Néron models of Jacobians over base schemes of dimension greater than 1 (Q1717242)

The article studies the existence of Néron models of abelian varieties over a regular base scheme \(S\) of any dimension. Usually, the theory of Néron models is considered over Dedekind schemes. The definition in this more general setting is the following: Let \(A\rightarrow U\) be an abelian scheme over an open dense subscheme \(U\) of \(S\). A Néron model for \(A\) is a smooth separated algebraic space \(N\rightarrow S\) together with an isomorphism \(A\rightarrow U_U:=N\times_SU\) satisfying the universal property: If \(T\to S\) is a smooth morphism of algebraic spaces and \(f:T_U\rightarrow N_U\) is a smooth \(U\)-morphism of algebraic spaces, then there exists a unique \(S\)-morphism \(F:T\rightarrow N\) such that \(F|_U=f\). If the base scheme is of dimension greater 1, such Néron models do not exist, in general. In the case of a Jacobian of a relative semi-stable curve with smooth generic fiber, the author gives a precise criterion for the existence of a Néron model; cf. Theorem 1.2. This shows in particular that even in this special situation a Néron model does not exist without further restriction on the relative curve. The criterion in Theorem 1.2 is expressed by a condition on the local structure of the singularities of the fibres of the relative curve; cf. Definition 2.11 and 2.2. Due to the extension property for invertible sheaves from \(T\times_SU\) to \(T\times_SS\), the relative Picardfunctor of invertible sheaves of total degree zero is a helpful means for constructing a Néron model.