Toroidal geometry and non-archimedean analytic geometry. Application to the homotopy type of certain formal schemes (Q2642303)

The main result of this paper is the following generalization of a theorem of \textit{D.A. Stepanov} [Russ. Math. Surv. 61, No. 1, 181--183 (2006); translation from Usp. Mat. Nauk 61, No. 1, 185--186 (2005; Zbl 1134.14302)]. Let \(X\) be an algebraic scheme over a perfect field \(k\), and let \(Y\) be a closed subscheme. Let \(h:X'\rightarrow X\) be a proper morphism and denote by \(D\) the inverse image of \(Y\) in \(X'\). If \(D\) is a strict normal crossings divisor on \(X'\), and \(h\) is an isomorphism over the complement of \(Y\), then the homotopy type of the dual complex of \(D\) only depends on the couple \((X,Y)\), and not on the chosen resolution \(h\). Stepanov's original proof assumes that \(k\) is of characteristic zero, and uses weak factorization to compare different resolutions of \((X,Y)\). Thuillier's approach uses \textit{V. G. Berkovich}'s theory of non-archimedean analytic spaces [Spectral theory and analytic geometry over non-archimedean fields. Mathematical Surveys and Monographs, 33. Providence, RI: American Mathematical Society (AMS). (1990; Zbl 0715.14013)]. One of the nice features of this theory is that it works equally well over an arbitrary base field endowed with the trivial absolute value. Thuillier expresses the homotopy type of the dual complex of \(D\) in terms of the analytic space \(\mathfrak{X}_\eta\), the complement of \(Y\) in the generic fiber of the formal completion of \(X\) along \(Y\). Since this space only depends on \((X,Y)\), so does the homotopy type of the dual complex of \(D\). To carry out this construction, Thuillier gives a very nice and natural interpretation of the combinatorial data of a toroidal embedding in terms of non-archimedean analytic spaces, using ideas similar to those in [\textit{V. G. Berkovich}, Invent. Math. 137, No. 1, 1--84 (1999; Zbl 0930.32016)].