On behavior of conductors, Picard schemes, and Jacobian numbers of varieties over imperfect fields

Abstract

Let $X$ be a regular geometrically integral variety over an imperfect field $K$. Unlike the case of characteristic $0$, $X':=X\times_{\mathrm{Spec}\,K}\mathrm{Spec}\,K'$ may have singular points for a (necessarily inseparable) field extension $K'/K$. In this paper, we define new invariants of the local rings of codimension $1$ points of $X'$, and use these invariants for the calculation of $δ$-invariants (, which relate to genus changes,) and conductors of such points. As a corollary, we give refinements of Tate's genus change theorem and the Patakfalvi-Waldron Theorem. Moreover, when $X$ is a curve, we show that the Jacobian number of $X$ is $2p/(p-1)$ times of the genus change by using the above calculation. In this case, we also relate the structure of the Picard scheme of $X$ with invariants of singular points of $X$. To prove such a relation, we give a characterization of the geometrical normality of algebras over fields of positive characteristic.