Intertwining operator and integrable hierarchies from topological strings

In [1], Nakatsu and Takasaki have shown that the melting crystal model behind the topological strings vertex provides a tau-function of the KP hierarchy after an appropriate time deformation. We revisit their derivation with a focus on the underlying quantum W1+infinity symmetry. Specifically, we point out the role played by automorphisms and the connection with the intertwiner - or vertex operator - of the algebra. This algebraic perspective allows us to extend part of their derivation to the refined melting crystal model, lifting the algebra to the quantum toroidal algebra of gl(1) (also called Ding-Iohara-Miki algebra). In this way, we take a first step toward the definition of deformed hierarchies associated to A-model refined topological strings.