Chern classes in flat families - MathOverflow

Chern classes in flat families

2011-01-20T18:41:37Z

Given a smooth projective variety $X$ over an algebraically closed field $k$. Now given a another projective variety $T$ and a coherent $O_{X\times T}$-module $F$, which is flat over $T$.

Given $r,s \in T$, and let $F_r$ and $F_s$ be the pullback of $F$ to the fibers over $r$ and $s$.

Do we have $ch(F_r)=ch(F_s)$ in this case? I.e. is the Chern character constant in flat families?

What about the Chern classes $c_i$?

Is there some literature about the behaviour of these characteristic classes in (flat) families?

Answer by Sasha for Chern classes in flat families

2011-01-20T21:21:49Z

The answer depends on the version of the Chern classes you are using. For example, if you consider Chern classes with values in the Chow ring then the answer is negative. The simplest example is the following, take $X = T$ to be an elliptic curve, and $F$ to be the line bundle corresponding to the diagonal. Then $c_1(F_r)$ is the point $r$ itself, but different points are not rationally equivalent.

On the other hand, if you consider Chern classes with values in cohomology with rational coefficients then the answer is positive (if $T$ is connected!). Indeed, since $X$ is smooth and projective any flat sheaf has a resolution by vector bundles. Because of the flatness its restriction gives a resolution of the restricted sheaf. Since Chern classes are multiplicative in exact seqeunces, the question reduces to the case of a vector bundle. Further, because of the splitting principle we can assume we can assume that $F$ is a line bundle. And in this case we can deduce everything from Riemann--Roch.

Note by the way that the same argument shows that Chern classes are also constant in non-flat families, if you only replace the restriction $F_r$ by derived restriction.

Answer by Sándor Kovács for Chern classes in flat families

2011-01-20T21:27:42Z

As soon as ${\rm Pic}^\circ(X)$ is non-trivial there is a counter-example. Take a non-trivial line bundle $\mathcal L$ that deforms to the trivial one. Then $c_1(\mathcal L)$ goes from non-zero to zero.