We construct algebraic families of smooth affine $\mathbb{A}^1$-contractible varieties of every dimension $n\geq 4$ over fields of characteristic zero which are non-isomorphic to affine spaces and potential counterexamples to the Zariski Cancellation Problem. We further prove that these families of varieties are also counter examples to the generalized Cancellation problem.
Unlike in characteristic 0, there are no non-trivial smooth varieties over an algebraically closed field k of characteristic p>0 that are contractible in the sense of etale homotopy theory.
We construct two non isomorphic contractible affine threefolds X and Y with isomorphic cylinders, showing that the generalized Cancellation Problem has a negative answer in general for contractible affine threefolds. We also establish that X and Y are actually biholomorphic as complex analytic varieties, providing the first example of a pair of biholomorphic but not isomorphic exotic affine 3-spaces.
Let X be a smooth, complete, toric variety. We study those curves C in X that are contractible, in the sense that there exists an equivariant morphism with connected fibers, with source X, that contracts exactly the irreducible curves that are numerically equivalent to a multiple of C. When X is projective, we compare contractible and extremal curves, and we show that every curve in X is numerically equivalent to a linear combination with positive integral coefficients of contractible curves.
We survey some topics in ${\mathbb A}^1$-homotopy theory. Our main goal is to highlight the interplay between ${\mathbb A}^1$-homotopy theory and affine algebraic geometry, focusing on the varieties that are "contractible" from various standpoints.
Let $X$ be a smooth contractible affine algebraic threefold with a nontrivial algebraic ${\bf C}_+$-action on it. We show that $X$ is rational and the algebraic quotient $X//{\bf C}_+$ is a smooth contractible surface $S$ which is isomorphic to ${\bf C}^2$ in the case when $X$ admits a dominant morphism from a threefold of form $C \times {\bf C}^2$. Furthermore, if the action is free then $X$ is isomorphic to $S \times {\bf C}$ and the action is induced by translation on the second factor. In particular, we have the following criterion: if a smooth contractible affine algebraic threefold $X$ w…
We provide families of affine threefolds which are contractible in the unstable $\mathbb A^1$-homotopy category of Morel-Voevodsky and pairwise non-isomorphic, thus answering a question of A. Asok and B. Doran. As a particular case, we show that the Koras-Russell threefolds of the first kind are contractible, extending results of M. Hoyois, A. Krishna and P. A. Ostvaer.
We discuss algebraic vector bundles on smooth k-schemes X contractible from the standpoint of A^1-homotopy theory; when k = C, the smooth manifolds X(C) are contractible as topological spaces. The integral algebraic K-theory and integral motivic cohomology of such schemes are that of Spec k. One might hope that furthermore, and in analogy with the classification of topological vector bundles on manifolds, algebraic vector bundles on such schemes are all isomorphic to trivial bundles; this is almost certainly true when the scheme is affine. However, in the non-affine case this is false: we show…
We study quotients of quasi-affine schemes by unipotent groups over fields of characteristic 0. To do this, we introduce a notion of stability which allows us to characterize exactly when a principal bundle quotient exists and, together with a cohomological vanishing criterion, to characterize whether or not the resulting quasi-affine quotient scheme is affine. We completely analyze the case of G_a-invariant hypersurfaces in a linear G_a-representation W; here the above characterizations admit simple geometric and algebraic interpretations. As an application, we produce arbitrary dimensional f…
The aim of this note is to give an alternative proof of a theorem of Koras and Russell, that is, a characterization of smooth contractible affine varieties endowed with a hyperbolic action of the group $\mathbb{G}_{m}\simeq\mathbb{C}^{\text{*}}$, using the language of polyhedral divisors developed by Altmann and Hausen as generalization of $\mathbb{Q}$-divisors.
In this paper, we establish two results concerning algebraic $(\mathbb{C},+)$-actions on $\mathbb{C}^n$. First let $ϕ$ be an algebraic $(\mathbb{C},+)$-action on $\mathbb{C}^3$. By a result of Miyanishi, its ring of invariants is isomorphic to $\mathbb{C}[t_1,t_2]$. If $f_1,f_2$ generate this ring, the quotient map of $ϕ$ is the map $F:\mathbb{C}^3\to \mathbb{C}^2$, $x\mapsto (f_1(x),f_2(x))$. By using some topological arguments, we prove that $F$ is always surjective. Second, we are interested in dominant polynomial maps $F:\mathbb{C}^n\to \mathbb{C}^{n-1}$ whose connected components of their…
We describe a method to construct hypersurfaces of the complex affine $n$-space with isomorphic $\mathbb{C}^*$-cylinders. Among these hypersurfaces, we find new explicit counterexamples to the Laurent Cancellation Problem, i.e. hypersurfaces that are non isomorphic, although their $\mathbb{C}^*$-cylinders are isomorphic as abstract algebraic varieties. We also provide examples of non isomorphic varieties $X$ and $Y$ with isomorphic cartesian squares $X\times X$ and $Y\times Y$.
