Relative topology of real algebraic varieties in their complexifications (Q1775459)

An algebraic model of a closed smooth manifold \(M\) is a nonsingular real algebraic variety \(X\) diffeomorphic to \(M\) (such a model always exists). In this paper, the existence of such models \(X\) having good complexifications is considered. The main result states that \(M\) is formal (in the sense of Sullivan) if it admits an algebraic model \(X\) with a smooth projective complexification \(Y\) that retracts onto \(X\). In particular, all higher rational Massey products in \(M\) vanish. In contrast, for the case of finite field coefficients and \(X\) defined over the integers, obstructions (non-vanishing in general) are found to the existence of a complexification \(X\to Y\) which is onto in cohomology.