All Questions
230 questions
37
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Is there a nice proof of the fact that there are (p-1)/24 supersingular elliptic curves in characteristic p?
If $k$ is a characteristic $p$ field containing a subfield with $p^2$ elements (e.g., an algebraic closure of $\mathbb{F}_p$), then the number of isomorphism classes of supersingular elliptic curves ...
- 45.7k
32
votes
10
answers
3k
views
Which 'well-known' algebraic geometric results do not hold in characteristic 2?
A smooth curve $X$ in $\mathbb{P}^n$ is strange if there is a point $p$ which lies on all the tangent lines of $X$.
Examples are $\mathbb{P}^1$ is strange and so is $y=x^2$ in characteristic $2$. ...
- 2,215
31
votes
4
answers
5k
views
The Frobenius morphism
I found the following list on the "Frobenius Page" by David Ben-Zvi, described by the author as "an outdated collection of intuitive ways to think about raising to the p-th power".
Generates a ...
28
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Intuitive pictures in characteristic p
This is a tough one, but does anyone know of any images that recall characteristic p geometry (over algebraically closed fields) in some sense? It is not enough if it is some picture that can be also ...
- 2,215
27
votes
7
answers
6k
views
Etale covers of the affine line
In characteristic p there are nontrivial etale covers of the affine line, such as those obtained by adjoining solutions to x^2 + x + f(t) = 0 for f(t) in k[t]. Using an etale cohomology computation ...
- 52.7k
27
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Reference for de Rham cohomology in positive characteristic
It is known in characteristic $0$ that (algebraic) de Rham cohomology is a Weil cohomology theory. However, in characteristic $p > 0$ it isn't, if only because it has mod $p$ coefficients, whereas ...
- 28.8k
27
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Have people successfully worked with the full ring of differential operators in characteristic p?
This question is inspired by an earlier one about the possibility of using the full ring of differential operators on a flag variety to develop a theory of localization in characteristic $p$. (Here ...
- 57.6k
25
votes
0
answers
1k
views
Status of the Euler characteristic in characteristic p
In the introduction to the Asterisque 82-83 volume on `Caractérisque d'Euler-Poincaré, Verdier writes:
Enfin signalons que la situation en caractéristique positive est loin
d'être aussi ...
- 8,723
24
votes
5
answers
6k
views
Wild Ramification
The question is, loosely put, what is known about wild ramification?
Is there a semi-well-established theory of wild ramification that can be furthered in various specific situations? Or maybe there ...
21
votes
2
answers
5k
views
State of resolution in positive characteristic?
Heisuke Hironaka's coming talk makes me wonder how the state of the work on that theme is. So far, I noticed (but didn't read) these papers:
Kawanoue, Hiraku, Toward resolution of singularities over ...
- 10.8k
21
votes
5
answers
5k
views
Mirror symmetry mod p?! ... Physics mod p?!
In his answer to this question, Scott Carnahan mentions "mirror symmetry mod p". What is that?
(Some kind of) Gromov-Witten invariants can be defined for varieties over fields other than $\mathbb{C}$...
- 21k
21
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Simplest example of jumping of cohomology of structure sheaf in smooth families?
Using Hodge theory (and the ill-defined Lefschetz principle), one can show that in characteristic 0, given a proper smooth family $X \rightarrow B$, the cohomology groups of the structure sheaf of the ...
- 3,857
21
votes
1
answer
2k
views
When does the relative differential $df=0$ imply that $f$ comes from the base?
Let $A \to B$ be a map of commutative rings, and $d : B \to I/I^2$ be
defined by $df = f\otimes 1 - 1\otimes f$, where $I$ is the kernel of
$B \otimes_A B \to B$, as in [Hartshorne II.8].
If $df=0$,...
- 27.9k
20
votes
5
answers
4k
views
Equivalent statements of the Riemann hypothesis in the Weil conjectures
In the cohomological incarnation, the Riemann hypothesis part of the Weil conjectures for a smooth proper scheme of finite type over a finite field with $q$ elements says that: the eigenvalues of ...
- 671
20
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Frobenius splitting and derived Cartier isomorphism
Let $X$ be a smooth algebraic variety over an algebraically closed field $k$ of characteristic $p>\dim X$. The motivation for my question comes from the following results.
1. If $X$ is Frobenius ...
- 16.2k
19
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Elkies' supersingularity theorem in higher dimension
The following is a theorem of Elkies:
Let $X$ be an elliptic curve over $\mathbb{Q}$. Then there are infinitely many primes $p$ such that the action of Frobenius on $H^1(\mathcal{O}, X)$ is zero.
...
- 156k
19
votes
1
answer
2k
views
The Infinitesimal topos in positive characteristic
This question was inspired by and is somewhat related to this question.
In his article "Crystals and the de Rham cohomology of schemes" in the collection "Dix exposes sur la cohomologie ...
