Zhang's conjecture and the effective Bogomolov conjecture over function fields (Q2430681)

The Bogomolov conjecture in arithmetic geometry concerns the finiteness of algebraic points of small height on a smooth complete curve over a global field. After \textit{S. Zhang}'s work [Invent. Math. 112, No. 1, 171--193 (1993; Zbl 0795.14015)] on admissible pairing on curves, one may reduce the conjecture to the positivity of the arithmetic self intersection \(\omega_a^2\) of the dualizing sheaf \(\omega_a\). In the article under review, the author proves the effective Bogomolov conjecture over a function field of characteristic \(0\) by proving Zhang's conjecture about certain invariants of metrized graphs. To be more precise, let \(C\) be a smooth curve of genus \(\overline{g}\) over a global field \(K\), Zhang derived an identity \[ \omega_a^2=\frac{2\overline{g}-2}{2\overline{g}+1}\langle\Delta_\xi,\Delta_\xi\rangle+\frac{2\overline{g}-2}{2\overline{g}+1}\sum_v\varphi(\Gamma_v) \] where \(\langle\Delta_\xi,\Delta_\xi\rangle\) is the arithmetic self intersection of the Gross-Schoen cycle \(\Delta_\xi\subset C\times C\times C\), \(\varphi(\Gamma_v)\) is a certain invariant of \(\Gamma_v\), the dual graph of the minimal regular model of \(C\), for each place \(v\) of \(K\). If \(K\) is a function field of residue characteristic \(0\), \(\langle\Delta_\xi,\Delta_\xi\rangle\geq0\), so the Bogomolov conjecture is reduced to the problem of the positivity of the invariant \(\varphi(\Gamma)\) for an arbitrary polarized metrized graph \(\Gamma\). In the article under review, the author relates various invariants (including the invariant mentioned above) to the tau constant of a metrized graph, and he uses several tools developed by himself for tau constant to deduce the positivity of \(\varphi(\Gamma)\). Apart from a proof of the effective Bogomolov conjecture, the author obtains other applications in arithmetic geometry: firstly, he gives a new proof of a slope inequality for Faltings heights (Hodge bundles) on moduli space of curves; secondly, he gave a new proof of the effective Bogomolov conjecture for smooth hyperelliptic curves of genus more than \(1\) over arbitrary global field.