On equivariant formal deformation theory (Q1632020)

A main object in deformation theory is to extend automorphisms along infinitesimal extensions. This has some obstructions, as illustrated by \textit{J.-P. Serre} [Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 47, 108--109 (1961; Zbl 0100.16701)], giving an example with flat families of smooth hypersurfaces \(X\subset\mathbb P^4\) over \(\Lambda=\mathbb Z_p\) whose closed fibre \(X_0\) has a free action of an elementary abelian \(p\)-group \(G\) which does not extend to all infinitesimal neighbourhoods \(X_n.\) The resulting quotient \(Y_0=X_0/G\) does not lift to characteristic \(0\). \textit{D. S. Rim} [Lect. Notes Math. 288, 32--132 (1972; Zbl 0246.14001)] made an obstruction theory for a cohomology of groups where only degrees one and two are used. One of the intentions of this article is to generalise Rim's theory to a purely categorical setting, using Grothendieck's notion of Cartesian morphisms for functors \(p:\mathcal F\rightarrow\mathcal E\) as basis. The authors admit that this is in the spirit of \textit{M. Talpo} and \textit{A. Vistoli} [in: Handbook of moduli. Volume III. Somerville, MA: International Press; Beijing: Higher Education Press. 281--397 (2013; Zbl 1322.14016)]. Let \(\xi\in\mathcal F\) be an object over \(S\in\mathcal E,\) and let \(G\rightarrow\text{Aut}_S(\xi)\) be a homomorphism of groups. Let \(\text{Lif}(\xi,S^\prime)\) be the set of isomorphism classes of cartesian morphisms \(\xi\rightarrow\xi^\prime\) over \(S\rightarrow S^\prime.\) This set has a \(G\)-action given by transport of structure (composition of action morphisms). Fixing a cartesian morphism \(f:\xi\rightarrow\xi^\prime\) and letting \(\text{Aut}_\xi(\xi^\prime)\subset\text{Aut}_{S^\prime}(\xi^\prime)\) be the subgroup of automorphisms inducing the identity of \(\xi\) over \(S\), the main result of the article states that in this setting, if the group \(\text{Aut}_\xi(\xi^\prime)\) is abelian, then the \(G\)-action on \(\xi\) extends to a \(G\)-action on \(\xi^\prime\) if and only if (i) The isomorphism class \([f]\in\text{Lif}(\xi,S^\prime)\) is fixed under the \(G\)-action, and (ii) the resulting cohomology class \([\tilde G]\in H^2(G,\text{Aut}_\xi(\xi^\prime))\) is trivial. \(\tilde G=\text{Aut}_{S^\prime}(\xi^\prime)\times_{\text{Aut}_S(\xi)}G\) is the induced extension of \(G\) by \(\text{Aut}_\xi(\xi^\prime),\) and \([\tilde G]\) denotes the resulting cohomology class. The main application of the result above is to generalize the deformation theory of \textit{M. Schlessinger} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 130, 208--222 (1968; Zbl 0167.49503)] to more general categories defined by Talpo and Vistoli. Let \(\Lambda\) be a complete local noetherian ring with residue field \(k=\Lambda/\mathfrak m_\Lambda.\) A \textit{deformation category} \(\mathcal F\rightarrow\text{Art}_\Lambda^{\text{op}}\) is a category fibred in groupoids that satisfies the \textit{Rim-Schlessinger condition}. This condition is defined and explained in the article in a relevant way, building on the categorical notion of \textit{Cartesian morphism}, i.e., respecting such. In the present work, also mixed characteristic is allowed. Let \(\xi\in\mathcal F(A)\) be an object, \(A^\prime\rightarrow A\) a small extension of rings, and \(\xi_0=\xi|_k.\) Serre observed that the set \(\text{Lif}(\xi,A^\prime)\) is a \textit{torsor with group of operators} \(G\), such that this gives a cohomology class \([\text{Lif}(\xi,A^\prime)]\in H^1(G,I\otimes_k T_{\xi_0}(\mathcal F)).\) The tangent space \(T_{\xi_0}(\mathcal F)\) is explicitly defined, generalizing M. Schlessinger's classical work on functors of Artin rings. This gives an obstruction theory in the usual way: The cohomology class is trivial if and only if there is an extension \(\xi\rightarrow\xi^\prime\) whose isomorphism class is fixed by \(G.\) Thus the \(G\)-action on \(\xi\) extends to an object \(\xi^\prime\in\mathcal F(A^\prime)\) if and only if the cohomology class \([\tilde G]\in H^2(G,\text{Aut}_\xi(\xi^\prime))=H^2(G,I\otimes_k\text{Aut}_{\xi_0}(\xi_{k[\varepsilon]}))\) vanishes. This gives a primary obstruction for lifting invariant objects under small morphsims, and an obstruction for lifting the \(G\)-action. Both are necessary to generalize the theory of torsors and deformation theory to general deformation categories. Applying the generalized theory to characteristic \(p>0\), this gives that for a finite group \(G\), the residue field \(k=\Lambda/\mathfrak m_\Lambda\) of characteristic \(p\), the obstructions lie in the corresponding cohomology groups for a Sylow \(p\)-subgroup \(P\subset G.\) This says that the \(G\)-action extends if and only of the \(P\)-action extends. In short, the article generalizes the deformation theory started by M. Schlessinger to equivariant deformation theory. This is done by generalizing to general deformation categories: Categories where deformations exist. The article is explicit, easy to read, and contains proofs of relevant results.