Quotients of the Dwork pencil (Q391166)

Let \(n\geq 2\) be a positive integer. Let \(X_{\lambda}^{n+1}\) denote the zero locus \(Z(F_{\lambda}^{n+1})\) in \(\mathbb{P}^n\), where \[ F_{\lambda}^{n+1}:=\sum_{i=1}^{n+1} x_i^{n+1}-(n+1)\lambda \prod_{j=1}^{n+1}x_j\in\mathbb{C}[x_1,\dots, x_{n+1}]. \] Here \(\lambda\) is a complex parameter, and if \(\lambda^{n+1}\neq 1\), \(X_{\lambda}^{n+1}\) is smooth and defines a Calabi--Yau \((n-1)\)-fold, referred to as the Dwork pencil. The goal of this article is two-fold. First study the automorphism group of \(X_{\lambda}^{n+1}\). Next given the automorphism group, investigate the quotients of \(X_{\lambda}^{n+1}\) by the action of the automorphism group. The automorphism group of \(X_{\lambda}^{n+1}\) is described as follows. Let \(\xi\) be a primitive \((n+1)\)-th root of unity. Define automorphisms \(h_{(a_1,\dots, a_{n+1})}\) of \(\mathbb{P}^n\) by \[ h_{(a_1,\dots,a_{n+1})}(x_1:\cdots: x_{n+1}):=(\xi^{a_1}x_1:\cdots: \xi^{a_{n+1}}x_{n+1}). \] Let \(H_n\) be the finite group defined by \(H_n:=<\, h_1,\dots, h_n\,>\) where \(h_1:=h_{(1,-1,0,\dots,0)},\dots, h_n:=h_{(1,0,\dots, -1,0)}\). Then \(H_n\simeq (\mathbb{Z}/(n+1)\mathbb{Z})^{n-1}\) and it is a subgroup of the group generated by automorphisms \(h_{(a_1,\dots,a_{n+1})}\) with \(a_1=1\) and \(\sum_{i} a_i\equiv 0\) mod \((n+1)\). \smallskip The results are described as follows. \smallskip (1) The Dwork family \(X_{\lambda}^{n+1}\) admits the group \(H_n\) as a group of automorphisms, up to projectivity. The automorphisms of \(H_n\) fix the period of \(X_{\lambda}^{n+1}\). \smallskip (2) Suppose that \(n\geq 4\) and \(\lambda\) generic. Then the semi-direct product of \(S_{n+1}\) and \(H_n\) is the automorphism group of \(X_{\lambda}^{n+1}\), and the semi-direct product of \(A_{n+1}\) and \(H_n\) is the subgroup fixing the period of \(X_{\lambda}^{n+1}\). \smallskip (3) If \(n=2,3\) and \(\lambda\) generic, there are similar descriptions of the automorphism groups as (2). \smallskip Here \(S_{n+1}\) is the symmetric group of degree \(n+1\) acting on \(X_{\lambda}^{n+1}\) via permutation of the coordinates, and \(A_{n+1}\) is the alternating group of degree \(n+1\) acting on \(X_{\lambda}^{n+1}\) fixing the period. \smallskip Next the quotients of \(X_{\lambda}^{n+1}\) by \(S_{n+1}\), \(A_{n+1}\), \(H_n\), the semi-direct product of \(S_{n+1}\) and \(H_n\), among others, are calculated. They define Calabi--Yau singular orbifolds in weighted projective spaces, and admit smooth Calabi--Yau resolutions when \(n\leq 3\). The detailed analysis and examples are presented when \(n=2, 3\), e.g., the quotients of \(X_{\lambda}^4\) by \(A_4, H_3\) and the semi-direct product of \(A_4\) and \(H_3\). When \(n>4\), the two quotients \(X_{\lambda}^{n+1}/A_{n+1}\) and \(X_{\lambda}^{n+1}/H_n\) are discussed. Finally, for \(n=4\), concrete examples of the quotients of \(X_{\lambda}^5\) by various subgroups of the semi-direct product of \(S_5\) and \(H_5\) are investigated in detail, for instance, computing Hodge numbers.