Non-properness of the functor of \(F\)-trivial bundles (Q282308)

Let \(X\) be a smooth projective curve over an algebraically closed field of finite characteristic and let \(F:X\to X\) be the Frobenius map. A vector bundle \(V\) on \(X\) is said to be \(F\)-trivial if \(F^*(V)\) is trivial. This paper is concerned with two statements concerning \(F\)-trivial bundles. The first is a properness assertion for families of \(F\)-trivial bundles. The second asserts that, if \(T_0\) is a smooth affine curve and \(V\) is a vector bundle of rank \(r\) on \(X\times T_0\) such that \(V|X\times \{t\}\) is \(F\)-trivial for all \(t\in T_0\) and is stable for all \(t\) in some non-empty open subset of \(T_0\), then \(V|X\times \{t\}\) is independent of \(t\). The main result of the paper (Theorem 3.1) states that the first statement implies the second. The authors show also that the second statement is equivalent to a conjectured statement of Nori that, for any algebraically closed field extension \(l\) of \(k\), the canonical map \(\Pi^N(X_l)\to\Pi^N(X)\otimes_k l\) of fundamental group schemes is an isomorphism (see [\textit{M. V. Nori}, Compos. Math. 33, 29--41 (1976; Zbl 0337.14016); Proc. Indian Acad. Sci., Math. Sci. 91, 73--122 (1982; Zbl 0586.14006)]). Since there are counter-examples to Nori's conjecture, this means that both statements about \(F\)-trivial bundles have counter-examples.