We study Grothedieck groups of triangulated categories using weight structures, weight complexes, and the corresponding pure (co)homological functors. We prove some general statements on $K_0$ of weighted categories and apply it to Voevodsky motives endowed with so-called Chow weight structures. We obtain certain "motivic substitutes" for smooth compactifications of smooth varieties over arbitrary perfect fields; this enables us to make certain unramified cohomology and Euler characteristic calculations that are closely related to results of T. Ekedahl and B. Kahn.
In this paper, we generalize a result of Karpenko on the torsion in the second quotient of the gamma filtration for Severi-Brauer varieties to higher degrees. As an application, we provide a nontrivial torsion in higher Chow groups and the topological filtration of the associated generic variety and obtain new upper bounds for the annihilators of the torsion subgroups in the Chow groups of a large class of Severi-Brauer varieties. In particular, using the torsion in higher degrees, we show indecomposability of certain algebras.
We develop different formulas of algebraic and/or arithmetic nature allowing an explicit calculation, both over a finite field and over a field of characteristic 0, of the algebraic part of the unramified Brauer group of a homogeneous space G\G' under a semisiple simply connected linear group G' with finite stabilizer G. We also give examples of the calculations that can be done with these formulas.
We give a new proof of the theorem stating that for any connected linear algebraic group G over an algebraically closed field k of characteristic 0 and for any closed connected subgroup H of G, the unramified Brauer group of G/H vanishes.
We produce a partial compactification of the variety given by P(t)=N_{K/k}(\mathbf z) whose Brauer group coincides with the unramified Brauer group, where K is an étale k-algebra and P(t)\in k[t] is a nonconstant polynomial. Then we obtain a systematic method to compute the unramified Brauer group for all such varieties.
We classify all groups of order $p^5$ with non-trivial unramified Brauer groups. We show that if $p>3$, then there are precisely $\gcd (p-1,4)+\gcd (p-1,3)+1$ such groups.
This is a textbook on arithmetic geometry with special regard to unramified Brauer groups of algebraic varieties. The topics include Galois cohomology, Brauer groups, obstructions to stable rationality, arithmetic and geometry of quadrics, Weil restriction of scalars, algebraic tori, an example of a stably rational non-rational variety, Brauer-Manin obstruction. All material is split into locally trivial problems with detailed hints.
En utilisant un théorème de Gabber sur les altérations, on démontre un résultat décrivant la partie de torsion première à $p$ du groupe de Brauer non ramifié d'une variété $V$ lisse et géométriquement intègre sur un corps global de caractéristique $p$ au moyen de l'évaluation des éléments de $\Br V$ sur ses points locaux. Using a theorem of Gabber on alterations, we prove a result describing the prime-to-$p$ torsion part of the unramified Brauer group of a smooth and geometrically integral variety $V$ over a global field of characteristic $p$ by evaluating the elements of $\Br V$ at its local …
In this paper we introduce a method to obtain algebraic information using arithmetic one in the study of tori and their principal homogeneous spaces. In particular, using some results of the authors with Tingyu Lee, we determine the unramified Brauer groups of some norm one tori, and their torsors.
Using a reduction of the Galois cohomology of a linear algebraic group $G$ to that of a certain finite subquotient, we give different formulas allowing the calculation of the unramified algebraic Brauer group of a homogeneous space $V=G\backslash G'$ with $G'$ semisimple and simply connected, both over a finite field and over an arbitrary field of characteristic $0$.
Let $X$ be an irreducible smooth complex projective curve of genus at least two. Let $N$ be a connected component of the moduli space of semistable principal ${\rm PGL}_r({\mathbb C})$- bundles over $X$; it is a normal unirational complex projective variety. We prove that the Brauer group of a desingularization of $N$ is trivial.
