Maximum likelihood degree of surjective rational maps (Q2101709)

Let \(X=\{D_0,\ldots, D_m\}\) be a collection of effective divisors in \(\mathbb {CP}^n\). The maximum likelihood (ML) degree of \(X\) is the signed Euler characteristic of \(\mathbb {CP}^n \setminus D\), where \(D=\bigcup_{i=0}^{m}D_i\) (see [\textit{F. Catanese} et al., Am. J. Math. 128, No. 3, 671--697 (2006; Zbl 1123.13019)]). This short article computes explicitly the ML degree under the following condition: Each \(D_i\) is defined by a section \(f_i\), and \(\{f_i\}_{i=0}^{m}\) spans a linear system defining a surjective rational map \(f\colon \mathbb {CP}^n\dashrightarrow \mathbb {CP}^n\). In particular, all \(f_i\) have the same degree and \(n=m\). The ML degree will be the coefficient of a certain rational polynomial defined by \(X\). The main idea is that \(f\) can be used to define a vector bundle \(E_f\). This \textit{intermediate} vector bundle is used to construct a short exact sequence having \(F=\Omega_{\mathbb {CP}^n}^1(\log D)\) at its center. Now we use that the ML degree is the degree of the top Chern class of \(F\).