Canonical rational equivalence of intersections of divisors (Q1127863)

Given a principal effective Cartier divisor on a variety there corresponds an intersection operation on the groups of algebraic cycles, \([Z]\mapsto D\cdot [Z]\). This paper recalls how this operation is defined, and then describes a compatible intersection operation on the level of rational equivalences. At the same time, the author is able to deduce an explicit formula for a rational equivalence between the cycles \(D\cdot E\cdot [Z]\) and \(E\cdot D\cdot [Z]\) obtained by intersecting with a pair of principal effective Cartier divisor in either order. Since the intersection operations and the formula for the commutator respect smooth pullback, these constructions descend immediately to the setting of algebraic stacks. A rational equivalence which is key to intersection theory on algebraic stacks [and which hitherto has been constructed only with great effort, cf. \textit{A. Vistoli}, Invent. Math. 97, No. 3, 613-670 (1989; Zbl 0694.14001)] is then shown to arise as a particular instance of this commutator. The resulting simplification in the construction of this rational equivalence is then used to patch a gap in a proof [cf. \textit{K. Behrend} and \textit{B. Fantechi}, Invent. Math. 128, 45-88 (1997; Zbl 0909.14006); proposition 3.5] that this rational equivalence is invariant under a group action which arises in certain cases.