A note on Maurin's theorem (Q991045): Difference between revisions

The authors offer an alternative proof of \textit{G. Maurin}'s theorem [Math. Ann. 341, No. 4, 789--824 (2008; Zbl 1154.14017)]: Let \(C\) be an irreducible curve in \({\mathbb{G}_{\mathsf{m}}^n}\) defined over \({\overline{\mathbb Q}}\) where \(n\geq 2\) such that \(C\) is not contained in any algebraic subgroup of \({\mathbb{G}_{\mathsf{m}}^n}\) of codimension \(1\). Then, \(C\) intersects the union of algebraic subgroups of codimension \(2\) at finitely many points. The three authors \textit{E.\ Bombieri, D.\ Masser} and \textit{U.\ Zannier} (BMZ) raised the question in [ Int. Math. Res. Not. 1999, No. 20, 1119--1140 (1999; Zbl 0938.11031)], and the conjecture was stated in [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 358, No. 5, 2247--2257 (2006; Zbl 1161.11025)]. It was proved by Maurin in 2008. In 2007, BMZ introduced a Structure Theorem in [Int. Math. Res. Not. 2007, No. 19, Article ID rnm057, 33 p. (2007; Zbl 1145.11049)]. In that work, they stated a Bounded Height Conjecture with the idea that this conjecture for surfaces and their Structure Theorem would lead to Maurin's theorem, and in 2009, the second author of the paper under review proved their Bounded Height Conjecture [\textit{P. Habegger}, Int. Math. Res. Not. 2009, No. 5, 860--886 (2009; Zbl 1239.11070)]. The paper introduces three lemmas of effective finiteness, and the authors of the paper hope that their work will lead to a fully effective version of Maurin's theorem. In the authors' opinion, it is not so clear that Maurin's proof can lead to such a version, due to the use of a Vojta-type inequality which in its original form was applied to prove the Mordell Conjecture. Let us conclude the review by introducing the Structure Theorem and the Bounded Height Theorem. Let \(V\) be an irreducible variety of \({\mathbb{G}_{\mathsf{m}}^n}\), and define the subset \({V^{\mathrm{oa}}}\) as what remains after removing from \(V\) all irreducible subvarieties \(W\) lying in some coset of an algebraic subgroup \(H\) of \({\mathbb{G}_{\mathsf{m}}^n}\) of codimension \(h\) and satisfying \[ \dim W > \max\{ 0, \dim V - h \}. \] Such a subvariety \(W\) is called \textit{anomalous} in \(V\). The Structure Theorem states: There is a finite collection \(\Phi\) of tori \(H\) such that every maximal anomalous subvariety \(W\) rises from a tori in \(\Phi\) and that \({V^{\mathrm{oa}}}\) is obtained from removing these anomalous subvarieties. In particular, \({V^{\mathrm{oa}}}\) is open in \(V\). Denote by \(h(\xi)\) the absolute logarithmic height of \(\xi\) in \({\overline{\mathbb Q}}\), and for \(P=(\xi_1,\dots,\xi_n)\) in \(V({\overline{\mathbb Q}})\) define \[ h(P)=h(\xi_1)+\cdots+h(\xi_n). \] The Bounded Height Theorem states: Let \(V\) be an irreducible variety in \({\mathbb{G}_{\mathsf{m}}^n}\) of dimension \(m\) defined over \({\overline{\mathbb Q}}\) where \(1\leq m \leq n\). Then, there is a bound \(B=B(V)\) such that \(h(P)\leq B(V)\) for all \(P\) in \({V^{\mathrm{oa}}}({\overline{\mathbb Q}}) \cap \mathcal{H}_{n-m}\) where \(\mathcal{H}_{n-m}\) denotes the union of all algebraic subgroups of \({\mathbb{G}_{\mathsf{m}}^n}\) of codimension \(m\).