Let $X$ be a smooth hypersurface of dimension $n\geq 1$ and degree $d\geq 3$ in the projective space given as the zero set of a homogeneous form $F$. If $(n,d)\neq (1,3), (2,4)$ it is well known that every automorphism of $X$ extends to an automorphism of the projective space, i.e., $\operatorname{Aut}(X)\subseteq \operatorname{PGL}(n+2,\mathbb{C})$. We say that the automorphism group $\operatorname{Aut}(X)$ is $F$-liftable if there exists a subgroup of $\operatorname{GL}(n+2,\mathbb{C})$ projecting isomorphically onto $\operatorname{Aut}(X)$ and leaving $F$ invariant. Our main result in this paper shows that the automorphism group of every smooth hypersurface of dimension $n$ and degree $d$ is $F$-liftable if and only if $d$ and $n+2$ are relatively prime. We also provide an effective criterion to compute all the integers which are a power of a prime number and that appear as the order of an automorphism of a smooth hypersurface of dimension $n$ and degree $d$. As an application, we give a sufficient condition under which some Sylow $p$-subgroups of $\operatorname{Aut}(X)$ are trivial or cyclic of order $p$.
We show that a characteristic $0$ model $X_R\to \Spec R$, with Picard number $1$ over a geometric generic point, of a K3 surface in characteristic $p\ge 3$, essentially kills all automorphisms (Theorem 5.1). We show that there is an explicitely constructed automorphism on a supersingular K3 surface in characteristic $3$, which has positive entropy, the logarithm of a Salem number of degree $22$ (Theorem 6.4). In particular it does not lift to characteristic $0$. In addition, we show that in any large characteristic, there is an automorphism of a supersingular K3 which has positive entropy and …
Let $X$ be a smooth projective hypersurface of dimension at least three. We show that every automorphism of the Hilbert square $X^{[2]}$ of $X$ is induced by some automorphism of $X$.
We use the specialization homomorphism for the birational automorphism group to study finite order birational automorphisms. For a family of varieties over a DVR, we prove that a birational automorphism of order coprime to the residue characteristic cannot specialize to the identity. As an application, we show that very general $n$-dimensional hypersurfaces of degree $d \geq 5 \lceil (n+3)/6 \rceil$ have no finite order birational automorphisms.
We study the connected component of the automorphism group of a cubic hypersurface over complex numbers. When the cubic hypersurface has nonzero Hessian, this group is usually small. But there are examples with unusually large automorphism groups: the secants of Severi varieties. Can we characterize them by the property of having unusually large automorphism groups? We study this question from the viewpoint of prolongations of the Lie algebras. Our result characterizes the secants of Severi varieties, among cubic hypersurfaces with nonzero Hessian and smooth singular locus, in terms of prolong…
Trinomial hypersurfaces form a natural class of affine algebraic varieties closely connected with varieties admitting a torus action of complexity one. We investigate orbits of the automorphism group on these hypersurfaces. We prove that each nonrigid trinomial variety has finite number of orbits. We investigate singular orbits and this gives us description of all orbits for some classes of flexible trinomial hypersurfaces. Also we obtain a description of orbits for a class of hypersurfaces having a unique variable with power one in the equation.
The Russell cubic is a smooth contractible affine complex threefold which is not isomorphic to affine three-space. In previous articles, we discussed the structure of the automorphism group of this variety. Here we review some consequences of this structure and generalize some results to other hypersurfaces which arise as deformations of Koras-Russell threefolds.
Let $X$ be a smooth hypersurface $X$ of degree $d\geq4$ in a projective space $\mathbb P^{n+1}$. We consider a projection of $X$ from $p\in\mathbb P^{n+1}$ to a plane $H\cong\mathbb P^n$. This projection induces an extension of function fields $\mathbb C(X)/\mathbb C(\mathbb P^n)$. The point $p$ is called a Galois point if the extension is Galois. In this paper, we will give a necessary and sufficient conditions for $X$ to have Galois points by using linear automorphisms.
In this paper we classify three-dimensional singular cubic hypersurfaces with an action of a finite group $G$, which are not $G$-rational, are not $G$-birationally isomorphic to a quadric and have no birational structure of $G$-Mori fiber space with the base of positive dimension. Also we prove the $A_{5}$ -birational superrigidity of the Segre cubic.
