All Questions
225 questions
79
votes
12
answers
13k
views
Is there a high-concept explanation for why characteristic 2 is special?
The structure of the multiplicative groups of $\mathbb{Z}/p\mathbb{Z}$ or of $\mathbb{Z}_p$ is the same for odd primes, but not for $2.$ Quadratic reciprocity has a uniform statement for odd primes, ...
- 118k
22
votes
5
answers
7k
views
Rational points on a sphere in $\mathbb{R}^d$
Call a point of $\mathbb{R}^d$ rational if all its $d$ coordinates are rational numbers.
Q1.
Are the rational points dense on the unit sphere $S :\; x_1^2 +\cdots+ x_d^2 = 1$, i.e. does $S$ ...
- 151k
148
votes
4
answers
69k
views
What are "perfectoid spaces"?
This talk is about a theory of "perfectoid spaces", which "compares objects in characteristic p with objects in characteristic 0". What are those spaces, where can one read about them?
Edit: A bit ...
- 10.8k
89
votes
9
answers
13k
views
Why should I believe the Mordell Conjecture?
It was Faltings who first proved in 1983 the Mordell conjecture, that a curve of genus 2 or more over a number field has only finitely many rational points.
I am interested to know why Mordell and ...
- 2,827
52
votes
8
answers
28k
views
Roadmap for studying arithmetic geometry
I have read Hartshorne's Algebraic Geometry from chapter 1 to chapter 4, so I'd like to find some suggestions about the next step to study arithmetic geometry.
I want to know how to use scheme ...
43
votes
1
answer
4k
views
A mysterious connection between Ramanujan-type formulas for $1/\pi^k$ and hypergeometric motives
The question below is the follow-up of this question on MathOverflow.
Motivation: As is stated in the former question, those identities(formula (35)-(44)) of $1/\pi$ attributed to Ramanujan are ...
- 3,337
26
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Are most curves over Q pointless?
Fresh out of the arXiv press is the remarkable result of Manjul Bhargava saying that most hyperelliptic curves over $\mathbf{Q}$ have no rational points. Don Zagier suggests the paraphrase : Most ...
- 18.7k
16
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Is Multilinear Hilbert's tenth problem version undecidable?
A multilinear polynomial $f\in\mathbb Z[x_1,\dots,x_t]$ has terms only of form $$b\prod_{i=1}^tx_i^{a_i}$$ where $a_i\in\{0,1\}$ and $b\in\mathbb Z$.
Is there no general purpose algorithm for ...
- 13.9k
16
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Good introductory references on moduli (stacks), for arithmetic objects
I've studied some fundation of algebraic geometry, such as Hartshorne's "Algebraic Geometry", Liu's "Algebraic Geometry and Arithmetic Curves", Silverman's "The Arithmetic of Elliptic Curves", and ...
- 1,364
13
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Is the map on étale fundamental groups of a quasi-projective variety, upon base change between algebraically closed fields, an isomorphism?
$\DeclareMathOperator\Spec{Spec}$Let $k \subset L$ be two algebraically closed fields of characteristic $0$. Let $U \subset \mathbb P^n_k$ be a smooth quasi-projective variety and let $U_L$ denote the ...
- 1,308
43
votes
1
answer
19k
views
What is inter-universal geometry?
I wonder what Mochizuki's inter-universal geometry and his generalisation of anabelian geometry is, e.g. why the ABC-conjecture involves nested inclusions of sets as hinted in the slides, or why such ...
- 10.8k
34
votes
2
answers
3k
views
The work of E. Artin and F. K. Schmidt on (what are now called) the Weil conjectures.
I was reading Dieudonne's "On the history of the Weil conjectures" and found two things that surprised me. Dieudonne makes some assertions about the work of Artin and Schmidt which are no doubt ...
- 41.4k
20
votes
3
answers
2k
views
what is the maximum number of rational points of a curve of genus 2 over the rationals
Conjecturally, there exists an integer $n$ such that the number of rational points of a genus $2$ curve over $\mathbf{Q}$ is at most $n$. (This follows from the Bombieri-Lang conjecture.)
We are ...
- 209
15
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Existence of fine moduli space for curves and elliptic curves
For the moduli problem of a curve of genus $g$ with $n$ marked points, how large an $n$ is needed to ensure the existence of a fine moduli space? For this question, terminology is that of Mumford's ...
- 7,442
9
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Nonabelian $H^2$ and Galois descent
I would like to know whether the following metatheorem on nonabelian $H^2$ has been ever stated and/or proved.
Let $k$ be a perfect field and $k^s$ its fixed separable closure.
Let $X^s$ be a variety ...
- 14.2k
60
votes
2
answers
11k
views
What is a good roadmap for learning Shimura curves?
