Jumps in the Archimedean height (Q2272790): Difference between revisions

Let \(S\) be a complex manifold, and let \(\mathscr H\) be a polarizable variation of pure Hodge structure with integral coefficients over \(S\), of weight \(-1\). Assume that the associated local system \(\mathscr H_{\mathbb Z}\) is torsion free. A \textit{biextension variation} of type \(\mathscr H\) is a variation of mixed Hodge structure \(\mathscr V\) over \(S\), given with isomorphisms \(\operatorname{Gr}_0^W(\mathscr V)\cong\mathbb Z(0)\), \(\operatorname{Gr}_{-1}^W(\mathscr V)\cong\mathscr H\), and \(\operatorname{Gr}_{-2}^W(\mathscr V)\cong\mathbb Z(1)\). Let \(\operatorname{NF}(S,\mathscr H)\) denote the group of normal functions into \(\mathscr H\). Let \(\nu\in\operatorname{NF}(S,\mathscr H)\) and \(\omega\in\operatorname{NF}(S,\mathscr H)\). We say that a biextension variation of mixed Hodge structure \(\mathscr V\) has type \((\nu,\omega)\) if \((W_0/W_{-2})\mathscr V\cong\nu\) and \((W_{-1}/W_{-3})\mathscr V\cong\omega\). For any open \(U\subseteq S\), let \(\mathscr B(\nu,\omega)(U)\) denote the set of isomorphism classes of biextension variations of type \((\nu,\omega)\) over \(U\). \textit{R. Hain} and \textit{D. Reed} [J. Differ. Geom. 67, No. 2, 195--228 (2004; Zbl 1118.14029)] observed that \(\mathscr B(\nu,\omega)\) is naturally an \(\mathscr O_S^\times\)-torsor over \(S\), giving rise to an analytic line bundle \(\mathscr L=\mathscr L(\nu,\omega)\) on \(S\), called the \textit{biextension line bundle}. This line bundle has a natural metric. Let \(j\colon S\to\overline S\) be an inclusion of \(S\) as a Zariski-open subset of a complex manifold \(\overline S\). In the paper under review, the authors show that there exists a canonical extension \(\overline{\mathscr L}\in\operatorname{Pic}\overline S\otimes\mathbb Q\) of \(\mathscr L\). However, the metric on \(\mathscr L\) does not always extend to \(\overline S\). Let \(\overline S=\Delta^r\) be a polydisc, let \((s_1,\dots,s_r)\) be the coordinates on \(S\), and let \(S=(\Delta^{*})^r\) be the complement of the divisor \(s_1\dots s_r=0\). Let \(\mathscr H\) be a torsion-free variation of Hodge structure on \(S\) with unipotent monodromy, and let \(\operatorname{IH}(\mathscr H)\) denote the associated local intersection cohomology. The authors then define the \textit{asymptotic height pairing} \(h(t)\colon\operatorname{IH}^1(\mathscr H) \otimes\operatorname{IH}^1(\mathscr H^{*})\to\mathbb Q\) for each \(t\in\mathbb Q_{\ge0}^r\). Let \(\operatorname{ANF}(S,\mathscr M)_{\overline S}\) denote the set of normal functions in \(\operatorname{NF}(S,\mathscr M)\) that are admissible for \(j\). There is a natural map \(\operatorname{sing}\colon\operatorname{ANF} ((\Delta^{*})^r,\mathscr M)_{\Delta^r} \to\operatorname{IH}^1(\Delta^r,\mathscr H)\), and one then has an asymptotic height pairing \(h(t)(\nu,\omega)\) for all admissible \(\nu\) and \(\omega\) as above. Moreover, the authors show that (under some additional hypotheses) the metric on \(\mathscr L=\mathscr L(\nu,\omega)\) extends to a continuous metric on \(\overline S\) only if \(h(t)(\nu,\omega)\) is a linear function of \(t\in\mathbb Q_{\ge0}^r\). If \(h(t)(\nu,\omega)\) is not linear in \(t\), then we say that the asymptotic height pairing \textit{jumps,} so jumping in the asymptotic height pairing is an obstruction to extending the metric. The authors also show that if \(\nu\) is an admissible normal function, then \(h(t)(\nu,\nu)\ge0\) for all \(t\in\mathbb Q_{>0}^r\). Moreover, equality holds for all \(t\) if and only if \(\operatorname{sing}(\nu)=0\). In addition, if \(\nu\) and \(\omega\) are admissible normal functions, then the function \(t\mapsto h(t)(\nu,\omega)\) on \(\mathbb Q_{>0}^r\) is shown to extend to a continuous function on the cone \(\mathbb R_{\ge0}^r\). Finally, the biextension variations mentioned above are shown to be closely related to the concept of a biextension that was introduced by Mumford and studied extensively by Grothendieck, as described in [\textit{A. Grothendieck} et al., Séminaire de Géométrie Algébrique Du Bois-Marie 1967--1969. Groupes de monodromie en géométrie algébrique (SGA 7 I). Dirigé par A. Grothendieck avec la collaboration de M. Raynaud et D. S. Rim. Exposés I, II, VI, VII, VIII, IX. Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer-Verlag (1972; Zbl 0237.00013)].