Canonical Kähler metrics and arithmetics: generalizing Faltings heights (Q1645028)

Let $K$ be a number field, let $\mathscr O_K$ be its ring of integers, and let $C=\text{Spec} \mathscr O_K$. Let $\pi: \mathscr X\to C$ be a projective, flat scheme, let $\mathscr L$ be an ample line bundle on $\mathscr X$, let $(X_\infty,L_\infty)$ denote the complex geometric generic fiber $(\mathscr X(\mathbb C),\mathscr L(\mathbb C))$, and let $h$ be a continuous Hermitian metric of real type on $L_\infty$ which is $C^\infty$ on the smooth locus $X_\infty^{\text{sm}}$, and such that $c_1(L_\infty|_{X_\infty^{\text{sm}}},h)$ extends to $X_\infty$ as a closed positive $(1,1)$-current with locally continuous potential. Assume also that $\mathscr X$ is normal and $\mathbb Q$-Gorenstein. \par For such triples $(\mathscr X,\mathscr L,h)$, this paper defines $h_{\text{K}}(\mathscr X,\mathscr L,h)\in\mathbb R$, called the Arakelov-Donaldson-Futaki invariant, or K-modular height. (Here the letter K refers to Kähler, not to the base field $K$ -- in fact, taking a finite extension of $K$ does not change the invariant.) \par This invariant is shown to relate to other quantities that have been studied previously, as follows. \begin{itemize} \item[(1)] If $(\mathscr X,\mathscr L)$ is a polarized abelian scheme and $h$ is the cubical metric, then $h_{\text{K}}(\mathscr X,\mathscr L,h)$ ``essentially coincides'' with the Faltings height [\textit{G. Faltings}, Invent. Math. 73, 349--366 (1983; Zbl 0588.14026)]. \item[(2)] Changes to the model $(\mathscr X,\mathscr L)$ along finite closed fibers and changes to $h$ are related, respectively, to the Donaldson-Futaki invariant [\textit{S. K. Donaldson}, J. Differ. Geom. 62, No. 2, 289--349 (2002; Zbl 1074.53059)] and to the K-energy [\textit{T. Mabuchi}, Tôhoku Math. J., II. Ser. 38, No. 1--2, 575--593 (1986; Zbl 0619.53040)]. \item[(3)] Consequently, $h_{\text K}$ decreases along a ``normalized arithmetic minimal model program with scaling'' and along the Kähler-Ricci flow (the author notes that these are compatible). \item[(4)] The invariant $h_{\text{K}}$ can be seen as a limit of suitable modifications of the height of \textit{J.-B. Bost} [Duke Math. J. 82, No. 1, 21--70 (1996; Zbl 0867.14010)] and \textit{S. Zhang} [Compos. Math. 104, No. 1, 77--105 (1996; Zbl 0924.11055)]. \end{itemize} Finally, the paper proposes an ``arithmetic Yau-Tian-Donaldson conjecture.'' This says that if $(X,L)$ is a smooth polarized variety over a number field $K$ with finite automorphism group $\text{Aut}_K(X,L)$, then the following two conditions are equivalent. (Differential-geometric condition): $X(\mathbb C)$ admits a Kähler metric with constant scalar curvature associated to $c_1(L(\mathbb C))$. (Arithmetic condition): After possibly passing to a larger number field $K$, there is an integral model $(\mathscr X,\mathscr L)$ of $(X,L)$ whose reduction $(\mathscr X_{\mathfrak p},\mathscr L_{\mathfrak p})$ is K-semistable at all maximal $\mathfrak p\in\text{Spec} \mathscr O_K$ and is K-stable at all but finitely many such $\mathfrak p$.