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Let us assume that we work over an algebraically closed base field $k$, and fix a prime $\ell$ different from the characteristic of $k$. First of all, the Kummer-sequence $$0\rightarrow \mu_{\ell^n}\rightarrow \mathbb{G}_m\xrightarrow{\ell^n}\mathbb{G}_m\rightarrow 0$$ for $\ell$ prime to the characteristic of $k$, shows that $Pic(X)$ contains no $\ell$-power torsion. In particular, if $char(k)=0$, then $Pic(X)$ is torsion free.

Next, recall that for étale cohomology we have $H^1(X,\mathbb{Z}_\ell(1))=\hom^{cont}(\pi^{et}_1(X),\mathbb{Z}_{\ell})$. Hence, if $H^1(X,\mathbb{Z}_\ell(1))=0$, then the maximal abelian pro-$\ell$-quotient of $\pi_1^{et}$ is $0$.

Now assume that we have a smooth proper scheme $X'$ containing $X$ as a dense open subset. In your characteristic $0$ situation this can always be achieved. Then the abelian maximal pro-$\ell$-quotient of $\pi_1^{et}(X)$ surjects onto the maximal abelian pro-$\ell$ quotient of $\pi_1(X')$, so this group is also trivial. Again, using the Kummer sequence, this implies that $Pic(X')$ contains to no $\ell$-power torsion. Since $X'$ is proper, there is a Picard scheme $Pic_{X'/k}$, such that $Pic(X')=Pic_{X'/k}(k)$. In particular, if $Pic^0_{X'/k}$ denotes the connected component of the origin, then $Pic^0_{X'/k}(k)$ has no $\ell$-power torsion. But $Pic^0_{X'/k}$ (or rather its reduced closed subscheme, if $k$ has positive characteristic) is an abelian variety. It follows that $Pic^0_{X'/k}$ is a $0$-dimensional abelian variety (as otherwise there would be nontrivial $\ell$-torsion). This implies that $Pic(X')=NS(X')=Pic_{X'/k}(k)/Pic^0_{X'/k}(k)$, which is a finitely generated group without prime-to-$p$-torsion, i.e. if $char (k)=0$, then $Pic(X')$ is free of finite rank.

Since $X'$ was smooth, we have a surjection $Pic(X')\twoheadrightarrow Pic(X)$, so $Pic(X)$ is free of finite rank (because we already knew it is torsion free).

Next, the Kummer sequence gives an exact sequence $$0\rightarrow Pic(X)\xrightarrow{(-)^{\ell^n}}Pic(X)\xrightarrow{c_{1,\ell^n}}H^2(X,\mathbb{Z}/\ell^n\mathbb{Z}(1))$$ for every $n$, so $Pic(X)/\ell^n\subset H^2(X,\mathbb{Z}/\ell^n\mathbb{Z}(1))$, and passing to the limit gives $Pic(X)\otimes \mathbb{Z}_\ell\subset H^2(X,\mathbb{Z}_\ell(1))$, because we know that $Pic(X)$ is finitely generated.

Thus, if we assume that $H^2(X,\mathbb{Z}_\ell(1))=0$, then $Pic(X)=0$.

2 latex error fixed

Let us assume that we work over an algebraically closed base field $k$, and fix a prime $\ell$ different from the characteristic of $k$. First of all, the Kummer-sequence $$0\xrightarrow{\mu_{\ell^n}}\rightarrow 0\rightarrow \mu_{\ell^n}\rightarrow \mathbb{G}_m\xrightarrow{\ell^n}\mathbb{G}_m\rightarrow 0$$ for $\ell$ prime to the characteristic of $k$, shows that $Pic(X)$ contains no $\ell$-power torsion. In particular, if $char(k)=0$, then $Pic(X)$ is torsion free.

Next, recall that for étale cohomology we have $H^1(X,\mathbb{Z}_\ell(1))=\hom^{cont}(\pi^{et}_1(X),\mathbb{Z}_{\ell})$. Hence, if $H^1(X,\mathbb{Z}_\ell(1))=0$, then the maximal abelian pro-$\ell$-quotient of $\pi_1^{et}$ is $0$.

