K-theoretic Gromov-Witten invariants of line degrees on flag varieties

Abstract: A homology class $d \in H_2(X)$ of a complex flag variety $X = G/P$ is called a line degree if the moduli space $\overline{M}_{0,0}(X,d)$ of 0-pointed stable maps to $X$ of degree $d$ is also a flag variety $G/P'$. We prove a quantum equals classical formula stating that any $n$-pointed (equivariant, K-theoretic, genus zero) Gromov-Witten invariant of line degree on $X$ is equal to a classical intersection number computed on the flag variety $G/P'$. We also prove an $n$-pointed analogue of the Peterson comparison formula stating that these invariants coincide with Gromov-Witten invariants of the variety of complete flags $G/B$. Our formulas make it straightforward to compute the big quantum K-theory ring of $X$ modulo degrees larger than line degrees.