Auel-Bigazzi-Böhning-Graf von Bothmer proved that if a proper smooth variety $X$ over a field $k$ of characteristic $p>0$ has universally trivial Chow group of $0$-cycles, the cohomological Brauer group of $X$ is universally trivial as well. In this paper, we generalize their argument to arbitrary unramified mod $p$ étale motivic cohomology groups. We also see that the properness assumption on the variety $X$ can be dropped off by using the Suslin homology together with a certain tame subgroup of the unramified cohomology group.
We establish a formula for computing the unramified Brauer group of tame conic bundle threefolds in characteristic 2. The formula depends on the arrangement and residue double covers of the discriminant components, the latter being governed by Artin-Schreier theory (instead of Kummer theory in characteristic not 2). We use this to give new examples of threefold conic bundles defined over the integers that are not stably rational over the complex numbers.
We give formulas for calculating the unramified Brauer group of a homogeneous space $X$ of a semisimple simply connected group $G$ with finite geometric stabilizer $\bar F$ over a wide family of fields of characteristic 0. When $k$ is a number field, we use these formulas in order to study the Brauer-Manin obstruction to the Hasse principle and weak approximation. We prove in particular that the Brauer-Manin pairing is constant on $X(k_v)$ for every $v$ outside from an explicit finite set of non archimedean places of $k$.
Let X --> P^2 be a p-cyclic cover branched over a smooth, connected curve C of degree divisible by p, defined over a separably closed field of prime-to-p characteristic. We show that all (unramified) p-torsion Brauer classes on X that are fixed by Aut(X/P^2) arise as pullbacks of certain Brauer classes on k(P^2) that are unramified away from C and a fixed line L. We completely characterize these Brauer classes on k(P^2) and relate the kernel of the pullback map to the Picard group of X. If p = 2, we give a second construction, which works over any base field of characteristic not 2, that uses …
We prove that a smooth proper universally CH_0-trivial variety X over a field k has universally trivial Brauer group. This fills a gap in the literature concerning the p-torsion of the Brauer group when k has characteristic p.
We derive a formula for the unramified Brauer group of a general class of rationally connected fourfolds birational to conic bundles over smooth threefolds. We produce new examples of conic bundles over P^3 where this formula applies and which have nontrivial unramified Brauer group. The construction uses the theory of contact surfaces and, at least implicitly, matrix factorizations and symmetric arithmetic Cohen--Macaulay sheaves, as well as the geometry of special arrangements of rational curves in P^2. We also prove the existence of universally CH_0-trivial resolutions for the general class…
We study the subgroup B_0(G) of H^2(G,Q/Z) consisting of all elements which have trivial restrictions to every Abelian subgroup of G. The group B_0(G) serves as the simplest nontrivial obstruction to stable rationality of algebraic varieties V/G where V is a faithful complex linear representation of the group G. We prove that B_0(G) is trivial for finite simple groups of Lie type A_{\ell}.
Let D be a finite-dimensional central division algebra over a field K. We define the genus gen(D) of D to be the collection of classes in the Brauer group of K represented by central division K-algebras D' having the same maximal subfields as D. In this paper, we describe a general approach to proving the finiteness of gen(D) and estimating its size that involves the unramified Brauer group with respect to an appropriate set of discrete valuations of K.
The Bogomolov multiplier is a group theoretical invariant isomorphic to the unramified Brauer group of a given quotient space. We derive a homological version of the Bogomolov multiplier, prove a Hopf-type formula, find a five term exact sequence corresponding to this invariant, and describe the role of the Bogomolov multiplier in the theory of central extensions. A new description of the Bogomolov multiplier of a nilpotent group of class two is obtained. We define the Bogomolov multiplier within K-theory and show that proving its triviality is equivalent to solving a long-standing problem pos…
We provide an alternative proof that the Chow group of $1$-cycles on a Severi--Brauer variety associated to a biquaternion division algebra is torsion-free. There are three proofs of this result in the literature, all of which are due to Karpenko and rely on a clever use of $K$-theory. The proof that we give here, by contrast, is geometric and uses degenerations of quartic elliptic normal curves.
