No label defined (Q4238567)

Let \(X\) be a smooth (irreducible) projective variety of dimension \(m\), with a Kähler metric. If \(A\) is an effective cycle on \(X\) of pure dimension \(p\), we can associate to it a Green current \(g_A\), determined uniquely by the conditions that it be admissible with respect to the given Kähler metric on \(X\), and that its harmonic projection be zero. The same holds for an effective cycle \(B\) of dimension \(q\). If \(p+q=m-1\), then the arithmetic intersection theory of Gillet and Soulé defines a local intersection number \(\langle A,B\rangle\in\mathbb R\). Let \(\mathcal C_p^\alpha(X)\) denote the Chow variety of dimension-\(p\) cycles on \(X\) in a given cohomology class \(\alpha\), and consider the incidence set consisting of all points in \(\mathcal C_p^\alpha(X)\times\mathcal C_q^\beta(X)\) corresponding to pairs of cycles \(A\) and \(B\) on \(X\) whose supports intersect. This set can contain whole irreducible components of \(\mathcal C_p^\alpha(X)\times\mathcal C_q^\beta(X)\). \textit{B. Mazur} has conjectured that this incidence set is a Cartier divisor on the union of the irreducible components of \(\mathcal C_p^\alpha(X)\times\mathcal C_q^\beta(X)\) not contained in the incidence set. He has further suggested that the local intersection number \(\langle A,B\rangle\) on the complement of the incidence set should be equal to some metric on this divisor. The present paper answers a large part of this question by showing that there exists a metrized line bundle \(\mathcal L\) and a section \(s\) of \(\mathcal L\) such that \(\log\|s(A,B)\|^2 =(m-1)!\langle A,B\rangle\). The proof uses reduction to the diagonal, and some geometry of Grassmannians.