Real Springer fibers and odd arc algebras

Abstract

We give a topological description of the two-row Springer fiber over the real numbers. We show its cohomology ring coincides with the oddification of the cohomology ring of the complex Springer fiber introduced by Lauda-Russell. We also realize Ozsváth-Rasmussen-Szabó odd TQFT from pullbacks and exceptional pushforwards along inclusion and projection maps between hypertori. Using these results, we construct the odd arc algebra as a convolution algebra over components of the real Springer fiber, giving an odd analogue of a construction of Stroppel-Webster.