arXiv subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Herwig Hauser.
This is an expository paper. The geometry of phylogenetic trees is used to present in an accessible and pleasant fashion the results of Deligne, Mumford, and Knudsen about the moduli space of n distinct points on the projective line and its compactification, the moduli space of n-pointed stable curves of genus zero.
Linear differential equations with polynomial coefficients over a field $K$ of positive characteristic $p$ with local exponents in the prime field have a basis of solutions in the differential extension $\mathcal{R}_p=K(z_1, z_2, \ldots)(\!( x)\!)$ of $K(x)$, where $x'=1, z_1'=1/x$ and $z_i'=z_{i-1}'/z_{i-1}$. For differential equations of order $1$ it is shown that there exists a solution $y$ whose projections $y\vert_{z_{i+1}=z_{i+2}=\cdots=0}$ are algebraic over the field of rational functions $K(x, z_1, \ldots, z_{i})$ for all $i$. This can be seen as a characteristic $p$ analogue of Abel's problem about the algebraicity of logarithmic integrals. Further, the existence of infinite product representations of these solutions is shown. As a main tool $p^i$-curvatures are introduced, generalizing the notion of the $p$-curvature.
We prove a result describing the structure of the formal neighborhoods of certain arcs in the arc space of an algebraic variety which are completely contained in the singular locus. In particular, we provide a precise formulation of the intuitive statement that constant arcs centered in the singular locus are the most singular points of the arc space.
The paper generalizes Lazarus Fuchs' theorem on the solutions of complex ordinary linear differential equations with regular singularities to the case of ground fields of arbitrary characteristic, giving a precise description of the shape of each solution. This completes partial investigations started by Taira Honda and Bernard Dwork. The main features are the introduction of a differential ring $\mathcal{R}$ in infinitely many variables mimicking the role of the (complex) iterated logarithms, and the proof that adding these "logarithms" already provides sufficiently many primitives so as to solve any differential equation with regular singularity in $\mathcal{R}$. A key step in the proof is the reduction of the involved differential operator to an Euler operator, its normal form, to solve Euler equations in $\mathcal{R}$ and to lift their (monomial) solutions to solutions of the original equation. The first (and already very striking) example of this outset is the exponential function $\exp_p$ in positive characteristic, solution of $y' = y$. We prove that it necessarily involves all variables and we construct its explicit (and quite mysterious) power series expansion. Additionally, relations of our results to the Grothendieck-Katz $p$-curvature conjecture and related conjectures will be discussed.
Arquile varieties are zerosets of polynomial, algebraic, analytic, or formal equations f(t,y_1,...,y_m) = 0 with solutions y(t) = (y_1(t),...,y_m(t)) in affine m-space over an algebraic, convergent or formal power series ring k , k{t}, or k[[t]]. As such they generalize the concept of the arc space of an algebraic variety. In the article, the geometry of arquile varieties is studied in detail. Among other things, it is shown that, after a suitable stratification, their singularities, once defined appropriately, are confined to a finite dimensional part. The main technique to do this is to combine, as is standard in the theory of arc spaces, tools from algebraic geometry and commutative algebra with the additional knowledge that the points of arquile varieties are not just abstract objects (as they are in classical algebraic and analytic geometry) but concrete power series having their proper series expansion.
We define the notion of isosingular loci of algebraic varieties, following the analytic case first studied by Ephraim. In particular, we give a partial extension of his main result in arbitrary characteristic and a full extension assuming characteristic $0$. One of the main obstructions in the positive characteristic case is the non-separability of the orbit map associated to the contact group, as first observed by Greuel and Pham for isolated singularities.
In characteristic zero, the residual order constitutes, after the local multiplicity, the second key invariant for the resolution of singularities. It is defined as the order of the coefficient ideal in a local hypersurface of maximal contact, minus the exceptional multiplicities. It does not increase under blowup in permissible centers as long as the local multiplicity remains constant. In positive characteristic, however, the residual order (defined now as the maximum over all smooth local hypersurfaces) may increase under blowup. In the article we analyze in detail the circumstances when this happens. This may help to develop a modification of the residual order which does work in positive characteristic.
We present a hypersurface singularity in positive characteristic which is defined by a purely inseparable power series, and a sequence of point blowups so that, after applying the blowups to the singularity, the same type of singularity reappears after the last blowup, with just certain exponents of the defining power series shifted upwards. The construction hence yields a cycle. Iterating this cycle leads to an infinite increase of the residual order of the defining power series. This disproves a theorem claimed by Moh about the stability of the residual order under sequences of blowups. It is not a counter-example to the resolution in positive characteristic since larger centers are also permissible and prevent the phenomenon from happening.
This article shall serve as a quick reference for somebody who needs precise information on concepts and results related to resolution of singularities. As such, it is more a technical manual than a bedtime story. Topics which are covered: Singular and regular points of varieties and schemes; various definitions of blowups and their mutual relations; properties of blowups; transforms of varieties, schemes and ideals; exceptional divisors; Cartier and normal crossings divisors; transversality; hypersurfaces of maximal contact; flags; coefficient ideals; resolution invariants; order of ideals; Hilbert-Samuel function; semicontinuity; various resolution statements; characteristic zero resolution; characteristic p phenomena. The text is complemented with lots of illustrating examples.
The article investigates the behaviour of the characteristic zero resolution invariant when transcribed suitably to the case of surfaces in positive characteristic. By Moh's jumping phenomenon -- or the occurrence of kangaroo singularities -- one knows that the invariant may increase, thus destroying any induction. We describe in the paper how one can modify in the purely inseparable surface case the invariant by adding a subtle correction term so as to prohibit its occasional increases and to establish the induction argument again.
We propose a combinatorial game on finite graphs, called Salmagundy, that is played by two protagonists, Dido and Mephisto. The game captures the logical structure of a proof of the resolution of singularities. In each round, the graph of the game is modified by the moves of the players. When it assumes a final configuration, Dido has won. Otherwise, the game goes on forever, and nobody wins. In particular, Mephisto cannot win himself, he can only prevent Dido from winning. We show that Dido always possesses a winning strategy, regardless of the initial shape of the graph and of the moves of Mephisto. This implies -- translating back to algebraic geometry -- that there is a choice of centers for the blowup of singular varieties in characteristic zero which eventually leads to their resolution. The algebra needed for this implication is elementary. The transcription from varieties to graphs and from blowups to modifications of the graph thus axiomatizes the proof of the resolution of singularities. In principle, the same logic could also work in positive characteristic, once an appropriate descent in dimension is settled.
It is shown how a selection of prominent results in singularity theory and differential geometry can be deduced from one theorem, the Rank Theorem for maps between spaces of power series.
Updated version. Includes comments on the advances in the field from the Kyoto workshop on Resolution of Singularities in Positive Characteristic, December 2008. The article surveys the theory of kangaroo points as they appear in the resolution of singularities in positive characteristic. They represent one of the main obstructions for transcribing the characteristic zero proof of resolution to positive characteristic. Kangaroo points are classified through the concept of oblique polynomials. The results of the article are used in Hironaka's recent program towards the resolution of singularities in positive characteristic.
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.
We associate to any germ of an analytic variety a Lie algebra of tangent vector fields, the {\it tangent algebra}. Conversely, to any Lie algebra of vector fields an analytic germ can be associated, the {\it integral variety}. The paper investigates properties of this correspondence: The set of all tangent algebras is characterized in purely Lie algebra theoretic terms. And it is shown that the tangent algebra determines the analytic type of the variety.