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Suppose $X$ and $Y$ are smooth affine surfaces over $\mathbb C$. Suppose there is a biholomorphism $f: X\to Y$. Does it follow that $X$ and $Y$ are isomorphic as affine surfaces (i.e. there exists an algebraic isomorphism $g: X\to Y$)?

What if we additionally know that $X$ and $Y$ are rational surfaces?

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    $\begingroup$ I think that if $E$ is an elliptic curve, then $H^1(E,C)/H^1(E,Z)$ is isomorphic to $C^{*}\times C^{*}$ biolomorphically. On the other hand, I think that the former is an $\mathbb{A}^{1}$ bundle over $E$ by going modulo $H^0(E,\Omega^1_E)$. Will write it up in detail later if no one else does! $\endgroup$
    – Kapil
    Commented Oct 14, 2022 at 10:24
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    $\begingroup$ Out of curiosity, do you know the answer when $X=\mathbf{C}^2$? $\endgroup$
    – YCor
    Commented Oct 14, 2022 at 10:34
  • $\begingroup$ Thanks for the question! I don't know the answer for $X=\mathbb C^2$. In fact, I am especially interested in the case when $X$ and $Y$ are rational surfaces $\endgroup$
    – aglearner
    Commented Oct 14, 2022 at 10:37
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    $\begingroup$ @YCor, CP Ramanujam’s theorem (Annals, 1971) characterizing $\mathbb{C}^2$ topologically implies that a smooth complex affine surface just homeomorphic to $\mathbb{C}^2$ is algebraically isomorphic to $\mathbb{C}^2$, so in the present case $Y\cong \mathbb{C}^2$. Unfortunately this is not a very easy answer (the easily stated question somehow makes one feel it is quickly within reach). $\endgroup$
    – Maharana
    Commented Oct 15, 2022 at 20:51
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    $\begingroup$ Alok Maharana also pointed out to me independently that an earlier answer referenced Corollary 4 in a paper by Freudenberg and Moser-Jauslin which gives examples as required by OP. Jason Starr's example is much easier! $\endgroup$
    – Kapil
    Commented Oct 19, 2022 at 13:51

2 Answers 2

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Let $\overline{C}$ be a complex projective curve of genus $g>0$. Let $C\subset \overline{C}$ be the open affine complement of one (closed) point $p$. The composition $\text{Pic}^0(\overline{C})\to \text{Pic}(\overline{C})\to \text{Pic}(C)$ is an isomorphism. Let $L$ be any nontrivial (geometric) rank $1$ vector bundle over $C$. This is affine, since $C$ is affine and the projection morphism from $L$ to $C$ is affine. This projection morphism equals the image of the Albanese morphism of $L$ (this is a birational invariant for complex projective manifolds, thus extends unambiguously to complex quasi-projective manifolds). The relative tangent bundle of this projection morphism is the pullback from $C$ of a unique invertible sheaf, namely the invertible sheaf associated to $L$. Thus, the relative tangent bundle of the Albanese morphism is not trivial. Hence $L$ is not isomorphic to $\mathbb{A}^1\times C$. Yet the underlying complex manifolds are biholomorphic.

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  • $\begingroup$ Thanks a lot for this answer Jason! Do I understand correctly that $L$ and $\mathbb A^1\times C$ are biholomorphic because the line bundle $L$ has a nowhere vanishing, albeit non-algebraic section? Also, I wonder, what would be your guess concerning the case when $X$ and $Y$ are both rational surfaces? Should one expect to be able to find a counter-example in this case as well? $\endgroup$
    – aglearner
    Commented Oct 15, 2022 at 9:11
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    $\begingroup$ Yes, that is correct. Alternatively, since $C$ is Stein, all topologically trivial holomorphic principal bundles are holomorphically trivial by Grauert-Oka. $\endgroup$ Commented Oct 15, 2022 at 11:34
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Update: Note that this fails to provide the required example since the second algebraic structure is not affine as desired. However, I am not deleting this answer as yet.

The moduli of flat line bundles over a curve $X$ of genus $g$ is parametrized holomorphically by $\left(\mathbb{C}^*\right)^{2g}$. This uses the topological description of such a line bundle in terms trivialisation on the universal cover. This yields one algebraic structure given by $(\mathbb{G}_m)^{2g}$. In particular, this has no morphisms to an Abelian variety.

On the other hand, a line bundle with a flat connection has degree 0. Different flat connections on a line bundle differ by a holomorphic $1$-form on $X$. This shows that the algebraic moduli space of flat connections on a line bundle over $X$ is an affine space torsor $T$ for $H^0(X,\Omega^1_X)$ over $\mathrm{Pic}^0(X)$. In other words, $T\to \mathrm{Pic}^0(X)$ is a bundle of $\mathbb{A}^g$'s.

Thus $T$ and $(\mathbb{G}_m)^{2g}$ are two different algebraic structures (since one maps to $\mathrm{Pic}^0(X)$ and the other does not) for the same underlying holomorphic manifold of dimension $2g$. The original question (for surfaces) is answered by taking $g=1$.

@aglearner has asked how we see that there is an algebraic moduli space for flat connections of a fixed dimension $r$ over a smooth projective variety $X$. The most comprehensive reference is the work of Simpson here and here. However, there ought to be easier to read explanations when $X$ is a curve and $r$ is 1, but I could not find them!

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  • $\begingroup$ Dear Kapil, thank you for writing up details for this nice example! Note though that in my question both $X$ and $Y$ are affine surfaces. Certainly $\mathbb C^*\times \mathbb C^*$ is affine. But how do you prove that the algebraic moduli space of flat connections on a line bundle over $E$ is an affine surface? I.e why your $Y$ is affine? $\endgroup$
    – aglearner
    Commented Oct 14, 2022 at 14:43
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    $\begingroup$ @aglearner I believe $Y$ is not affine (giving an example of a non-affine algebraic stein manifold). See e.g. Remark 7.6 in this paper of Neeman jstor.org/stable/2007052 $\endgroup$ Commented Oct 14, 2022 at 17:28
  • $\begingroup$ I missed the point about the need for the variety $Y$ to be affine! $\endgroup$
    – Kapil
    Commented Oct 14, 2022 at 17:31
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    $\begingroup$ The example for $g=1$ is also explained in an older MO answer in a different and perhaps easier way. $\endgroup$
    – Kapil
    Commented Oct 14, 2022 at 17:45

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