Now assume that we have a smooth proper scheme $X'$ containing $X$ as a dense open subset. In your characteristic $0$ situation this can always be achieved. Then the abelian maximal pro-$\ell$-quotient of $\pi_1^{et}(X)$ surjects onto the maximal abelian pro-$\ell$ quotient of $\pi_1(X')$, so this group is also trivial. Again, using the Kummer sequence, this implies that $Pic(X')$ contains to $\ell$-power torsion. Since $X'$ is proper, there is a Picard scheme $Pic_{X'/k}$, such that $Pic(X')=Pic_{X'/k}(k)$. In particular, if $Pic^0_{X'/k}$ denotes the connected component of the origin, then $Pic^0_{X'/k}(k)$ has no $\ell$-power torsion. But $Pic^0_{X'/k}$ (or rather its reduced closed subscheme, if $k$ has positive characteristic) is an abelian variety. It follows that $Pic^0_{X'/k}$ is a $0$-dimensional abelian variety (as otherwise there would be nontrivial $\ell$-torsion). This implies that $Pic(X')=NS(X')=Pic_{X'/k}(k)/Pic^0_{X'/k}(k)$, which is a finitely generated group without prime-to-$p$-torsion, i.e. if $char (k)=0$, then $Pic(X')$ is free of finite rank.

Since $X'$ was smooth, we have a surjection $Pic(X')\twoheadrightarrow Pic(X)$, so $Pic(X)$ is free of finite rank (because we already knew it is torsion free).

Next, the Kummer sequence gives an exact sequence $$0\rightarrow Pic(X)\xrightarrow{(-)^{\ell^n}}Pic(X)\xrightarrow{c_{1,\ell^n}}H^2(X,\mathbb{Z}/\ell^n\mathbb{Z}(1))$$ for every $n$, so $Pic(X)/\ell^n\subset H^2(X,\mathbb{Z}/\ell^n\mathbb{Z}(1))$, and passing to the limit gives $Pic(X)\otimes \mathbb{Z}_\ell\subset H^2(X,\mathbb{Z}_\ell(1))$, because we know that $Pic(X)$ is finitely generated.

Thus, if we assume that $H^2(X,\mathbb{Z}_\ell(1))=0$, then $Pic(X)=0$.

1

Let us assume that we work over an algebraically closed base field $k$, and fix a prime $\ell$ different from the characteristic of $k$. First of all, the Kummer-sequence $$0\xrightarrow{\mu_{\ell^n}}\rightarrow \mathbb{G}_m\xrightarrow{\ell^n}\mathbb{G}_m\rightarrow 0$$ for $\ell$ prime to the characteristic of $k$, shows that $Pic(X)$ contains no $\ell$-power torsion. In particular, if $char(k)=0$, then $Pic(X)$ is torsion free.

Next, recall that for étale cohomology we have $H^1(X,\mathbb{Z}_\ell(1))=\hom^{cont}(\pi^{et}_1(X),\mathbb{Z}_{\ell})$. Hence, if $H^1(X,\mathbb{Z}_\ell(1))=0$, then the maximal abelian pro-$\ell$-quotient of $\pi_1^{et}$ is $0$.

Now assume that we have a smooth proper scheme $X'$ containing $X$ as a dense open subset. In your characteristic $0$ situation this can always be achieved. Then the abelian maximal pro-$\ell$-quotient of $\pi_1^{et}(X)$ surjects onto the maximal abelian pro-$\ell$ quotient of $\pi_1(X')$, so this group is also trivial. Again, using the Kummer sequence, this implies that $Pic(X')$ contains to $\ell$-power torsion. Since $X'$ is proper, there is a Picard scheme $Pic_{X'/k}$, such that $Pic(X')=Pic_{X'/k}(k)$. In particular, if $Pic^0_{X'/k}$ denotes the connected component of the origin, then $Pic^0_{X'/k}(k)$ has no $\ell$-power torsion. But $Pic^0_{X'/k}$ (or rather its reduced closed subscheme, if $k$ has positive characteristic) is an abelian variety. It follows that $Pic^0_{X'/k}$ is a $0$-dimensional abelian variety (as otherwise there would be nontrivial $\ell$-torsion). This implies that $Pic(X')=NS(X')=Pic_{X'/k}(k)/Pic^0_{X'/k}(k)$, which is a finitely generated group without prime-to-$p$-torsion, i.e. if $char (k)=0$, then $Pic(X')$ is free of finite rank.

Since $X'$ was smooth, we have a surjection $Pic(X')\twoheadrightarrow Pic(X)$, so $Pic(X)$ is free of finite rank (because we already knew it is torsion free).

Next, the Kummer sequence gives an exact sequence $$0\rightarrow Pic(X)\xrightarrow{(-)^{\ell^n}}Pic(X)\xrightarrow{c_{1,\ell^n}}H^2(X,\mathbb{Z}/\ell^n\mathbb{Z}(1))$$ for every $n$, so $Pic(X)/\ell^n\subset H^2(X,\mathbb{Z}/\ell^n\mathbb{Z}(1))$, and passing to the limit gives $Pic(X)\otimes \mathbb{Z}_\ell\subset H^2(X,\mathbb{Z}_\ell(1))$, because we know that $Pic(X)$ is finitely generated.

Thus, if we assume that $H^2(X,\mathbb{Z}_\ell(1))=0$, then $Pic(X)=0$.