In this paper we give an effective criterion as to when a positive integer q is the order of an automorphism of a smooth hypersurface of dimension n and degree d, for every d>2, n>1, (n,d)\neq (2,4), and \gcd(q,d)=\gcd(q,d-1)=1. This allows us to give a complete criterion in the case where q=p is a prime number. In particular, we show the following result: If X is a smooth hypersurface of dimension n and degree d admitting an automorphism of prime order p then p<(d-1)^{n+1}; and if p>(d-1)^n then X is isomorphic to the Klein hypersurface, n=2 or n+2 is prime, and p=Φ_{n+2}(1-d) where Φ_{n+2} i…
In this paper, we show that the average size of the automorphism group over $\mathbb{F}_q$ of a smooth degree $d$ hypersurface in $\mathbb{P}^{n}_{\mathbb{F}_q}$ is equal to $1$ as $d\rightarrow \infty$. We also discuss some consequence of this result for the moduli space of smooth degree $d$ hypersurfaces in $\mathbb{P}^n$.
We prove that every biregular automorphism of the affine algebraic variety ${\mathbb P}^M\setminus S$, $M\geqslant 3$, where $S\subset {\mathbb P}^M$ is a hypersurface of degree $m\geqslant M+1$ with a unique singular point of multiplicity $(m-1)$, resolved by one blow up, is a restriction of some automorphism of the projective space ${\mathbb P}^M$, preserving the hypersurface $S$; in particular, for a general hypersurface $S$ the group $\mathop{\rm Aut} ({\mathbb P}^M\setminus S)$ is trivial.
We study a kind of modification of an affine domain which produces another affine domain. First appeared in passing in the basic paper of O. Zariski (1942), it was further considered by E.D. Davis (1967). The first named author applied its geometric counterpart to construct contractible smooth affine varieties non-isomorphic to Euclidean spaces. Here we provide certain conditions which guarantee preservation of the topology under a modification. As an application, we show that the group of biregular automorphisms of the affine hypersurface $X \subset C^{k+2}$ given by the equation $uv=p(x_1,..…
We give a way to construct group of pseudo-automorphisms of rational varieties of any dimension that fix pointwise the image of a cubic hypersurface of $P^n. These group are free products of involutions, and most of their elements have dynamical degree >1. Moreover, the Picard group of the varieties obtained is not big, if the dimension is at least 3. We also answer a question of E. Bedford on the existence of birational maps of the plane that cannot be lifted to automorphisms of dynamical degree >1, even if we compose them with an automorphism of the plane.
Given integers $d\ge 3$ and $N\ge 3$. Let $G$ be a finite abelian group acting faithfully and linearly on a smooth hypersurface of degree $d$ in the complex projective space $\mathbb{P}^{N-1}$. Suppose $G\subset PGL(N, \mathbb{C})$ can be lifted to a subgroup of $GL(N,\mathbb{C})$. Suppose moreover that there exists an element $g$ in $G$ such that $G/\langle g\rangle$ has order coprime to $d-1$. Then all possible $G$ are determined (Theorem 4.3). As an application, we derive (Theorem 4.8) all possible orders of linear automorphisms of smooth hypersurfaces for any given $(d,N)$. In particular, …
Koras-Russell threefolds are certain smooth contractible complex hypersurfaces in affine complex four-space which are not algebraically isomorphic to affine three-space. One of the important examples is the cubic Russell threefold, defined by the equation x^2y+z^2+t^3+x=0. In a previous article by A. Dubouloz, P.M. Poloni and the author, the automorphism group of the Russell cubic threefold was studied. It was shown, in particular, that all automorphisms of this hypersurface extend to automorphisms of the ambient space. This has several interesting consequences, including the fact that one can…
In this paper we give an effective criterion as to when a prime number p is the order of an automorphism of a smooth cubic hypersurface of P^{n+1}, for a fixed n > 1. We also provide a computational method to classify all such hypersurfaces that admit an automorphism of prime order p. In particular, we show that p<2^{n+1} and that any such hypersurface admitting an automorphism of order p>2^n is isomorphic to the Klein n-fold. We apply our method to compute exhaustive lists of automorphism of prime order of smooth cubic threefolds and fourfolds. Finally, we provide an application to the moduli…
From the degree zero part of logarithmic vector fields along an algebraic hypersurface singularity we indentify the maximal multihomogeneity of a defining equation in form of a maximal algebraic torus in the embedded automorphism group. We show that all such maximal tori are conjugate and in one-to-one correspondence to maxmimal tori in the degree zero jet of the embedded automorphism group. The result is motivated by Kyoji Saito's characterization of quasihomogeneity for isolated hypersurface singularities and extends its formal version and a result of Hauser and Mueller.
An irreducible algebraic variety $X$ is rigid if it admits no nontrivial action of the additive group of the ground field. We prove that the automorphism group $\text{Aut}(X)$ of a rigid affine variety contains a unique maximal torus $\mathbb{T}$. If the grading on the algebra of regular functions $\mathbb{K}[X]$ defined by the action of $\mathbb{T}$ is pointed, the group $\text{Aut}(X)$ is a finite extension of $\mathbb{T}$. As an application, we describe the automorphism group of a rigid trinomial affine hypersurface and find all isomorphisms between such hypersurfaces.
