The Gross-Kohnen-Zagier theorem in higher dimensions (Q1974907)

The Gross-Kohnen-Zagier theorem [Math. Ann. 278, 497-562 (1987; Zbl 0641.14013)] describes the relation between Heegner divisors of a modular elliptic curve and coefficients of a vector-valued modular form of weight \(3/2\). The author of the paper under review uses a main theorem of his previous paper [Invent. Math. 132, 491-562 (1998; Zbl 0919.11036)] and gives a far-reaching generalization of the GKZ-theorem to higher dimensions by giving relations between (generalized) Heegner divisors via the explicit construction of automorphic forms with known poles and zeros. Most of the interesting special cases of low dimension were already known [\textit{F. Hirzebruch} and \textit{D. Zagier}, Invent. Math. 36, 57-113 (1976; Zbl 0332.14009), \textit{G. van der Geer}, Hilbert modular surfaces, Ergeb. Math. Grenzgeb. Bd. 16, Springer-Verlag, Berlin (1988; Zbl 0634.14022) and \textit{C. F. Hermann}, Abelian varieties, de Gruyter, Berlin, 105-129 (1995; Zbl 0842.14012)] but the proof of the theorem of Borcherds is very simplified. He has not used an inner product on a space of divisors, like previous proofs of the special cases and so, unfortunately, it was not possible to give a proof of, a perhaps generalized, theorem of Gross-Zagier concerning Heegner divisors and the vanishing of the derivative of the corresponding \(L\)-function. A really nice result!