Algebraic volumes of divisors (Q2010402)

The volume of a Cartier divisor \(D\) on a projective variety \(X\) measures the asymptotic growth of the space of sections of multiples of that divisor \(H^0(X, \mathcal O_X(nD))\) as \(n\) tends to infinity. What real algebraic numbers are volumes of divisors is not known. The set of such numbers is countable and is a multiplicative semigroup. \textit{S.~D. Cutkosky} gave examples of divisors with irrational volumes in [Duke Math. J. 53, 149--156 (1986; Zbl 0604.14002)]. This article is concerned with the realization of certain irrational numbers as algebraic volumes of divisors. The authors show that a primitive element of every totally real Galois number field can be realised as the algebraic volume of a divisor on a smooth variety. Their construction relies on studying the volume of divisors on projective bundles over abelian varieties with real multiplication (an extension of Cutkosky's construction). The authors also show \(\pi\) can be realised as the volume of a divisor by exhibiting a divisor whose volume is a multiple of \(\pi\) on a projective bundle over \(E\times E\), where \(E\) is an elliptic curve without complex multiplication.