The Koras-Russell threefold is the hypersurface X of the complex affine four-space defined by the equation x^2y+z^2+t^3+x=0. It is well-known that X is smooth contractible and rational but that it is not algebraically isomorphic to affine three-space. The main result of this article is to show that there exists another hypersurface Y of the affine four-space, which is isomorphic to X as an abstract variety, but such that there exists no algebraic automorphism of the ambient space which restricts to an isomorphism between X and Y. In other words, the two hypersurfaces are inequivalent. The proo…
In this paper, we develop a new method to classify abelian automorphism groups of hypersurfaces. We use this method to classify (Theorem 4.2) abelian groups that admit a liftable action on a smooth cubic fourfold. A parallel result (Theorem 5.1) is obtained for quartic surfaces.
Given a smooth projective variety of dimension $n-1\geq 1$ defined over a perfect field $k$ that admits a non-singular hypersurface modelin $\mathbb{P}^n_{\overline{k}}$ over $\overline{k}$, a fixed algebraic closure of $k$, it does not necessarily have a non-singular hypersurface model defined over the base field $k$. We first show an example of such phenomenon: a variety defined over $k$ admitting non-singular hypersurface models but none defined over $k$. We also determine under which conditions a non-singular hypersurface model over $k$ may exist. Now, even assuming that such a smooth hype…
It is shown that an irreducible cubic hypersurface with nonzero Hessian and smooth singular locus is the secant variety of a Severi variety if and only if its Lie algebra of infinitesimal linear automorphisms admits a nonzero prolongation.
We study birational transformations into elliptic fibrations and birational automorphisms of quasismooth anticanonically embedded weighted Fano 3-fold hypersurfaces having terminal singularities classified by A.R. Iano-Fletcher, J. Johnson, J. Kollar, and M. Reid.
In this note we extend some of the results of a previous paper \url{arXiv:math/0511593} to algebraically closed fields of finite characteristic. In particular, we show that there is an explicit expression in $n$ and $d$ which is divisible by the prime to $p$ part of the order of the the automorphism group of a smooth degree $d$ hypersurface $\subset \mathbb{P}^n_k$ for $k$ an algebraically closed field of characteristic $p$.
For a Zariski general (regular) hypersurface $V$ of degree $M$ in the $(M+1)$-dimensional projective space, where $M$ is at least 16, with at most quadratic singularities of rank at least 13, we give a complete description of the structures of rationally connected (or Fano-Mori) fibre space: every such structure over a positive-dimensional base is a pencil of hyperplane sections. This implies, in particular, that $V$ is non-rational and its groups of birational and biregular automorphisms coincide. The set of non-regular hypersurfaces has codimension at least $\frac12(M-11)(M-10)-10$ in the na…
The variety of all smooth hypersurfaces of given degree and dimension has the Fermat hypersurface as a natural base point. In order to study the period map for such varieties, we first determine the integral polarized Hodge structure of the primitive cohomology of a Fermat hypersurface (as a module over the automorphism group of the hypersurface). We then focus on the degree 3 case and show that the period map for cubic fourfolds as analyzed by R. Laza and the author gives complete information about the period map for cubic hypersurfaces of lower dimension dimension. In particular, we thus rec…
We prove that every non-trivial structure of a rationally connected fibre space (and so every structure of a Mori-Fano fibre space) on a general (in the sense of Zariski topology) hypersurface of degree $M$ in the $(M+1)$-dimensional projective space for $M\geq 14$ is given by a pencil of hyperplane sections. In particular, the variety $V$ is non-rational and its group of birational self-maps coincide with the group of biregular automorphisms and is therefore trivial. The proof is based on the techniques of the method of maximal singularities and the inversion of adjunction.
In this paper, for any Milnor hypersurface we find the largest dimension of effective algebraic torus actions on it. The proof of the corresponding theorem is based on the computation of the automorphism group for any Milnor hypersurface. We find all generalised Buchstaber-Ray and Ray hypersurfaces that are toric varieties. We compute the Betti numbers of these hypersurfaces and describe their integral singular cohomology rings in terms of the cohomology of the corresponding ambient varieties.
This paper is concerned with the primitive cohomology of a smooth projective hypersurface considered as a linear representation for its automorphism group. Using the Lefschetz-Riemann-Roch formula, the character of this representation is described on each piece of the Hodge decomposition. A consequence about the existence of smooth symmetric hypersurfaces that are stable under the standard irreducible permutation representation of the symmetric group on homogeneous coordinates is drawn.
We construct the moduli space of smooth hypersurfaces with level $N$ structure over $\mathbb{Z}[1/N]$. As an application we show that, for $N$ large enough, the stack of smooth hypersurfaces over $\mathbb{Z}[1/N]$ is uniformisable by a smooth affine scheme. To prove our results, we use the Lefschetz trace formula to show that automorphisms of smooth hypersurfaces act faithfully on their cohomology. We also prove a global Torelli theorem for smooth cubic threefolds over fields of odd characteristic.