In this article we investigate algebraic morphisms between toric varieties. Given presentations of toric varieties as quotients we are interested in the question when a morphism admits a lifting to these quotient presentations. We show that this can be completely answered in terms of invariant divisors. As an application we prove that two toric varieties, which are isomorphic as abstract algebraic varieties, are even isomorphic as toric varieties. This generalizes a well-known result of Demushkin on affine toric varieties.
Two quasi-projective varieties are called piecewise isomorphic if they can be stratified into pairwise isomorphic strata. We show that the m-th symmetric power $S^m(C^n)$ of the complex affine space $C^n$ is piecewise isomorphic to $C^{mn}$ and the m-th symmetric power $S^m(CP^\infty)$ of the infinite dimensional complex projective space is piecewise isomorphic to the infinite dimensional Grassmannian $Gr(m,\infty)$.
We prove that any `finite-type' component of a stability space of a triangulated category is contractible. The motivating example of such a component is the stability space of the Calabi--Yau-$N$ category $\mathcal{D}(Γ_N Q)$ associated to an ADE Dynkin quiver. In addition to showing that this is contractible we prove that the braid group $\operatorname{Br}(Q)$ acts freely upon it by spherical twists, in particular that the spherical twist group $\operatorname{Br}(Γ_N Q)$ is isomorphic to $\operatorname{Br}(Q)$. This generalises Brav-Thomas' result for the $N=2$ case. Other classes of triangul…
For a smooth projective complex variety whose Albanese morphism is finite, we show that every Bridgeland stability condition on its bounded derived category of coherent sheaves is geometric, in the sense that all skyscraper sheaves are stable with the same phase. Furthermore, we describe the stability manifolds of irregular surfaces and abelian threefolds with Picard rank one, and show that they are connected and contractible.
We show that two varieties X and Y with isomorphic endomorphism semigroups are isomorphic up to field automorphism if one of them is affine and contains a copy of the affine line. A holomorphic version of this result is due to the first author.
Let $X$ be a smooth affine algebraic variety over the field of complex numbers which is contractible. Then every algebraic $G$-torsor on $X$ is algebraically trivial if $G$ is a semi-simple algebraic group. We also show that if $X$ is a smooth affine algebraic variety such that $Ω^1_X$ is trivial and $X$ is topologically simply connected with $H^i(X,{\mathbb Z})=0$ for $i=1,2$ and $3$, then every algebraic $G$-torsor on $X$ is algebraically trivial for a semi-simple algebraic group $G$.
We construct algebraic families of exotic affine 3-spheres, that is, smooth affine threefolds diffeomorphic to a non-degenerate smooth complex affine quadric of dimension 3 but non algebraically isomorphic to it. We show in particular that for every smooth topologically contractible affine surface S with trivial automorphism group, there exists a canonical smooth family of pairwise non isomorphic exotic affine 3-spheres parametrized by the closed points of S.
The Narasimhan-Nori conjecture asks for a closed formula for the number of non-isomorphic principal polarizations of any given abelian variety. In this paper, we introduce a new algorithm that gives a lower bound on the number of non-isomorphic principal polarizations on any given abelian variety. We show, for example, that the Jacobian of the genus four underlying curve of Schoen's I-WP minimal surface has at least 9 non-isomorphic principal polarizations. We also explore the Jacobians of Klein's quartic, Fermat's quartic, Bring's curve, and more.
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 …
The paper concerns the affine varieties that are homogeneous with respect to a (non-standard) graduation over the group Z^m. Among the other properties it is shown that every such a variety can be embedded in its Zariski tangent space at the origin, so that it is smooth if and only if it is isomorphic to an affine space. The results directly apply to the study of Hilbert schemes of subvarieties in P^n.
Using constructions of Voisin, we exhibit a smooth projective variety defined over a number field k and two complex embeddings of k, such that the two complex manifolds induced by these embeddings have non isomorphic cohomology algebras with real coefficients. This contrasts with the fact that the cohomology algebras with l-adic coefficients are canonically isomorphic for any prime number l, and answers a question of Grothendieck.