I am interested in learning about Shimura curves. Unlike most of the people who post reference requests however (see this question for example), my problem is not sorting through an abundance of books ...
user1073
56
votes
8
answers
8k
views
Questions about analogy between Spec Z and 3-manifolds
I'm not sure if the questions make sense:
Conc. primes as knots and Spec Z as 3-manifold - fits that to the Poincare conjecture? Topologists view 3-manifolds as Kirby-equivalence classes of framed ...
48
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Fermat's last theorem over larger fields
Fermat's last theorem implies that the number of solutions of $x^5 + y^5 = 1$ over $\mathbb{Q}$ is finite.
Is the number of solutions of $x^5 + y^5 = 1$ over $\mathbb{Q}^{\text{ab}}$ finite?
Here $\...
- 11.3k
42
votes
2
answers
10k
views
Intuition behind the Eichler-Shimura relation?
The modular curve $X_0(N)$ has good reduction at all primes $p$ not dividing $N$. At such a prime, the Eichler-Shimura relation expresses the Hecke operator $T_p$ (as an element of the ring of ...
- 118k
35
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Durov approach to Arakelov geometry and $\mathbb{F}_1$
Durov's thesis on algebraic geometry over generalized rings looks extremely intriguing: it promises to unify scheme based and Arakelov geometry, even in singular cases, as well as including geometry ...
- 14.8k
32
votes
4
answers
5k
views
Over which fields does the Mordell-Weil theorem hold?
According to a well-known theorem of Mordell, the group of rational points $E(\mathbf{Q})$ of an elliptic curve $E/\mathbf{Q}$ is finitely generated. Weil generalized this theorem to abelian varieties ...
- 20.8k
31
votes
2
answers
1k
views
The Sylvester-Gallai theorem over $p$-adic fields
The famous Sylvester-Gallai theorem states that for any finite set $X$ of points in the plane $\mathbf{R}^2$, not all on a line, there is a line passing through exactly two points of $X$.
What ...
- 20.8k
26
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Crux of Dwork's proof of rationality of the zeta function?
As the question title suggests, what is the crux of Dwork's proof of the rationality of the zeta function? What is the intuition behind the proof, what are the key steps that the proof boils down to?
user97565
26
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Variety acquiring rational point over any quadratic extension
Does there exist a variety $X$ over $\mathbb{Q}$ (or a number field) such that it has no rational points over $\mathbb{Q}$ but acquires points over any quadratic extension $\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{d})$?
If ...
- 463
25
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Why it is difficult to define cohomology groups in Arakelov theory?
I have been puzzled by the following Faltings' remark in his paper Calculus on arithemetic surfaces (page 394) for a few months. He says:
If $D$ is a divisor on $X$, we would like to define a ...
- 6,259
22
votes
2
answers
2k
views
unboundedness of number of integral points on elliptic curves?
If $E/\mathbf{Q}$ is an elliptic curve and we put it into minimal Weierstrass form, we can count how many integral points it has. A theorem of Siegel tells us that this number $n(E)$ is finite, and ...
- 41.4k
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
18
votes
7
answers
3k
views
SAT and Arithmetic Geometry
This is an agglomeration of several questions, linked by a single observation: SAT is equivalent to determining the existence of roots for a system of polynomial equations over $\mathbb{F}_2$ (note ...
- 1,368
18
votes
1
answer
754
views
Arithmetic motivations for modularity in higher rank
The classical setting of modularity is that one can associate elliptic modular forms (or automorphic representations of GL(2)/$\mathbb Q$) to elliptic curves over $\mathbb Q$. This has far-reaching ...
- 6,049
16
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Period rings for Galois representations
I have some questions concerning period rings for Galois representations.
First, consider the case of $p$-adic representations of the absolute Galois group $G_K$, where $K$ denote a $p$-adic field. ...
- 657
16
votes
0
answers
533
views
Are there smooth and proper schemes over $\mathbb Z$ whose cohomology is not of Tate type
Is there an example of smooth and proper scheme $X \to \mathrm{Spec}(\mathbb Z)$, and an integer $i$ such that $H^i(X, \mathbb Q)$ is not a Hodge structure of Tate type?
Alternatively: such that $H^...
- 171
13
votes
2
answers
944
views
Belyi's theorem for function fields
Belyi's theorem states that every smooth projective algebraic curve $C$ defined over $\bar{\mathbb{Q}}$
admits a map $C\to\mathbb{P}^1$ ramified only over $0,1,\infty$.
Is there an analogue of this ...
- 661
11
votes
1
answer
1k
views
What geometric properties do properties of ell-adic Galois representations imply?
This is the converse question to an earlier question. More precisely,
Let $X/K$ be a curve(or variety) over a global field $K$. We consider the Galois representation obtained by the absolute Galois ...
- 1,417
10
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Some arithmetic terminology: "universal domain", "specialization", "Chow point"
As a non-connoisseur of arithmetic and arithmetic geometry, I would like to ask about some terminology, which meaning I haven't been able to find out on some books, nor on wikipedia, nor by google.