It is well-known that theta characteristics on smooth plane curves over a field of characteristic different from two are in bijection with certain smooth complete intersections of three quadrics. We generalize this bijection to possibly singular hypersurfaces of any dimension over arbitrary fields including those of characteristic two. It is accomplished in terms of linear orbits of tuples of symmetric matrices instead of smooth complete intersections of quadrics. As an application of our methods, we give a description of the projective automorphism groups of complete intersections of quadrics…
In this paper, we address the following two general problems: given two algebraic varieties in ${\bf C}^n$, find out whether or not they are (1) isomorphic; (2) equivalent under an automorphism of ${\bf C}^n$. Although a complete solution of either of these problems is out of the question at this time, we give here some handy and useful invariants of isomorphic as well as of equivalent varieties. Furthermore, and more importantly, we give a universal procedure for obtaining all possible algebraic varieties isomorphic to a given one, and use it to construct numerous examples of isomorphic, but …
We determine the automorphism group for a large class of affine quadric hypersurfaces over a field, viewed as affine algebraic varieties. In particular, we find that the group of real polynomial automorphisms of the n-sphere is just the orthogonal group O(n+1) whenever n is a power of 2. It is not known whether the same is true for arbitrary n. The proof uses Karpenko's theorem that certain projective quadrics over a field are not ruled. That is, they are not birational over the given field to the product of any variety with the projective line. We also formulate a general result on automorphi…
We provide counterexamples to the stable equivalence problem in every dimension $d\geq2$. That means that we construct hypersurfaces $H_1, H_2\subset\mathbb{C}^{d+1}$ whose cylinders $H_1\times\mathbb{C}$ and $H_2\times\mathbb{C}$ are equivalent hypersurfaces in $\mathbb{C}^{d+2}$, although $H_1$ and $H_2$ themselves are not equivalent by an automorphism of $\mathbb{C}^{d+1}$. We also give, for every $d\geq2$, examples of two non-isomorphic algebraic varieties of dimension $d$ which are biholomorphic.
We investigate nef and movable cones of hypersurfaces in Mori dream spaces. The first result is: Let $Z$ be a smooth Mori dream space of dimension at least four whose extremal contractions are of fiber type of relative dimension at least two and let $X$ be a smooth ample divisor in $Z$, then $X$ is a Mori dream space as well. The second result is: Let $Z$ be a Fano manifold of dimension at least four whose extremal contractions are of fiber type and let $X$ be a smooth anti-canonical hypersurface in $Z$, which is a smooth Calabi--Yau variety, then the unique minimal model of $X$ up to isomorph…
The configuration space $\mathcal{C}^n(X)$ of an algebraic curve $X$ is the algebraic variety consisting of all $n$-point subsets $Q\subset X$. We describe the automorphisms of $\mathcal{C}^n(\mathbb{C})$, deduce that the (infinite dimensional) group Aut$\,\mathcal{C}^n(\mathbb{C})$ is solvable, and obtain an analog of the Mostow decomposition in this group. The Lie algebra and the Makar-Limanov invariant of $\mathcal{C}^n(\mathbb{C})$ are also computed. We obtain similar results for the level hypersurfaces of the discriminant, including its singular zero level. This is an extended version of …
This is an expository article, which contributes to the Proceedings of the conference "Groups of Automorphisms in Birational and Affine Geometry", held in Trento in 2012. We propose that (rational) fibrations on the projective space $\p^n$ by (birationally) Abelian hypersurfaces, for an arbitrary $n\ge 2$, provide an obstruction to stable rationality of algebraic varieties. We discuss the evidence for this proposition and derive some (almost straightforward) corollaries from it.
This article studies the group generated by automorphisms of the projective space of dimension $n$ and by the standard birational involution of degree $n$. Every element of this group only contracts rational hypersurfaces, but in odd dimension, there are simple elements having this property which do not belong to the group. Geometric properties of the elements of the group are given, as well as a description of its intersection with monomial transformations.
This paper is a sequel to [He7]. There a notion of marking of isolated hypersurface singularities was defined, and a moduli space $M_μ^{mar}$ for marked singularities in one $μ$-homotopy class of isolated hypersurface singularities was established. One can consider it as a global $μ$-constant stratum or as a Teichmüller space for singularities. It comes together with a $μ$-constant monodromy group $G^{mar}\subset G_Z$. Here $G_Z$ is the group of automorphisms of a Milnor lattice which respect the Seifert form. It was conjectured that $M_μ^{mar}$ is connected. This is equivalent to $G^{mar}= G_…