Finiteness of pointed families of symplectic varieties: a geometric Shafarevich conjecture
Université de Strasbourg（斯特拉斯堡大学）；Shanghai Center for Mathematical Sciences, Fudan University（复旦大学上海数学中心）；Saitama University（埼玉大学）；Universität Bielefeld（比勒费尔德大学）
Let G be a finite group. For each integral representation $ρ$ of G we consider $ρ-$decomposable principally polarized abelian varieties; that is, principally polarized abelian varieties (X,H) with $ρ(G)-$action, of dimension equal to the degree of $ρ$, which admit a decomposition of the lattice for X into two G-invariant sublattices isotropic with respect to $\Im H$, with one of the sublattices $\mathbb{Z}G-$isomorphic to $ρ$. We give a construction for $ρ-$decomposable principally polarized abelian varieties, and show that each of them is isomorphic to a product of elliptic curves. Conversely…
We show that nef cycle classes on smooth complete spherical varieties are effective, and the products of nef cycle classes are also nef. Let X be a smooth projective spherical variety such that its effective cycle classes of codimension k are nef, where 1<= k <= dim(X)-1. We study the properties of X. And we show that if X is a toric variety, then X is isomorphic to the product of some projective spaces; if X is toroidal, then X is isomorphic to a rational homogeneous space; if X is horospherical, dim(X)>= 3 and k=2, then effective divisors on X are nef; if X is horospherical and effective div…
The Debarre-Voisin hyperkähler fourfolds are built from alternating $3$-forms on a $10$-dimensional complex vector space, which we call trivectors. They are analogous to the Beauville-Donagi fourfolds associated with cubic fourfolds. In this article, we study several trivectors whose associated Debarre-Voisin variety is degenerate, in the sense that it is either reducible or has excessive dimension. We show that the Debarre-Voisin varieties specialize, along general $1$-parameter degenerations to these trivectors, to varieties isomorphic or birationally isomorphic to the Hilbert square of a K3…
In a seminal 1994 paper, Lusztig extended the theory of total positivity by introducing the totally non-negative part (G/P)_{\geq 0} of an arbitrary (generalized, partial) flag variety G/P. He referred to this space as a "remarkable polyhedral subspace", and conjectured a decomposition into cells, which was subsequently proven by the first author. Subsequently the second author made the concrete conjecture that this cell decomposed space is the next best thing to a polyhedron, by conjecturing it to be a regular CW complex that is homeomorphic to a closed ball. In this article we use discrete M…
The cancellation problem asks if two complex algebraic varieties X and Y of the same dimension such that X\times\mathbb{C} and Y\times\mathbb{C} are isomorphic are isomorphic. Iitaka and Fujita established that the answer is positive for a large class of varieties of any dimension. In 1989, Danielewski constructed a famous counter-example using smooth affine surfaces with additive group actions. His construction was further generalized by Fieseler and Wilkens to describe a larger class of affine surfaces. Here we construct higher dimensional analogues of these surfaces. We study algebraic acti…
We classify smooth toric Fano varieties of dimension $n\geq 3$ containing a toric divisor isomorphic to $\PP^{n-1}$. As a consequence of this classification, we show that any smooth complete toric variety $X$ of dimension $n\geq 3$ with a $T$-fixed point $x\in X$ such that the blow-up $B_x(X)$ of $X$ at $x$ is Fano is isomorphic either to $\PP^n$ or to the blow-up of $\PP^n$ along a $\PP^{n-2}$. As expected, such results are proved using toric Mori theory due to Reid.
Schubert varieties in the full flag variety of Kac-Moody type are indexed by elements of the corresponding Weyl group. We give a practical criterion for when two such Schubert varieties (from potentially different flag varieties) are isomorphic, in terms of the Cartan matrix and reduced words for the indexing Weyl group elements. As a corollary, we show that two such Schubert varieties are isomorphic if and only if there is an isomorphism between their integral cohomology rings that preserves the Schubert basis.
Algebraic varieties which are locally isomorphic to open subsets of affine space will be called {\em plain}. Plain varieties are smooth and rational. The converse is true for curves and surfaces, and unknown in general. It is shown that plain varieties are stable under blowup in smooth centers.
Let I be a finite set and CI be the algebra of functions on I. For a finite dimensional C algebra A with \CI contained in A we show that certain moduli spaces of finite dimsional modules are isomorphic to certain Grassmannian (quot-type) varieties. There is a special case of interest in representation theory. Lusztig defined two varieties related to a quiver and gave a bijection between their C-points (citation in article). Savage and Tingley raised the question (citation in article) of whether these varieties are isomorphic as algebraic varieties. This question has been open since Lusztig's o…
The affine cancellation problem, which asks whether complex affine varieties with isomorphic cylinders are themselves isomorphic, has a positive solution for two dimensional varieties whose coordinate rings are unique factorization domains, in particular for the affine plane, but counterexamples are found within normal surfaces Danielewski surfaces and factorial threefolds of logarithmic Kodaira dimension equal to 1. The latter are therefore remote from the affine three-space, the first unknown case where the base of one cylinder is an affine space. Locally trivial Ga-actions play a significan…
This an extended version of the previous preprint dated by February 2005. We prove that the Chow motive of an anisotropic projective homogeneous variety of type F4 is isomorphic to the direct sum of twisted copies of a generalized Rost motive. In particular, we provide an explicit construction of a generalized Rost motive for a generically splitting variety for a symbol in K_3^M(k)/3. We also establish a motivic isomorphism between two anisotropic non-isomorphic projective homogeneous varieties of type F4. All our results hold for Chow motives with integral coefficients.
