Aspects of enumerative geometry with quadratic forms (Q2217456)

Classically, enumerative geometry yields integer-valued equations about the geometry of varieties (usually over algebraically closed fields). The burgeoning area of \textit{\(\mathbb{A}^1\)-enumerative geometry} or \textit{enriched enumerative geometry} is the study of bilinear form-valued equations about the geometry of varieties over arbitrary fields. The present paper is the revised form of an early, influential preprint in the development of \(\mathbb{A}^1\)-enumerative geometry. Most of the article is dedicated to an overview and discussion of various tools used in computing enriched enumerative results. These tools include: \begin{itemize} \item The (\(\mathbb{A}^1\)-)Euler class valued in Barge-Morel's Chow-Witt group [\textit{J. Barge} and \textit{F. Morel}, C. R. Acad. Sci., Paris, Sér. I, Math. 330, No. 4, 287--290 (2000; Zbl 1017.14001)] (see also [\textit{J. Fasel}, Doc. Math. 12, 275--312 (2007; Zbl 1169.14302)]). Further details about Euler classes in \(\mathbb{A}^1\)-homotopy theory are available in [\textit{T. Bachmann} and \textit{K. Wickelgren}, ``\(A^1\)-Euler classes: six functors formalisms, dualities, integrality and linear subspaces of complete intersections'', Preprint, \url{arXiv:2002.01848}]. \item The (\(\mathbb{A}^1\)-)Euler characteristic (i.e. the Euler class of the tangent bundle) which admits a categorical definition [\textit{M. Levine} and \textit{A. Raksit}, Algebra Number Theory 14, No. 7, 1801--1851 (2020; Zbl 1458.14029)]. \item Local indices as introduced by \textit{J. L. Kass} and \textit{K. Wickelgren} [Duke Math. J. 168, No. 3, 429--469 (2019; Zbl 1412.14014); Compos. Math. 157, No. 4, 677--709 (2021; Zbl 1477.14085)] and further explored by Bachmann-Wickelgren. \end{itemize} Throughout the article's discussion of these tools, the author gives a thorough treatment of the foundational and technical ideas used. This makes the article an excellent introduction to the field. To conclude, the author gives two applications relating to the Euler characteristic. The first is an enrichment of the Riemann-Hurwitz formula (Section 11). The second is an explicit formula for the Euler characteristic of a diagonal hypersurface in projective space (called a ``generalized Fermat hypersurface'' by the author). As a concrete corollary, the author shows that for a quadric hypersurface \(Q\subset\mathbb{P}^{n+1}\) with discriminant \(\delta\), the Euler characteristic is given by \[ \chi^{\mathbb{A}^1}(Q)=\begin{cases} \frac{n+1}{2}\cdot\mathbb{H} & n\text{ odd},\\ \frac{n}{2}\cdot\mathbb{H}+\langle2\rangle+\langle-2\delta\rangle & n\text{ even}. \end{cases} \] This answers a question of Kass and Wickelgren.