Infinitesimal Torelli for elliptic surfaces revisited (Q2065615)

We say that a smooth projective variety \(X\) of dimension \(n\) satisfies the \emph{Infinitesimal Torelli Theorem} if the differential \[\delta_X : H^1(X,\Theta_X) \rightarrow \mathrm{Hom}(H^0(\Omega_X^n),H^1(\Omega_X^{n-1})\] of the period map is injective, where \(\Theta_X\) denotes the tangent bundle of \(X\). This article focuses on the case when \(\pi:X\rightarrow C\) is a minimal elliptic surface without multiple fibers. This is a widely studied problem in the literature, with many examples of elliptic surfaces satisfying the Infinitesimal Torelli Theorem (\textit{D. Lieberman} et al. [Math. Ann. 231, 39--45 (1977; Zbl 0367.14006)], \textit{K. I. Kii} [Math. USSR, Izv. 12, 53--67 (1978; Zbl 0399.14012)], \textit{R. Kloosterman} [Mich. Math. J. 52, No. 1, 141--161 (2004; Zbl 1076.14044)]) and some counterexamples (\textit{A. Ikeda} [Adv. Math. 349, 125--161 (2019; Zbl 1414.14004)]). The goal of this article is to present new examples in both directions. The first case analyzed by the author is the case when the \(j\)-invariant of the fibration \(\pi\) is nonconstant: in this case it is shown that \(X\) satisfies the Infinitesimal Torelli Theorem as soon as the Euler characteristic \(e(X)\) of \(X\) is \(\ge 24\) (and in some cases if \(e(X)=12\)). On the other hand, if the \(j\)-invariant is constant, the author shows that for a wide class of elliptic surfaces the Infinitesimal Torelli Theorem is equivalent to the surjectivity of a certain multiplication map. This is then used to show that the Infinitesimal Torelli Theorem holds for \(X\) as soon as \(e(X) \ge 72\), and to produce new examples of the failure of the Infinitesimal Torelli Theorem for elliptic surfaces. The proofs rely on a theorem by Green and Kii that relates the Infinitesimal Torelli Theorem to the vanishing of a certain Koszul cohomology group.