Rational points of bounded height and the Weil restriction (Q891563)

This paper investigates how Manin's conjecture behaves under Weil restriction. Let \(F/E\) be an extension of number fields, and let \(X\) be a projective variety over \(F\). Given an adelically metrised line bundle \(\mathcal{L}\) on \(X\), the author shows how to define an associated height function \(H_{\mathcal{L}}(x)\). Then for any open subset \(U\) of \(X\) we consider the counting function \[ N(\mathcal{L},U,B):=\#\{x\in U(F): H_{\mathcal{L}}(x)\leq B\}. \] Under suitable conditions Manin's conjecture predicts that there is an open subset \(U\) for which \[ N(\mathcal{L},U,B)\sim cB^a(\log B)^{b-1}\;\;\;(B\to\infty), \] with explicit descriptions of the exponents \(a\) and \(b\) and the leading constant \(c\). The Weil restriction \(R_{F/E}X\) is a variety over \(E\), whose \(E\)-points biject canonically with the \(F\)-points of \(X\). Suppose that \(X\) is smooth with \(X(F)\not=\emptyset\), and that \(\mathcal{L}\) is big. Assume also that \([\omega_X^{-1}]\) is not effective, and that \(H^1(X,\mathcal{O}_X)=0\). Then it is shown how to define an adelically metrised line bundle \(R_{F/E}\mathcal{L}\) on \(R_{F/E}X\), satisfying \[ N(\mathcal{L},U,B)=N(R_{F/E}\mathcal{L},R_{F/E}U,B) \] for any \(U\) and \(B\). Thus if Manin's conjecture holds for \(X,\mathcal{L}\) it also holds for \(R_{F/E}X,R_{F/E}\mathcal{L}\). For a variety \(X\in\mathbb{P}^n\) defined as a smooth complete intersection of \(m\) hypersurfaces of the same degree \(r\), the distribution of rational points has been investigated by \textit{C. M. Skinner} [Compos. Math. 106, No. 1, 11--29 (1997; Zbl 0892.11014)]. The height function used by Skinner does not quite correspond to that in the present paper, but none the less the author is able to adapt Skinner's result to establish Manin's conjecture when \[ n\geq m+m(m+1)(r-1)2^{r-1}. \] One is then able to deduce that Manin's conjecture also holds for \(R_{F/E}X\). The author also explores the contrapositive argument, using it to provide counter-examples to Manin's conjecture. \textit{V. V. Batyrev} and \textit{Y. Tschinkel} [C. R. Acad. Sci., Paris, Sér. I 323, No. 1, 41--46 (1996; Zbl 0879.14007)] showed that the variety \(\subset\mathbb{P}^3 \times\mathbb{P}^3\) given by \[ x_0y_0^3+x_1y_1^3+x_2y_2^3+x_3y_3^3=0 \] produces a counter-example over any field containing \(\sqrt{-3}\). By taking Weil restrictions that author is now able to exhibit counterexamples over any number field.