Semistable conjecture via \(K\)-theory (Q2465260)

The following conjecture, known as ``Semistable Conjecture'', has been formulated by Fontaine and Jannsen and proved by Kato and Tsuji for proper log-schemes with semistable reduction. Let \(K\) be a complete discrete valuation field of mixed characteristic \((0,p)\) with ring of integers \(V\) and a perfect residue field \(k\). Let \(X^*\) be a fine and saturated log-smooth proper \(V^*\)-scheme, where \(V\) is equipped with the log structure associated to the closed point. A typical exemple of such a situation is a scheme \(X\) over \(V\) with a simple semistable reduction. Conjecture. There is a natural \(B_{st}\)-linear period isomorphism \[ \alpha_{st}:H^*(X_{\overline K},\mathbb{Q}_p)\otimes_{\mathbb{Q}_p}B_{st} \simeq H^*_0/W(k)^0)\otimes_{W(k)}B_{st}. \] Here \(\overline K\) is an algebraic closure of \(K\), \(X^*_0\) is the special fiber (which is of Cartier type), \(W(k)^0\) is the ring of Witt vectors \(W(k)\) equipped with the log structure associated to \((\mathbb{N}\to W(k),1\mapsto 0)\) and \(B_{st}\) is the ring of periods introduced by \textit{J.-M. Fontaine} in [Le corps de periodes \(p\)-adique, Astérisque. 223, 59--111, Appendix 103--111 (1994; Zbl 0940.14012)]. The proof of the conjecture given Kato and Tsujii relies on a comparison between sheaves of \(p\)-adic vanishing cycles and log-syntomic sheaves. Later the conjecture was proved by Faltings, using the theory of almost étale extensions. A third method of proving \(p\)-adic comparison theorems, due to Niziol, is based on the Beilinson-Lichtenbaum conjecture which asserts that the étale cohomology of \(X_{\overline K}\), for high-enough Tate twists, realizes motivic cohomology. On the other hand the Beilinson-Lichtenbaum conjecture follows from the Bloch-Kato conjecture, asserting the isomorphism \[ K_n^M(F)/l\simeq H^n_{\text{ét}}(F, \mu_l^{\otimes n}) \] where \(F\) is a field, \(l\) a prime number different from \(\text{char}\,F\) and \(KM_*\) is Milnor's \(K\)-theory. Bloch-Kato having been proved by Voevodsky and Rost one can expect that the log-syntomic cohomology of \(X^*_{\overline V}\) realizes a ``log- motivic cohomology'' of \(X^*_{\overline V}\). Under this interpretation the period morphism should appear as a \(p\)-adic incarnation of the localization map \(j^*\) in motivic cohomology, where \(j\) is the open immersion \(X_{\overline K}\to X^*_{\overline V}\). In this paper the author, without assuming neither the Beilinson-Lichtenbaum conjecture nor the existence of log-motivic cohomology, proves the semistable conjecture for proper, vertical, fine and saturated log-smooth families with reduction of Cartier type, using the following comparison theorem of \textit{A. Suslin} [in: Cycles, transfers, and motivic homology theories. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. Ann. Math. Stud. 143, 239--254 (2000; Zbl 1019.14001)]. Theorem (Suslin). Let \(Y\) be a smooth scheme of dimension \(d\) over \(\overline K\) and let \(p^n\geq 5\). Let \(j\geq\max(2d,2)\), \(j\geq 3\), for \(d=0\) and \(p-2\) and let \(21-j\geq 0\). Then the change of topology map \[ H^j(Y_{\text{zar}}, \mathbb{Z}/p^n(i))\to H^j_{\text{ét}}Y, \mathbb{Z}/P^n(i)) \] is an isomorphism for \(i\geq d\).