Let $k$ be any field, $G$ be a finite group acing on the rational function field $k(x_g:g\in G)$ by $h\cdot x_g=x_{hg}$ for any $h,g\in G$. Define $k(G)=k(x_g:g\in G)^G$. Noether's problem asks whether $k(G)$ is rational (= purely transcendental) over $k$. It is known that, if $\bm{C}(G)$ is rational over $\bm{C}$, then $B_0(G)=0$ where $B_0(G)$ is the unramified Brauer group of $\bm{C}(G)$ over $\bm{C}$. Bogomolov showed that, if $G$ is a $p$-group of order $p^5$, then $B_0(G)=0$. This result was disproved by Moravec for $p=3,5,7$ by computer calculations. We will prove the following theorem.…
We study the semi-decomposable invariants of a split semisimple group and their extension to a split reductive group by using the torsion in the codimension $2$ Chow groups of a product of Severi-Brauer varieties. In particular, for any $n\geq 2$ we completely determine the degree $3$ invariants of a split semisimple group, the quotient of $(\operatorname{\mathbf{SL}}_{2})^{n}$ by its maximal central subgroup, as well as of the corresponding split reductive group. We also provide an example illustrating that a modification of our method can be applied to find the semi-decomposable invariants o…
Let $G$ be a finite group and $W$ be a faithful representation of $G$ over {\bf C}. The group $G$ acts on the field of rational functions $\mathbf C(W)$. The aim of this paper is to give a description of the unramified cohomology group of degree 3 of the field of invariant functions $\mathbf C(W)^G$ in terms of the cohomology of $G$ when $G$ is a group of odd order. This enables us to give an example of a group for which this field is not rational, although its unramified Brauer group is trivial.
Let $k$ be any field, $G$ be a finite group acting on the rational function field $k(x_g : g\in G)$ by $h\cdot x_g=x_{hg}$ for any $h,g\in G$. Define $k(G)=k(x_g : g\in G)^G$. Noether's problem asks whether $k(G)$ is rational (= purely transcendental) over $k$. It is known that, if $\bC(G)$ is rational over $\bC$, then $B_0(G)=0$ where $B_0(G)$ is the unramified Brauer group of $\bC(G)$ over $\bC$. Bogomolov showed that, if $G$ is a $p$-group of order $p^5$, then $B_0(G)=0$. This result was disproved by Moravec for $p=3,5,7$ by computer computing. We will give a theoretic proof of the followin…
Connections between the second Chow group of a smooth projective variety and its third unramified cohomology group, with coefficients the roots of unity twisted twice, feature in several recent works. In this note we revisit a 1996 paper by B. Kahn and specialize it to various types of rationally connected varieties.
Combining work of Peyre, Colliot-Thélène and Voisin, we give the first example of a finite group $G$ such that the motivic class of its classifying stack $BG$ in Ekedahl's Grothendieck ring of stacks over $\mathbb{C}$ is non-trivial and $BG$ has trivial unramified Brauer group.
Let k be a field, G a smooth connected linear algebraic group and X a homogeneous space of G over k, such that the geometric stabilizers are extensions of a smooth group of multiplicative type by a smooth connected characterfree group. If k has characteristic zero and if X^c is a smooth compactification of X over k, we obtain a formula for the algebraic Brauer group of X^c. Several variants are obtained in positive characteristic p, including the finite field case and the global field case, where the formulae describe the prime-to-p part of the algebraic unramified Brauer group of X, without a…
We study twisted forms of Schubert cells in generalized Severi-Brauer varieties, and show that the codimension $2$ Chow groups of these varieties are torsion free in certain cases, using the topological filtration on their K-theory
We extend an argument of S.Lichtenbaum involving codimension one cycles to higher codimensions and obtain a generalization of the well-known Picard-Brauer exact sequence for a smooth variety X. The resulting exact sequence connects the codimension n Chow group of X with a certain "Brauer-like" group.
