All Questions
90 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
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
23
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Etale cohomology with coefficients in the integers
Here is a basic question. When does $H^1_{et}(X,\mathbb{Z})$ vanish? Using the exact sequence of constant etale sheaves $0\rightarrow\mathbb{Z}\rightarrow\mathbb{Q}\rightarrow\mathbb{Q}/\mathbb{Z}\...
- 5,062
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
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
16
votes
0
answers
879
views
L-Functions of Varieties, Zeta Functions of Their Models
Let $k$ denote a number field, with algebraic closure $\bar{k}$. Take a smooth, projective variety $X$ over $k$. If $\mathfrak{p}$ is a prime of $k$, and $l$ is a rational prime different to the ...
- 643
12
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Semisimplicity of Frobenius operation on etale cohomology?
Let $X_0$ be a variety defined over a finite field of characteristic $p \neq l$.
Is it true, that the action of the frobenius on the l-adic cohomology $H_l^*(X)$ is semisimple (say for smooth $X_0$)? ...
- 13.2k
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
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
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
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
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
33
votes
4
answers
8k
views
Etale cohomology and l-adic Tate modules
$\newcommand{\bb}{\mathbb}\DeclareMathOperator{\gal}{Gal}$
Before stating my question I should remark that I know almost nothing about etale cohomology - all that I know, I've gleaned from hearing off ...
- 7,072
32
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Etale cohomology can not be computed by Cech
It can be proven that if in a quasicompact scheme $X$ any finite subset is contained in an affine open subset then for any sheaf $\mathcal{F}$ on $X$ its Cech cohomology $\hat{H_{et}^{\bullet}}(X,\...
- 7,377
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
2
answers
2k
views
Etale site is useful - examples of using the small fppf site?
Edit: After the answers and comments, I'm hoping for a little bit of elaboration (in the comment to the answer below.) Also, question 2 was discussed here:
Points in sites (etale, fppf, ... )
There, ...
- 3,555
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
26
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Example of non-projective variety with non-semisimple Frobenius action on etale cohomology?
This question was motivated by a more general question raised by Jan Weidner here. In general one starts with a variety $X$ (say smooth) over an algebraic closure of a finite field $\mathbb{F}_q$ of ...
- 52.9k
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
22
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Comparing cohomology over ${\mathbb C}$ and over ${\mathbb F}_q$
I have the following (probably well-known) question: let $X$ be a regular scheme over
$\mathbb Z$. Let $p$ be a prime and Let us denote the reduction of $X$ mod $p$ by $X_p$.
Let also $X_{\mathbb C}$...
- 7,037
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
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
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
17
votes
1
answer
7k
views
A nice explanation of what is a smooth (l-adic) sheaf?
I would like to understand this concept. It seems to be important (for the theory of perverse sheaves), yet I don't know any nice exposition of the properties of smooth sheaves.
- 16.9k
16
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Cohomological dimension-doubling
I'm sure this is a question which has been asked many times, if not necessarily on this site:
Why does a (smooth, projective) scheme over a field, with dimension d, behave as though it were a ...
- 7,273
15
votes
2
answers
814
views
Can the failure of the multiplicativity of Euler factors at bad primes be corrected?
Warning: This one of those does-anyone-know-how-to-fix-this-vague-problem questions, and not an actual mathematics question at all.
If $X$ is a scheme of finite type over a finite field, then the ...
- 9,418
15
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Motivic generalisation of Neron-Ogg-Shaferevich criterion
Given a variety $X$ over $\mathbb{Q}$ with good reduction at $p$, proper smooth base change tells us that its $l$-adic cohomology groups are unramified at $p$ (and I'd guess some $p$-adic Hodge theory ...
- 806
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
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
12
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Étale cohomology of morphism whose fibers are vector spaces
Let $X\rightarrow Y$ be a morphism (may not be smooth) of varieties such that the fibres are vector spaces. Are the $l$-adic cohomologies of $X$ and $Y$ equal?
If not, under what condition (other ...
user100841
12
votes
2
answers
883
views
Residues of $\frac{1}{\prod_{i=1}^n (x-P_i)^{e_i}}$
This is a problem occurring in my research about deformations of $\mathbb{Z}/p^n$-covers over a ring of power series. Given an algebraically closed field $k$ of characteristic $p>0$, suppose $1< ...
- 245
11
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Are automorphism groups of hypersurfaces reduced ?
In the following article : "H. Matsumura, P. Monsky, On the automorphisms of hypersurfaces, J. Math. Kyoto Univ. 3 (1964) 347-361", it is shown that in finite characteristic, automorphism groups of ...
- 6,543
11
votes
1
answer
675
views
Extended Deformation Theory (dg-Lie algebra principle in positive characteristic?)
Recently, I looked at articles that make use of Deligne's idea that "in characteristic 0 every deformation problem is governed by a differential graded
Lie algebra" as explained first in Goldman-...