...
- 23.4k
9
votes
4
answers
3k
views
reduction of CM elliptic curves
Can someone indicate how to prove the following equivalences for a CM elliptic curve $E$:
(i) $p$ is inert in End($E$)
(ii) $E_p$ is supersingular
(iii) The trace of the Frobenius at $p$ is $0$ [...
user19475
8
votes
1
answer
308
views
Algebraic points of uniformly bounded degree on an algebraic variety
Let $k$ be a perfect field, and let $\bar k$ be a fixed algebraic closure of $k$.
Let $\overline{X}$ be a nonempty smooth algebraic variety over $\bar k$.
Does there exist a natural number $d=d(\...
- 14.2k
8
votes
1
answer
747
views
Deligne's exterior power
In "Catégories Tannakiennes", Deligne defines the $n$th exterior power of an object $A$ of an abelian tensor category $\mathcal{C}$ as the image of the morphism
$$p : A^{\otimes n} \to A^{\otimes n}, ...
- 63.1k
7
votes
1
answer
5k
views
Chevalley's Theorem on Constructible Sets
I'm having a hard time understanding the theorem in the title, more specifically the proof of the related fact that the image of a dominant morphism contains a dense open set of it's closure. (My ...
- 75
6
votes
1
answer
418
views
Number of points of parabolic Springer fibres
Let $P$ be a parabolic subgroup of $\mathrm{GL}_n$ and $u\in P$ a unipotent element. The parabolic Springer fibre associated to $(P,u)$ can be defined by
$$
\mathcal{P}_u:=\{gP\in G/P \mathrel\vert g^{...
- 2,751
6
votes
0
answers
343
views
Are all stabilizer groups of the co-adjoint action smooth?
Let $k$ be a (non-archimedean) local field of positive characteristic $p$ and $\mathfrak{n}$ be any finite-dimensional nilpotent Lie algebra over $k$ with nilpotence length $l<p$. It is well-known ...
- 1,702
4
votes
1
answer
309
views
Does the modular form associated to cubic twist of a elliptic curve $E$ corresponds to some twist of $f_E$?
Let $E$ be an elliptic curve defined over $\Bbb Q$ and $f_E$ be the modular form associated with the elliptic curve $E$.
Suppose the elliptic curve $E^D$ is a quadratic twist of $E$.
I understand that ...
- 753
2
votes
2
answers
686
views
transcendence of canonical heights
Are there known examples of rational points on elliptic curves/abelian varieties
over number fields with transcendental canonical height? Thanks.
- 3,867
2
votes
0
answers
228
views
On a class of loci in Chow varieties
Let $k$ be a field, $i:X\hookrightarrow \mathbf{P}(\mathscr{E})$ be a fixed projective embedding of a smooth projective $k$-variety $X$, whose dimension is pure and equals $d\ge 0$.
For $0\le p\le d$,...
user95222
1
vote
1
answer
241
views
locally closed orbits in metric Hausdorff topology
I learned the following fact from Bruhat and Tits's paper "Homomorphismes “abstraits” de groupes algebriques simples" Section 3.18 that
Let $k$ be a local field. Suppose that a $k$-group $H$ acts $k$...
- 1,702
150
votes
2
answers
22k
views
What is a Frobenioid?
Since there will be a long digression in a moment, let me start by reassuring you that my intention really is to ask the question in the title.
Recently, there has been a flurry of new discussion ...
- 13.6k
77
votes
1
answer
15k
views
What is an étale theta function?
Let me start out by urging you to take seriously that whatever I write about the papers surrounding IUTT really are questions. If you would like to use it as a guide to the mathematics in any way, ...
- 13.6k
70
votes
7
answers
28k
views
Have there been any updates on Mochizuki's proposed proof of the abc conjecture?
In August 2012, a proof of the abc conjecture was proposed by Shinichi Mochizuki. However, the proof was based on a "Inter-universal Teichmüller theory" which Mochizuki himself pioneered. It was known ...
60
votes
1
answer
6k
views
What were the main ideas and gaps in Yoichi Miyaoka's attempted proof (1988) of Fermat's Last Theorem?
Out of sheer curiosity I have been reading Stewert and Tall's "Algebraic Number Theory and Fermat's Last Theorem" (2001). As it contains various bits of history, I found out to my own shame that I was ...
- 7,127
50
votes
6
answers
6k
views
Intuition for the last step in Serre's proof of the three-squares theorem
Serre's A Course in Arithmetic gives essentially the following proof of the three-squares theorem, which says that an integer $a$ is the sum of three squares if and only if it is not of the form $4^m (...
- 118k
47
votes
3
answers
5k
views
"Cute" applications of the étale fundamental group
When I was an undergrad student, the first application that was given to me of the construction of the fundamental group was the non-retraction lemma : there is no continuous map from the disk to the ...
- 7,320