Small irreducible components of arc spaces in positive characteristic (Q2153812)

Let \(k\) be a perfect field having positive characteristic \(p \). Let \(X\) be a \(k\)-variety, i.e., a reduced separated \(k\)-scheme of finite type; let \(X_1,\ldots,X_c\) be the irreducible components of \(X\). Let \(X_{\infty}\) be the space of arcs of \(X\); it represents the functor on \(k\)-algebras \(A\mapsto X(A[[t]])\). The \(k\)-scheme \(X_\infty\) is not of finite type if \(\dim(X)>0\), but satisfies some finiteness properties [\textit{A. J. Reguera}, Compos. Math. 142, No. 1, 119--130 (2006; Zbl 1118.14004); Am. J. Math. 131, No. 2, 313--350 (2009; Zbl 1188.14010)]. There is a natural map \(j:X_\infty \to X\). Let \(Z\) be a subscheme of \(X\); then \(X^Z_\infty\) denotes the subscheme \(j^{-1}(Z) \) of \(X_\infty \). As a subset, \(X^Z_\infty\) consists of all arcs with center inside \(Z\). There is an inclusion \(Z_\infty\subset X_\infty\) which is strict if \(Z\neq X\). We cite the authors: ``\((\mathrm{Sing}(X))_\infty\) may contain some of the irreducible components of \(X_{\infty} ^{\mathrm{Sing}}(X)\). Understanding these ``\#small'' components is the main purpose of this article.'' Any small component is the Zariski closure \(Z^0_\infty\) in \(X_\infty\) of a subset of the form \((Z\setminus \mathrm{Sing} (Z))_\infty\). Now let \(Z\subset X\) be a nowhere dense subvariety of \(X\) such that \[ \bigcup_{i=1}^c \mathrm{Sing}(X_i) \subset Z. \] Then the natural map \(X_\infty\setminus Z_\infty\to X\) induces a bijection on irreducible components. In particular, \(X_\infty\) has finitely many irreducible components. In section 3 the concept of arc-sharpness of a \(k\)-variety \(X\) at a point \(\zeta\in X\) is introduced. Theorem 3.10 and Theorem 3.11 provide two criteria which imply that a point \(\zeta\in X\) is not arc-sharp. Section 4 deals with the existence of small irreducible components of \(X_{\infty}\). For \(X\) with \(\dim(X)=2\) there is a decomposition of \(X_\infty\) into irreducible components. Lastly, in section 5 some open problems are mentioned; there are also some examples.