- 113
11
votes
2
answers
2k
views
locally constant constructible sheaves and finite etale coverings
Maybe it is well known to experts or maybe it is just a stupid idea, but I will ask any way.
We know that if $X$ is a topological space, then there is an equivalence of categories between the ...
- 314
11
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Etale cohomology of localizations of henselian rings
Let $R$ be a ring (say noetherian of finite Krull dimension, possibly with additional hypotheses) henselian along the ideal $(p)$, and let $\hat{R}$ be the $p$-adic completion. Is it true that the ...
- 25.6k
11
votes
1
answer
627
views
“Algebraization" of $p$-adic fields
Part 1: a single finite place. Let $K$ be a finite extension of $\mathbf{Q}_p$.
Does there exist a number field $F/\mathbf{Q}$ and a finite place $v$ lying over $p$, such that for the completion of $...
user129156
11
votes
2
answers
918
views
On a proposition in Hartshorne's paper "Ample vector bundles on curves"
In Prop. 4.1, p. 87 of the article "Ample vector bundles on curves" (Nagoya Math. J. 43 [1971], 73--89), R. Hartshorne states the following:
Let $A$ be an abelian variety [over an alg. closed field $...
- 3,076
11
votes
0
answers
576
views
What's known about the mod 2 reduction of the level l Jacobi modular equation?
Motivation:
Let $\ell$ be an odd prime. Let $A$ in ${\mathbb Z}/2[[x]]$ be $x+x^9+x^{25}+x^{49}+...$, and $B=A(x^\ell)$. One can use the level $\ell$ Jacobi modular equation to get a polynomial ...
- 5,422
11
votes
0
answers
1k
views
Do the Standard Conjectures imply parts of the "Weil II" Riemann Hypothesis?
It is known that Grothendieck's Standard Conjectures on algebraic cycles imply the Riemann Hypothesis of the original Weil Conjectures. However, do they also say something about the version of the ...
- 1,764
10
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Is there a "universal" cohomology theory for varieties over p-adic fields?
Let $K$ be a $p$-adic field, $X$ a smooth proper algebraic variety over $K$, and $0 \le i \le 2 \dim X$. For a prime $\ell \ne p$ one can consider the $\ell$-adic cohomology $H^i(\overline{X}, \mathbb{...
- 37k
10
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Are there "reasonable" criteria for existence/non-existence of Levi factors or their conjugacy in prime characteristic?
Classical theorems attributed to Levi, Mal'cev, Harish-Chandra for a finite
dimensional Lie algebra over a field of characteristic 0 state that it has a Levi decomposition (semisimple subalgebra plus ...
- 52.9k
10
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Is $Sym^n (V^*) \cong Sym^n (V)^\ast$ naturally in positive characteristic?
Background/motivation
It is a classical fact that we have a natural isomorphism $Sym^n (V^*) \cong Sym^n (V) ^\ast$ for vector spaces $V$ over a field $k$ of characteristic 0. One way to see this is ...
- 14.8k
9
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Under what conditions is the induced map of etale fundamental groups surjective?
Let $f:X \to Y$ be a morphism of schemes. I am interested in sufficient conditions on $f$ which would ensure that the induced map $\pi_1^{et}(X) \to \pi_1^{et}(Y)$ of etale fundamental groups is ...
- 2,974
9
votes
1
answer
429
views
Is there a Poincare residue in characteristic $p$?
The Poincare residue I mean is there one here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poincar%C3%A9_residue
Basically, I would like a nice way to use a meromorphic $n$-form on $\mathbf{P}^n_{\mathbf{F}_p}$ ...
- 4,164
9
votes
1
answer
833
views
Endomorphism ring of simple ordinary abelian variety
Is there an example of an ordinary and simple abelian variety $A$ over an algebraically closed field $K$ (of characteristic $p>0$) such that ${\rm End}(A)$ is not commutative? Note that the answer ...
- 3,076
9
votes
1
answer
546
views
Showing subgroups with equal Lie algebras are equal
Let $k$ be a field. It might as well be algebraically closed, but I do not want to assume that it has characteristic $0$. I will write "group" for "affine group scheme over $k$", ...
- 12.9k
8
votes
1
answer
774
views
A variant on characteristic $p$ de Rham cohomology
I was thinking about de Rham cohomology in characteristic $p$, and in particular the recent question about Poincare residues, and I came up with the following construction.
Let $k$ be a perfect field ...
- 156k
8
votes
1
answer
1k
views
motivic t-structure and realisations
Let $k$ be a field and $DM_k$ denote the triangulated category of geometric motives with $
\mathbb{Q}$ coeffients over $k$. Recall that there exists a motive functor $M: Var_k\rightarrow DM_k$, which ...
- 81
8
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Group cohomology of fundamental group of a curve
The question should be an elementary result in the theory of etale cohomology, but I failed to understand it because I am a complete beginner of the theory. So, I should apologise in advance for this ...
- 1,428