We give a short proof of the inner product conjecture for the symmetric Macdonald polynomials of type A$_n-1$. As a special case, the corresponding constant term conjecture is also proved.

In this paper we examine the Iwasawa theory of modular elliptic curves E defined over Q without semi-stable reduction at p. By constructing p-adic L-functions at primes of additive reduction, we formulate a “Main Conjecture” linking this L-function with a certain Selmer group for E over the Zp-extension. Thus the leading term is expressible in terms of III$_E$, E(Q)$_tors$ and a p-adic regulator term.

Let S be a smooth, minimal rational surface. The geometry of the Severi variety parametrising irreducible, rational curves in a given linear system on S is studied. The results obtained are applied to enumerative geometry, in combination with ideas from Quantum Cohomology. Formulas enumerating rational curves are found, some of which generalised Kontsevich‘s formula for plane curves.

A new method to approach enumerative questions about rational curves on algebraic varieties is described. The idea is to reduce the counting problems to computations on the Néron-Severi group of a ruled surface. Applications include a short proof of Kontsevich‘s formula for plane curves and the solution of the analogous problem for the Hirzebruch surface F$_3$.