The motivic Thom-Sebastiani theorem for regular and formal functions (Q683511)

This article proposes a new proof of the Thom-Sebastiani theorem for motivic Milnor fibres in the formal setting. Let \(k\) be an algebraically closed field of characteristic 0. The Grothendieck group \(K_0(\mathrm{Var}_k)\) is an abelian group generated by isomorphism classes of \(k\)-varieties subject to the relation \(X = Y + X \setminus Y\) for all \(Y\) Zariski closed in \(X\). It also has a ring structure induced by the Cartesian product. Let \(\mu_m\) be the group of \(m\)-th roots of unity; a \(\mu_m\) action on a variety \(X\) is called \emph{good} if each orbit is contained in an affine subvariety. The projective system of natural homomorphisms \(\mu_{mn} \to \mu_n\) has a limit \(\hat \mu\) and \(\hat \mu\)-action on a variety is called \emph{good} if it factors through a good \(\mu_m\)-action for some \(m\). The \(\hat \mu\)-equivariant Grothendieck group \(K^{\hat \mu}_0(\mathrm{Var}_k)\) consists of formal combinations of varieties with good \(\hat \mu\)-action and is defined similarly to \(K_0(\mathrm{Var}_k)\). Let \(\mathbb{L}\) be the class of the affine line, and let \(\mathcal{M}_k^{\hat \mu}\) be the localization of \(K^{\hat \mu}_0(\mathrm{Var}_k)[\mathbb{L}^{-1}]\) with respect to the multiplicative system generated by the elements \(1 - \mathbb L^i\). Let \(f\) be a regular function on a smooth \(k\)-variety \(X\). A motivic Milnor fibre \(S_{f,x}\) of the function \(f\) at a point \(x\) in its zero locus is an element of \(\mathcal{M}_k^{\hat \mu}\) that encapsulates additive invariants of the classical Milnor fibre of \(f\) at \(x\), such as its Euler characteristic, or Hodge-Deligne polynomial, as well as the monodromy action. It was introduced by Denef and Loeser who gave a formula for \(S_{f,x}\) in terms a log-resolution of the zero locus of \(f\). Later, using the technique of motivic integration proposed by Kontsevich, Denef and Loeser gave an intrinsic definition of the motivic Milnor fibre using certain subsets of the arc space of \(X\), a variety whose \(k\)-points are in bijective correspondence with \(X(k[[t]])\). Building on their work Nicaise and Sebag introduced a rigid-analytic space called analytic Milnor fibre and computed the motivic Milnor fibre in terms of it. Their framework was more general, as it allowed to work with smooth formal \(k[[t]]\)-schemes (with the role of \(f\) played by the structure morphism). \textit{E. Hrushovski} and \textit{D. Kazhdan} [Prog. Math. 253, 261--405 (2006; Zbl 1136.03025)] developed an alternative motivic integration theory based on model theory of algebraically closed valued fields. This theory allows one to work with rigid subanalytic sets defined by Lifshitz. Hrushovski and Loeser have shown how motivic Milnor fibre can be described in terms of an analytic Milnor fibre using this theory, also in the formal schemes setting. The motivic Thom-Sebastiani theorem can be stated as follows. Let \(f: X \to \mathbb{A}^1\) and \(g: Y \to \mathbb{A}^1\) be regular maps, let \(S_{f,x}, S_{g,y}\) be motivic Milnor fibres of \(f\) and \(g\) at \(x \in X, y \in Y\), respectively. Denote \((f \oplus g)(x,y) = f(x) + g(y)\), and \(S^\phi_{f,x} = (-1)^{\mathrm{dim}(X)-1}(S_{f,x}-1)\) and similarly for \(S^\phi_{g,y}\). Then \[ S^\phi_{f\oplus g, (x,y)} = S^\phi_{f,x} \ast S^\phi_{g,y} \] where \(\ast\) is the convolution product of varieties, extended to \(\mathcal{M}^{\hat{\mu}}\). The reviewed article gives a new proof of the Thom-Sebastiani theorem for formal functions using the formalism of Hrushovski and Kazhdan. The proof works with analytic Milnor fibres of \(f\) and \(g\) directly, then uses the correspondence of Hrushovski and Loeser to deduce the required identity between the motivic Milnor fibres.