversmith via techniques of algebraic geometry. We study the cross-ratio problem given by triangulations in the tropical world. In addition to computing the cross-ratio degree by tropical means, we provide concrete solutions for the counting problem in arbitrary settings, thus answering the question by Silversmith. We also use the tropical recursive algorithm by Goldner to compute cross-ratio degrees to provide a new computational tool to compute cross-ratio degrees. With this, we can find all possible cross-ratio degrees for $n=9.$ Previously, these numbers were only known up to $n=8.$