The Orlik-Terao algebra and 2-formality (Q1012976)

Let \({\mathcal A}=\{H_1, \dots, H_d\}\) be an arrangement of complex hyperplanes in \({\mathbb C}^n\). The Orlik-Solomon algebra is the quotient of the exterior algebra on generators \(e_1, \dots, e_d\) in degree 1 by the ideal generated by all elements of the form \(\partial e_{i_1 \cdots i_r}\) for which codim \(H_{i_1} \cap \cdots \cap H_{i_r}<r\). A commutative analog of the Orlik-Solomon algebra was introduced by \textit{P. Orlik} and \textit{H. Terao} [[1]: Nagoya Math. J. 134, 65--73 (1994; Zbl 0801.05019)] which records the ``weights'' of the dependencies of the hyperplanes: For each dependency \(\Lambda =\{i_1, \dots, i_k\}\), let \(r_\Lambda = \sum_{j=1}^k c_{i_j}y_{i_j} \in {\mathbb K}[y_1, \dots, y_d]\). Define \(f_\Lambda = \partial(r_\Lambda)\), and let \(I\) be the ideal generated by the \(f_\Lambda\). The Orlik-Solomon algebra OT is the quotient of \( {\mathbb K}[y_1, \dots, y_d]\) by \(I\). In [[2]: \textit{M. Falk} and \textit{R. Randell}, Adv. Stud. Pure Math. 27, 93--125 (2000; Zbl 0990.32006)], the concept of 2-formality was introduced: For an arrangment \({\mathcal A}\), the relation space \(F({\mathcal A})\) is the kernel of the evaluation map \(\phi: \bigoplus_{i=1}^d {\mathbb K}e_i \to {\mathbb K}[x_1, \dots, x_n]_1\) via \(e_i \mapsto \alpha_i\). \({\mathcal A}\) is 2-formal if \(F({\mathcal A})\) is spanned by relations involving only three hyperplanes. The paper under review is motivated by the question of whether 2-formality is determined by the quadratic OT algebra. The main result is \textbf{Theorem}. Let \(\mathcal A\) be an arrangement of \(d\) hyperplanes of rank \(n\). \(\mathcal A\) is 2-formal if and only if codim\((I_2) = d-n\). From the authors' abstract: The Orlik-Solomon algebra is the cohomology ring of the complement of a hyperplane arrangement \({\mathcal A} \subseteq {\mathbb C}^n\); it is the quotient of an exterior algebra \(\Lambda(V)\) on \(\Lambda(V)\) on generators. In [1], Orlik and Terao introduced a commutative analog \(sym(V^*)/I\) of the Orlik-Solomon algebra to answer a question of Aomoto and showed the Hilbert series depends only on the intersection lattice \(L({\mathcal A})\). In [2], Falk and Randell defined the property of 2-formality; in this note we study the relation between 2-formality and the Orlik-Terao algebra. Our main result is a necessary and sufficient condition for 2-formality in terms of the quadratic component \(I_2\) of the Orlik-Terao ideal \(I\). The key is that 2-formality is determined by the tangent space \(T_p(V(I_2))\) at a generic point \(p\).