The Orlik-Solomon model for hypersurface arrangements (Q5962649)

Consider a non singular complex projective variety \(X\) and a union \(L=L_1\cup\cdots\cup L_l\) of smooth hypersurfaces \(L_i\subset X\), \(i=1,\ldots,l\). If \(L\) locally looks like a union of hyperplanes in~\(\mathbb C^n\) the author calls it a hypersurface arrangement in \(X\). This generalizes the notion of a normal crossing divisor: a hypersurface arrangement is a normal crossing divisor if one can choose local coordinates \((z_1,\ldots,z_n)\) such that~\(L\) is locally defined by the equation \(z_1\cdots z_r=0\) for some \(r\). The paper is devoted to the investigation of the cohomology of the complement of a hypersurface arrangement and specifically to the study of the mixed Hodge structure on \(H^{\bullet}(X\setminus L)\). It is a fundamental result of Deligne, proved by use of devissage, that the cohomology space \(H^{\bullet}(Y,\mathbb C)\) of any complex algebraic variety \(Y\) carries two finite filtrations by complex sub-vector spaces, the weight filtration \(W\) and the Hodge filtration \(F\). For a smooth variety \(Y\), Deligne's mixed Hodge structure is constructed by means of the geometry of the normal crossing divisor complement of \(Y\) inside a Hironaka completion, but it is independent of the choices of such completion. The author's purpose is to compute \(H^{\bullet}(X\setminus L)\) without having to go, by iterated blow-ups, to the normal crossing divisor situation. The crucial theorem says that there are functorial isomorphisms in the category of mixed Hodge structures which are direct sum of pure structures: \(\mathrm{Gr}^W H^{\bullet}(X\setminus L)\cong H^\bullet(M^\bullet(X,L))\). Here \(M^\bullet(X,L)\) is a certain differential graded algebra which the author calls the Orlik-Solomon model for the pair \((X,L)\). The reason for the name is the following. Arnold, Brieskorn, Orlik-Solomon investigated the situation when \(X\) is either the projective space or \(\mathbb C^n\) and the \(L_i \) are hyperplanes. The Orlik-Solomon algebra \(A_\bullet(L)\) is a graded algebra of \(\mathbb Q\) vector spaces which is combinatorially defined, there is an isomorphism \(A_\bullet(L) \simeq H^*(\mathbb C^n \setminus L, \mathbb Q)\), [\textit{P. Orlik} and \textit{L. Solomon}, Invent. Math. 56, 167--189 (1980; Zbl 0432.14016)]. The author explains that his technique is to extend such a fact to the general case of the complement~\(X\setminus L\) of a hypersurface arrangement. The author remarks that the construction of the Orlik-Solomon model is based on two types of data. The combinatorial one depends on the preceding result for hyperplane arrangements and it is used for the local analysis. On the other side the geometric, global, input is built using the Gysin exact sequence for the cohomology of couples \((X,Y)\), where \(Y\) is a non singular hypersurface in a smooth projective variety \(X\). The basic strategy is to analyze a convenient complex of logarithmic forms with poles along the hypersurface arrangement and the weight filtration associated with their poles. The Orlik-Solomon model is the first page of the corresponding spectral sequence, which in fact degenerates at \(E_2\). Finally some applications are given, for instance to the study of the cohomology of the configuration spaces of points on curves.