On the cancellation problem (Q2391098): Difference between revisions

Let \(k\) be an algebraically closed field. In this paper the author gives a new construction of smooth affine varieties \(X/k\) such that for some affine variety \(Y\), we have an isomorphism \(X\times k\cong Y\times k\) but \(X\) and \(Y\) are not isomorphic. All the examples of this type known earlier were based on Danielewski surfaces. The author's idea is to use a non-uniruled smooth affine variety, which admits a stably trivial, but not trivial, vector bundle. He also finds Zariski-open affine subsets \(U\subset\mathbb{A}^m\) for every \(m\geq 8\) which give such examples. On the other hand, he proves that every open affine subset \(X\subset\mathbb{A}^2\) satisfies the cancellation property: \(X\times k\cong Y\times k\) implies \(X\cong Y\). Similar examples are found in the holomorphic category.