Computing zeta functions on log smooth models (Q2338982)

Let \(X\) be a scheme. A pre-log structure on \(X\) is a sheaf of monoids \(M_X\) on \(X\) together with a morphism of sheaves \(\alpha: M_X\to (O_X, \cdot)\) to the multiplicative monoid of \(O_X\). A pre-log structure is a log structure when \(\alpha^{-1}(O_X^\times)\to O_X^\times\) is an isomorphism. Furthermore, every pre-log structure \(\alpha\) induces canonically a log structure which is called the associated log structure. As an example consider \(R\) a discrete valuation ring and \(\pi\) a uniformizer. The morphism of monoids \(\mathbb{N}\to (R, \cdot),\;1 \mapsto\pi\) defines a pre-log structure on \(S=\mathrm{Spec}\, R\). \(S^\dagger\) denotes the scheme \(S\) endowed with the associated log structure. Now, for \(k\) a field of characteristic zero, consider \(R =k[[\pi]]\) and \(S^\dagger\) as above. For \(d \geq 1\), take the totally ramified extension \(R(d) :=R[T]/(T^d-\pi)\) and set \(S(d) =\mathrm{Spec}\, R(d)\). Let \(\mathcal{X}\) be a generically smooth \(S-\)scheme of pure relative dimension \(m\) and let \(\omega\) be a volume form on the generic fiber \(\mathcal{X}_\eta\). If \(\widehat{\mathcal{X}}\) denotes the \(\pi-\)adic completion of \(\mathcal{X}\) and \(\omega(d)\) denotes the inverse image of \(\omega\) on the generic fiber of \(\widehat{\mathcal{X}}(d) :=\widehat{\mathcal{X}}\times_S S(d),\) then the volume Poincaré series of \((\mathcal{X},\omega)\) is defined as \[ S(\mathcal{X},\omega;T):=\sum_{d\geq 1}\left( \int_{\widehat{\mathcal{X}}(d)}|\omega(d)|\right) T^d. \] The previous definition was given by \textit{J. Nicaise} and \textit{J. Sebag} [Invent. Math. 168, No. 1, 133--173 (2007; Zbl 1136.14010)]. There, it was proved that \(S(\mathcal{X},\omega;T)\) belongs to \(\mathcal{M}_{\mathcal{X}_S}[[T]],\) where \(\mathcal{M}_{\mathcal{X}_S}\) is the localization \(K_0(Var_{\mathcal{X}_S})[\mathbb{L}^{-1}]\) of the Grothendieck ring of \(\mathcal{X}_S-\)varieties and \(\mathbb{L}:= [\mathbb{A}^1_{\mathcal{X}_S}]\). In fact, in op. cit. the authors show that the motivic zeta function (in the sense of [\textit{J. Denef} and \textit{F. Loeser}, Prog. Math. 201, 327--348 (2001; Zbl 1079.14003)]) of a complex algebraic function \(f: X \to \mathbb{A}_\mathbb{C}^1\) can be expressed in terms of \(S(\mathcal{X},\omega;T)\). By pushing forward this relationship with motivic integration, the author shows that there is a closed formula for \(S(\mathcal{X},\omega;T)\). More precisely, when \(\mathcal{X}\) is a regular scheme of finite type over \(R\) whose special fiber \(\mathcal{X}_s=\sum_{i\in I}N_iE_i\) is a divisor with strict normal crossings, the volume Poincaré series of \((\mathcal{X},\omega)\) is a sum involving the classes of divisors \(E_i\) and their numerical data. Then the author endows this \(\mathcal{X}\) with a log structure and employees the elaborated machinery of log geometry to interpret each actor in the formula in terms of a fan structure. This approach permits the author to reduce the list of candidate poles for \(S(\mathcal{X},\omega;T)\), which takes a nice form when \(\mathcal{X}\) is a proper \(S-\)model of a Calabi-Yau variety \(X\). The paper under review contains the main results of the PhD thesis of the author, where detailed proofs can be found.