In this paper we provide a characterization of smooth algebraic varieties endowed with a faithful algebraic torus action in terms of a combinatorial description given by Altmann and Hausen. Our main result is that such a variety X is smooth if and only if it is locally isomorphic in the étale topology to the affine space endowed with a linear torus action. Furthermore, this is the case if and only if the combinatorial data describing X is locally isomorphic in the étale topology to the combinatorial data describing affine space endowed with a linear torus action. Finally, we provide an effecti…
A horospherical variety is a normal algebraic variety where a connected reductive algebraic group acts with an open orbit isomorphic to a torus bundle over a flag variety. In this article we study the cohomology of line bundles on complete horospherical varieties.
We give a complete classification of smooth quotients of abelian varieties by finite groups that fix the origin. In the particular case where the action of the group $G$ on the tangent space at the origin of the abelian variety $A$ is irreducible, we prove that $A$ is isomorphic to the self-product of an elliptic curve and $A/G\simeq \mathbb P^n$. In the general case, assuming $\dim(A^G)=0$, we prove that $A/G$ is isomorphic to a direct product of projective spaces.
We address a variant of Zariski Cancellation Problem, asking whether two varieties which become isomorphic after taking their product with an algebraic torus are isomorphic themselves. Such cancellation property is easily checked for curves, is known to hold for smooth varieties of log-general type by virtue of a result of Iitaka-Fujita, and more generally for varieties which are not dominantly covered by images of the punctured affine line. We show in contrast that cancellation fails in general in every dimension bigger or equal to two.
In this paper, we study smooth complex projective varieties $X$ such that some exterior power $\bigwedge^r T_X$ of the tangent bundle is strictly nef. We prove that such varieties are rationally connected. We also classify the following two cases. If $T_X$ is strictly nef, then $X$ isomorphic to the projective space $\mathrm{P}^n$. If $\bigwedge^2 T_X$ is strictly nef and if $X$ has dimension at least $3$, then $X$ is either isomorphic to $\mathrm{P}^n$ or a quadric $\mathrm{Q}^n$.
The goal of this paper is to define families of toric varieties and to study their properties. These families are locally trivial fibrations over some base, whose fibres are isomorphic to a fixed complete toric variety. The study is motivated by the occurence of such families in the context of gauged sigma models for toric varieties.
We introduce the notion of a conical symplectic variety, and show that any symplectic resolution of such a variety is isomorphic to the Springer resolution of a nilpotent orbit in a semisimple Lie algebra, composed with a linear projection.
We present a modern proof of a theorem of Rosenlicht, asserting that every variety as in the title is isomorphic to a product of affine lines and punctured affine lines.
Due to a previous result which states that contact varieties are isomorphic to certain varieties, the momentum polytopes of contact manifolds are convex.
In this article, we give geometric constructions of tensor products in various categories using quiver varieties. More precisely, we introduce a lagrangian subvariety $\Zl$ in a quiver variety, and show the following results: (1) The homology group of $\Zl$ is a representation of a symmetric Kac-Moody Lie algebra $\mathfrak g$, isomorphic to the tensor product $V(λ_1)\otimes...\otimes V(λ_N)$ of integrable highest weight modules. (2) The set of irreducible components of $\Zl$ has a structure of a crystal, isomorphic to that of the $q$-analogue of $V(λ_1)\otimes...\otimes V(λ_N)$. (3) The equiv…
We perform a systematic study of Gushel-Mukai varieties---quadratic sections of linear sections of cones over the Grassmannian Gr(2,5). This class of varieties includes Clifford general curves of genus 6, Brill-Noether general polarized K3 surfaces of genus 6, prime Fano threefolds of genus 6, and their higher-dimensional analogues. We establish an intrinsic characterization of normal Gushel-Mukai varieties in terms of their excess conormal sheaves, which leads to a new proof of the classification theorem of Gushel and Mukai. We give a description of isomorphism classes of Gushel-Mukai varieti…