- 4,450
19
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Is there a connected $k$-group scheme $G$ such that $G_{red}$ is not a subgroup?
I've been trying a learn a little more about group schemes by working through a set of exercises on Brian Conrad's website. Exercise 8.3 of http://math.stanford.edu/~conrad/papers/gpschemehw1.pdf ...
- 3,625
19
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Perfectoid approach to resolution of singularities in char $p$
Since perfectoid techniques have built a bridge between char $0$ and char $p$ worlds, it is conceivable that they can be applied to resolution of singularities in char $p$ using their successful ...
- 199
19
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Bertini theorems for base-point-free linear systems in positive characteristics
Suppose that $X$ is a smooth algebraic variety over an algebraically closed (uncountable if it helps) field of characteristic $p > 0$. Suppose that $L$ is a line bundle, probably ample or at least ...
- 20.5k
18
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Lifting varieties to characteristic zero.
If you want to compute crystalline cohomology of a smooth proper variety $X$ over a perfect field $k$ of characteristic $p$, the first thing you might want to try is to lift $X$ to the Witt ring $W_k$ ...
- 4,015
18
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Independence of $\ell$ of Betti numbers
When $X$ is a smooth proper variety over $\mathbb F_q$, we know by Deligne's theory of weights that the dimension of $H^i_{\operatorname{\acute et}}(\bar X, \mathbb Q_\ell)$ does not depend on $\ell$. ...
- 28.8k
17
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Why is one interested in the mod p reduction of modular curves and Shimura varieties?
Why is one interested in the mod p reduction of modular curves and Shimura varieties?
From an article I learned that this can be used to prove the Eichler-Shimura relation which in turn proves the ...
user19475
17
votes
4
answers
2k
views
What are supersingular varieties?
For varieties over a field of characteristic $p$, I saw people talking about supersingular varieties.
I wanted to ask "why are supersingular varieties interesting". However, as I don't want to ask an ...
- 2,040
17
votes
2
answers
1k
views
A short proof for simple connectedness of the projective line
The Riemann-Hurwitz formula implies that the projective line $\mathbb{P}^1_K$ over any algebraically closed field $K$ is simply connected (i.e., $\pi_1^{et}(\mathbb{P}^1_K) = 1$; equivalently, if $\...
- 3,362
17
votes
2
answers
2k
views
How to think of algebraic geometry in characteristic p?
How does a working mathematician usually think about algebraic geometry in characteristic $p$? For the sake of concreteness, and to make things more "geometric" (whatever that means), let's ...
17
votes
0
answers
1k
views
Katz--Mazur for abelian varieties
Over $\mathbb Z$, there is a smooth DM stack $A_g$ classifying abelian varieties.
Over $\mathbb Z[\frac 1N]$, there is finite etale cover $A_g(N)_{\mathbb Z[\frac 1N]}\to A_g\otimes\mathbb Z[\frac 1N]...
- 18.7k
16
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Is the tangent space functor from PD formal groups to Lie algebras an equivalence?
The previous version of this question was rather badly broken, and I hope this version makes some sense.
There have been a few questions on MathOverflow about how much representation-theoretic ...
- 45.7k
16
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Coarse moduli spaces over Z and F_p
I would like to know to what extent it is possible to compare fibers over $\mathbb{F}_p$ of coarse moduli spaces over $\mathbb{Z}$, and coarse moduli spaces over $\mathbb{F}_p$. I ask a more precise ...
- 6,543
16
votes
1
answer
984
views
Reconstruct a variety from its crystalline topos
Let $k$ be a perfect field of positive characteristic. Let $X$ be a smooth projective geometrically connected $k$-scheme with a $k$-point.
Can we reconstruct $X$ from its small crystalline topos $((X/...
user158636
15
votes
6
answers
3k
views
Characteristic zero and characteristic $p$ in algebraic geometry
Are there non-trivial (i.e. excluding concepts that can be defined only for $p>0$) statements in algebraic geometry that hold for all fields of characteristic $p$ for all prime $p$ but are known ...
user16974
15
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Can we count isogeny classes of abelian varieties?
Let's fix a finite field F and consider abelian varieties of dimension g over F. Can we say how many isogeny classes there are? Is it even clear that there's more than one isogeny class? For g=1, ...
- 1,988
15
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Number of curves over a finite field
Let $K$ be a finite field. Is there a formula for the number of isomorphism classes of genus $g$ smooth curves over $K$?
In other words does there exists a formula for the number of rational points ...
- 8,998
15
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Frobenius Descent
Let $S$ be a scheme of positive characteristic $p$ and $X$ a smooth $S$-scheme. Let $F:X\rightarrow X^{(p)}$ denote the relative Frobenius. A result by Cartier (often called Cartier descent or ...
- 4,450
15
votes
2
answers
596
views
When is the etale cohomology of $\mathrm{Sym}^n(X)$ isomorphic to the $\Sigma_n$-invariants in the étale cohomology of $X^n$?
