Torus actions, Morse homology, and the Hilbert scheme of points on affine space

We formulate a conjecture on actions of the multiplicative group in motivic homotopy theory. In short, if the multiplicative group G_m acts on a quasi-projective scheme U such that U is attracted as t approaches 0 in G_m to a closed subset Y in U, then the inclusion from Y to U should be an A^1-homotopy equivalence. We prove several partial results. In particular, over the complex numbers, the inclusion is a homotopy equivalence on complex points. The proofs use an analog of Morse theory for singular varieties. Application: the Hilbert scheme of points on affine n-space is homotopy equivalent to the subspace consisting of schemes supported at the origin.

The BdR+-affine Grassmannian

This chapter defines an object that was one of the big motivations to develop a theory of diamonds. In the study of the usual Grassmannian variety G/B attached to a reductive group G, one defines a Schubert variety to be the closure of a B-orbit in G/B. Generally, Schubert varieties are singular varieties. Desingularizations of Schubert varieties are constructed by Demazure. The chapter uses an analogue of this construction in the context of the B+ dR-Grassmannian. It then looks at miniscule Schubert varieties. In this case, one can identify the space explicitly. If µ is minuscule, the Bialynicki–Birula map is an isomorphism.

Normal bundle and Almgren’s geometric inequality for singular varieties of bounded mean curvature

In this paper we deal with a class of varieties of bounded mean curvature in the viscosity sense that has the remarkable property to contain the blow up sets of all sequences of varifolds whose mean curvatures are uniformly bounded and whose boundaries are uniformly bounded on compact sets. We investigate the second-order properties of these varieties, obtaining results that are new also in the varifold’s setting. In particular we prove that the generalized normal bundle of these varieties satisfies a natural Lusin (N) condition, a property that allows to prove a Coarea-type formula for their generalized Gauss map. Then we use this formula to extend a sharp geometric inequality of Almgren and the associated soap bubble theorem. As a consequence of the geometric inequality we obtain sufficient conditions to conclude that the area-blow-up set is empty for sequences of varifolds whose first variation is controlled.

On Analytic Todd Classes of Singular Varieties

Let $(X,h)$ be a compact and irreducible Hermitian complex space. This paper is devoted to various questions concerning the analytic K-homology of $(X,h)$. In the 1st part, assuming either $\dim (\operatorname{sing}(X))=0$ or $\dim (X)=2$, we show that the rolled-up operator of the minimal $L^2$-$\overline{\partial }$ complex, denoted here $\overline{\eth }_{\textrm{rel}}$, induces a class in $K_0 (X)\equiv KK_0(C(X),\mathbb{C})$. A similar result, assuming $\dim (\operatorname{sing}(X))=0$, is proved also for $\overline{\eth }_{\textrm{abs}}$, the rolled-up operator of the maximal $L^2$-$\overline{\partial }$ complex. We then show that when $\dim (\operatorname{sing}(X))=0$ we have $[\overline{\eth }_{\textrm{rel}}]=\pi _*[\overline{\eth }_M]$ with $\pi :M\rightarrow X$ an arbitrary resolution and with $[\overline{\eth }_M]\in K_0 (M)$ the analytic K-homology class induced by $\overline{\partial }+\overline{\partial }^t$ on $M$. In the 2nd part of the paper we focus on complex projective varieties $(V,h)$ endowed with the Fubini–Study metric. First, assuming $\dim (V)\leq 2$, we compare the Baum–Fulton–MacPherson K-homology class of $V$ with the class defined analytically through the rolled-up operator of any $L^2$-$\overline{\partial }$ complex. We show that there is no $L^2$-$\overline{\partial }$ complex on $(\operatorname{reg}(V),h)$ whose rolled-up operator induces a K-homology class that equals the Baum–Fulton–MacPherson class. Finally in the last part of the paper we prove that under suitable assumptions on $V$ the push-forward of $[\overline{\eth }_{\textrm{rel}}]$ in the K-homology of the classifying space of the fundamental group of $V$ is a birational invariant.

Relation to Beilinson-Lichtenbaum

This chapter show how the Beilinson–Lichtenbaum condition is equivalent to the assertion that the norm residue is an isomorphism. A diagram featuring this proof is also included. The chapter first proves the reductions introduced in the previous chapter, BL(n) and H90(n), arguing that if BL(n) holds then BL(n − 1) holds and that H90(n) implies H90(n − 1). Next, the chapter turns to the cohomology of singular varieties, cohomology with supports, and rationally contractible presheaves. From there, it argues that Bloch–Kato implies Beilinson–Lichtenbaum and concludes the theorems by proving that H90(n) implies BL(n). The chapter concludes with some historical notes.