Topology and geometry of cohomology jump loci (Q2389182)

A group \(G\) is \(1\)-formal if \(E_G\), the Malcev Lie algebra of \(G\) over \(\mathbb C\), is isomorphic as a filtered Lie algebra to the holonomy Lie algebra of \(G\) with respect to the bracket length filtration. This paper gives a new obstruction to \(1\)-formality of groups by showing that for such groups there is an analytic isomorphism of germs at \(0\) between the first relative characteristic and resonance varieties and so that the tangent cone at \(1\) of the former is isomorphic to the later. The irreducible components of this tangent cone are analyzed and an obstruction to realizing a finitely presented group as the fundamental group of a smooth quasi-projective complex algebraic variety is obtained.