Suppose $X$ is a smooth projective variety defined over an arbitrary algebraically closed field $k$, and consider the action of $\Sigma_n$ on the $n$-fold product $X^n$. Is it true that $H_{\acute{e}t}...
- 233
15
votes
0
answers
2k
views
Why was it so difficult to define the relative de Rham-Witt complex?
In Illusie's original article, the de Rham-Witt complex is defined for a smooth scheme over a perfect characteristic $p$ base $S$, without reference to $S$. Some 25 years later, Langer and Zink ...
- 16.2k
15
votes
0
answers
779
views
Lifting varieties from char. $p$ to char. 0 after alterations
The question is related to this MO question:
Lifting varieties to characteristic zero.
Let $X$ be a projective smooth variety over $k$ alg. closed field of char. $p.$ Does there always exist an ...
- 4,265
14
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Frobenius splitting of Fano varieties
Dear MO,
Question 1. Do you know of an example of a Fano variety which is not Frobenius split?
Background
(1) A variety $X$ in characteristic $p$ is called Frobenius split if there is a "$p$-th ...
- 16.2k
14
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Do varieties with ample canonical bundle have finite automorphism group in small characteristic?
Suppose $X$ is a smooth projective variety over a field $k$, with ample canonical bundle. If $\operatorname{char}(k)=0$ or $\operatorname{char}(k)>\dim(X)$ and $X$ lifts to $W_2(k)$ (thanks ...
- 23k
14
votes
0
answers
1k
views
A slick proof (?) of Zariski-Nagata purity in characteristic $p$
I am trying to understand the MathSciNet review written by Mark Kisin of the paper "Almost etale extensions" of Faltings. There Kisin illustrates Faltings' approach to the almost purity theorem with ...
- 2,663
13
votes
1
answer
690
views
Obstructions to formally integrating vector fields in characteristic p?
Let $M$ be a smooth scheme over some field $k$ of characteristic $p$, and $\vec X$ a vector field on it. Equivalently, $\vec X$ gives a map $Spec\ k[\epsilon]/\langle \epsilon^2 \rangle \times M \to M$...
- 27.9k
13
votes
0
answers
749
views
Rings whose Frobenius is flat
Let $R$ be a ring of characteristic $p>0$. The (absolute) Frobenius is the map of rings $F_R:R\rightarrow R$ defined by $x\mapsto x^p$.
I am interested in rings for which $F_R$ is flat (hence ...
anon1432
13
votes
0
answers
943
views
Beilinson-Bernstein localization in positive characteristic
This is a follow-up to this question; in particular, I'm wondering if anyone can expand upon the interesting answers given by Kevin McGerty and David Ben-Zvi there. (In particular, in this question I'...
- 3,637
12
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Weil Conjectures for nonprojective algebraic varieties
If we replace projective variety with algebraic variety in the statement of the Weil conjectures what happens? To me it seems the statement still makes sense. But is it still true?
- 1,462
12
votes
1
answer
750
views
Vanishing theorems in positive characteristic
In the paper
Deligne, Pierre; Illusie, Luc (1987), "Relèvements modulo $p^{2}$ et décomposition du complexe de De Rham", Inventiones Mathematicae 89 (2): 247–270, doi:10.1007/BF01389078
I found the ...
- 8,998
12
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Replacement for derivations in characteristic p?
Let $k$ be a field.
If $f \in k[x]$ is a polynomial, and $d/dx\ f = 0$, then either
$f$ is constant, or
$char\ k = p$ and $f \in k[x^p]$.
So "annihilated by all derivations" is perhaps not the right ...
- 27.9k
12
votes
0
answers
729
views
Elkies' supersingularity theorem in higher dimension (in terms of the associated Newton polygon)
Elkies' supersingularity theorem: Given an elliptic curve $E$ over $\mathbb{Q}$, there are infinitely many primes $p$ such that $E$ is supersingular over $\mathbb{F}_p$.
I have seen another post on ...
- 3,539
12
votes
0
answers
716
views
Lifting abelian varieties in (the closed fiber of) a fixed Neron model
Suppose that $R$ is a dvr with field of fractions $K$ and residue field $k$ and that $A_K$ is an abelian variety over $K$ with Neron model $A$ over $R$. Then the closed fiber $A_k$ is a smooth ...
- 1,609
11
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Class groups of normal domains over finite fields
Let R be a local, normal domain of dimension 2. Suppose that R contains a finite field. I am interested in knowing when the class group of R is torsion. In characteristic 0, this is known to be ...
- 30.6k
11
votes
4
answers
3k
views
What does ramification have to do with separability?
Does ramification have anything to do with inseparability? It feels like an extension of Q in which p ramifies should somehow correspond to an extension of F_p(t). Does totally ramified <--> purely ...
- 15.4k