Let k be a field, G a finite group embedded in the k-group SL(n). For k an algebraically closed field, Bogomolov gave a formula for the unramified Brauer group of the quotient SL(n)/G. We develop his method over any characteristic zero field. This purely algebraic method enables us to recover and generalize results of Harari and of Demarche over number fields, such as the triviality of the unramified Brauer group for k=Q and G of odd order. --- Soient k un corps et G un groupe fini plongé dans le k-groupe SL(n).Pour k algébriquement clos, Bogomolov a donné une formule pour le groupe de Brauer …
We give bounds on the order of torsion in the Chow group of zero dimensional cycles for isotropic Grassmannians and Brauer-Severi flag varieties. To do this, we introduce tools to understand the behavior of torsion in Chow groups with coefficients under morphisms of proper varieties
For a smooth proper variety over a $p$-adic field, the Brauer group and abelian fundamental group are related to the higher Chow groups by the Brauer-Manin pairing and the class field theory. We generalize this relation to smooth (possibly non-proper) varieties, using the motivic homology and the tame version of Wiesend's ideal class group. Several examples are discussed.
This is a survey of recent examples of varieties that are not stably rational. We review the specialization method based on properties of the Chow group of zero-cycles used in these examples and explain the point of view of unramified cohomology for the construction of nontrivial stable invariants of the special fiber. In particular, we find an explicit formula for the Brauer group of fourfolds fibered in quadrics of dimension two over a rational surface.
Let A and B be two central simple algebras of a prime degree n over a field F generating the same subgroup in the Brauer group. We show that the Chow motive of a Severi-Brauer variety SB(A) is a direct summand of the motive of a generalized Severi-Brauer variety SB_d(B) if and only if [A]=d[B] or [A]=-d[B] in the Brauer group. The proof uses methods of Schubert calculus and combinatorial properties of Young tableaux, e.g., Robinson-Schensted correspondence.
We study the Chevalley-Warning problem in the Grothendieck ring $K_0(Var/k)$. We show that the $\A^1$-homotopy theory yields well defined invariants on $K_0(Var/k)/\bold{L}$, in particular the Brauer group is such an invariant. We use this to give a concrete counter-example to the Chevalley-Warning conjecture over a $C_1$-field (Brown and Schnetz, 2011). This also gives a negative answer to the question in Bilgin (2011).
We determine the Chow group of zero-cycles on a rational surface X defined over a finite extension K of the field of p-adic numbers (p a prime) when X is split by an unramified extension of K.
The main goal of this paper is to deduce (from a recent resolution of singularities result of Gabber) the following fact: (effective) Chow motives with $Z[1/p]$-coefficients over a perfect field $k$ of characteristic $p$ generate the category $DM^{eff}_{gm}[1/p]$ (of effective geometric Voevodsky's motives with $Z[1/p]$-coefficients). It follows that $DM^{eff}_{gm}[1/p]$ could be endowed with a Chow weight structure $w_{Chow}$ whose heart is $Chow^{eff}[1/p]$ (weight structures were introduced in a preceding paper, where the existence of $w_{Chow}$ for $DM^{eff}_{gm}Q$ was also proved). As sho…
For an affine double plane defined by an equation of the form z^2 = f, we study the divisor class group and the Brauer group. Two cases are considered. In the first case, f is a product of n linear forms in k[x,y] and X is birational to a ruled surface P^1 x C, where C is rational if n is odd and hyperelliptic if n is even. In the second case, f is the equation of an affine hyperelliptic curve. On the open set where the cover is unramified, we compute the groups of divisor classes, the Brauer groups, the relative Brauer group, as well as all of the terms in he exact sequence of Chase, Harrison…
Recently Dasheng Wei proved that the Brauer-Manin obstruction is the only obstruction to the Hasse principle for 0-cycles of degree 1 on some fibrations over the projective line defined by bi-cyclic normic equations. In the present paper, we prove the exactness of the global-to-local sequence for Chow groups of 0-cycles of such varieties, which signifies that the Brauer-Manin obstruction is also the only obstruction to weak approximation for 0-cycles of arbitrary degree. Our main theorem also generalizes several existing results.
