Biextensions and heights associated to curves of odd genus (Q1173826)

Let \(X\) be an integral scheme, proper of relative dimension \(n\) over \(\text{Spec}(\mathbb Z)\). For integral subschemes \(Y, Z\) with \(\text{codim}(Y)+\text{codim}(Z)=n+1\), Arakelov theory provides (among other things) an intersection pairing \(\langle Y,Z\rangle\in\mathbb R\), depending on choices of certain analytic data associated to \(Y\) and \(Z\). Part of this is the contribution \(\langle Y,Z\rangle_ v\) coming from each archimedean place \(v\), called the archimedean height pairing. This can be studied purely as a problem in analysis. This paper studies the special case where \(C\) is a smooth curve of genus \(2d+1\) and \(X=\text{Pic}^ dC\). For \(D\in\text{Pic}^ 0C\) we have a translation \(\tau^ D:x\mapsto x+D\), and for \(\alpha\in\text{Pic}^{2d}C\) an involution \(i^ \alpha:x\mapsto\alpha- x\) on \(X\). We also have a cycle \(C^{(d)}\) of codimension \(d+1\) on \(X\), defined by the set of effective divisors in \(\text{Pic}^ dC\). Then let \(Z_ D=\tau^ D_ *(C^{(d)})-i_ *^ \alpha\tau_ *^ D(C^{(d)})\), and let \(Y=Z_ 0\). The goal of this paper, then, consists of showing that for fixed \(C\) and \(\alpha\) there exist a function \(f\) on \(\text{Pic}^ 0C\) and a constant \(c\) such that \(\langle Y,Z_ D\rangle=-\log| f(D)|^ 2+c\) (away from the zeros and poles of \(f\)). This result was originally conjectured by Bloch. The proof uses biextensions and variations of mixed Hodge structure. The reader interested in this topic should not miss the immediately following paper by \textit{J.-B. Bost}, Duke Math. J. 61, No. 3, 899--912 (1990; Zbl 0742.14006). It gives a shorter proof of this same result, using methods closer to those of \textit{H. Gillet} and \textit{C. Soulé} [C. R. Acad. Sci., Paris, Sér. I 299, 563--566 (1984; Zbl 0607.14003)].