Advances in Mathematics

Using raising operators and geometric arguments, we establish formulas for the K-theory classes of degeneracy loci in classical types. We also find new determinantal and Pfaffian expressions for classical cases considered by Giambelli: the loci where a generic matrix drops rank, and where a generic symmetric or skew-symmetric matrix drops rank.  In an appendix, we construct a K-theoretic Euler class for even-rank vector bundles with quadratic form, refining the Chow-theoretic class introduced by Edidin and Graham. We also establish a relation between top Chern classes of maximal isotropic subbundles, which is used in proving the type D degeneracy locus formulas.

K-theoretic Chern class formulas for vexillary degeneracy loci