We prove that the degree k unramified cohomology with torsion coefficients of a smooth complex projective variety X with small CH_0(X) has a filtration of length [k/2], whose first piece is the torsion part of the quotient of the degree k+1 integral singular cohomology by its coniveau 2 subgroup, and whose next graded piece is controlled by the Griffiths group Griff^{k/2+1}(X) when k is even and is related to the higher Chow group CH^{(k+3)/2}(X, 1) when k is odd. The first piece is a generalization of the Artin-Mumford invariant (k=2) and the Colliot-Thelene-Voisin invariant (k=3). We also gi…
Let $X$ be a smooth projective surface over an algebraically closed field $k$ such that $char(k) \neq 2$. Let $X^{[d]}$ denote the punctual Hilbert scheme of zero dimensional quotients of degree $d$ and $X^{(d)}$ denote the symmetric product of $X$. For $\ell \neq 2$, we give a formula for the $\ell$-primary part of the Brauer group of $X^{[2]}$. We show that the Hilbert to Chow morphism induces an isomorphism of cohomological Brauer groups for $d=2$ and a similar result for $d \geq 3$. Let $Q(r,d)$ denote the punctual Quot-scheme parametrising zero dimensional quotients of $\mathcal{O}_X^{ \o…
Let G be an adjoint simple algebraic group of inner type. We express the Chow motive (with integral coefficients) of some anisotropic projective G-homogeneous varieties in terms of motives of simpler G-homogeneous varieties, namely, those that correspond to maximal parabolic subgroups of G. We decompose the motive of a generalized Severi-Brauer variety SB_2(A), where A is a division algebra of degree 5, into a direct sum of two indecomposable motives. As an application we provide another counter-example to the uniqueness of a direct sum decomposition in the category of motives with integral co…
Colliot-Th{é}l{è}ne has determined the Chow group of zero-cycles on a Ch{â}telet surface X defined over a finite extension K of the field of p-adic numbers (p an odd prime) when X is split by an unramified extension of K. Using similar techniques, we extend this calculation to the ramified case, simplifying his result in the process. We also determine how this group changes when we pass from K to a finite extension of K.
We construct unramified central simple algebras representing 2-torsion classes in the Brauer group of a hyperelliptic curve, and show that every 2-torsion class can be constructed this way when the curve has a rational Weierstrass point or when the base field is C_1. In general, we show that a large (but in general proper) subgroup of the 2-torsion classes are given by the construction. Examples demonstrating applications to the arithmetic of hyperelliptic curves defined over number fields are given.
This is a survey on the ancient question : Let G be a reductive group over an algebraically closed field k and let V be a vector space over k with an almost free linear action of G on V. Let k(V) denote the field of rational functions on V. Is the subfield of G-invariants of k(V) purely transcendental over k ? For G connected, this is still an open question. After a discussion of general matters (various notions of rationality, various notions of quotients, the no-name lemma), we consider several specific groups G. We then discuss the unramified Brauer group of a function field and describe th…
Let $k$ be a field and let $Ω$ be a universal domain over $k$. Let $f:X \r S$ be a dominant morphism defined over $k$ from a smooth projective variety $X$ to a smooth projective variety $S$ of dimension $\leq 2$ such that the general fibre of $f_Ω$ has trivial Chow group of zero-cycles. For example, $X$ could be the total space of a two-dimensional family of varieties whose general member is rationally connected. Suppose that $X$ has dimension $\leq 4$. Then we prove that $X$ has a self-dual Murre decomposition, i.e. that $X$ has a self-dual Chow--Kuenneth decomposition which satisfies Murre's…
We show that the Chow group of 0-cycles on a singular projective scheme $X$ over a finite field describes the abelian extensions of its function field which are unramified over the regular locus of $X$. As a consequence, we obtain the Bloch-Quillen formula for the Chow group of 0-cycles on such schemes. We deduce simple proofs of results of Kerz-Saito for a class of surfaces without any assumption on ${\rm char}(k)$.
