A motivic global Torelli theorem for isogenous \(K3\) surfaces (Q2020387)

The authors show that two \(K3\) surfaces \(S\) and \(S'\) are isogenous, i.e. admit a Hodge isometry \(\varphi\colon H^1(S, \mathbb{Q}) \overset{\sim}{\to} H^2(S', \mathbb{Q})\) if and only if their rational Chow motives \(\mathfrak{h}(S)\) and \(\mathfrak{h}(S')\) are isomorphic as Frobenius algebra objects. Furthermore, they complete the motivic global Torelli theorem, namely two \(K3\) surfaces are isomorphic if and only if their integral Chow motives are isomorphic as algebra objects. Earlier [\textit{D. Huybrechts}, Comment. Math. Helv. 94, No. 3, 445--458 (2019; Zbl 1445.14008)] showed that \(\varphi\) can be lifted to an isomorphism of motives \(\Gamma\colon\mathfrak{h}(S) \to \mathfrak{h}(S')\). However, there are examples of non-isogenous \(K3\) surfaces with isomorphic Chow motives. The authors show that the Frobenius structure on \(\mathfrak{h}(X)\) circumvents this ambiguity. Given a smooth projective variety \(X\), the Frobenius structure on \(\mathfrak{h}(X)\) is given by the isomorphism \(\lambda\colon \mathfrak{h}(X)^{\vee} \to \mathfrak{h}(X)(d)\) induced by the class of diagonal \(\Delta_X\in \operatorname{CH}^{\dim X}(X\times X) = \operatorname{Hom}(\mathfrak{h}(X)^{\vee}, \mathfrak{h}(X))\). The usual algebra structure involves multiplication \(\mu\colon \mathfrak{h}(X) \otimes \mathfrak{h}(X) \to \mathfrak{h}(X)\) induced by the small diagonal in \(\operatorname{CH}^{2\dim X}(X\times X\times X)\), and the unit given by the fundamental class \([X]\). The Frobenius structure allows one to define comultiplication \(\delta\colon \mathfrak{h}(X) \to \mathfrak{h}(X)\otimes \mathfrak{h}(X)(d)\) (resp.\ co-unit) by dualising the multiplication (resp.\ unit) and composing with \(\lambda\). These maps satisfy the Frobenius condition \((\operatorname{id}\otimes \mu)\circ (\delta\circ \operatorname{id}) = \delta \circ \mu = (\mu\otimes \operatorname{id})\circ (\operatorname{id}\otimes \delta)\). The key difference between an algebra isomorphism and a Frobenius algebra isomorphism is in that the latter satisfies \(\Gamma^*[Y] = c[X]\) with \(c = 1\). Given two derived equivalent \(K3\) surfaces \(S\) and \(S'\), the idea of the proof is to use the Chern character isomorphism of the numerical Grothendieck group, which is derived invariant and the extended Néron--Severi lattices. Together with Witt's cancellation, this induces an invertible correspondence \(\Gamma_{\operatorname{alg}}\colon \mathfrak{h}_{\operatorname{alg}}(S)\to \mathfrak{h}_{\operatorname{alg}}(S')\). For the transcendental part, the authors use the Mukai vector \(v_2(\mathscr{E})\) of the kernel \(\mathscr{E}\in \text{D}^b(S\times S')\) of the autoequivalence of \(S\) and \(S'\). The total correspondence obtained this way gives the desired Frobenius algebra isomorphism. Then the result follows from [\textit{D. Huybrechts}, Abh. Math. Semin. Univ. Hamb. 88, No. 1, 201--207 (2018; Zbl 1426.14004)], which showed that \(S\) and \(S'\) are isogenous if and only if they are twisted Fourier--Mukai partners. The converse that a Frobenius algebra isomorphism induces an isogeny follows rather easily from the fact that \(\Gamma^*[S'] = [S]\). A further advantage of Frobenius algebra isomorphism is that it behaves well with tensor products. The authors exploit this property to conclude that isogenous \(K3\) surfaces \(S\) and \(S'\) induce the isomorphism \(\mathfrak{h}(\operatorname{Hilb}^{n_1}(S)\times\cdots \times \operatorname{Hilb}^{n_r}(S))\simeq \mathfrak{h}(\operatorname{Hilb}^{n_1}(S')\times\cdots \times\operatorname{Hilb}^{n_r}(S'))\) as Frobenius algebra objects. Finally, generalising results of Huybrechts [loc. cit.] and \textit{C. Voisin} [Lond. Math. Soc. Lect. Note Ser. 417, 422--436 (2014; Zbl 1326.14089)], the authors show that the Mukai vector, \(v_2(\mathscr{E})\) of a Fourier--Mukai kernel \(\mathscr{E}\in \operatorname{D}^b(S\times S')\) of an exact linear equivalence of \(K3\) surfaces \(S\) and \(S'\), lies in \(\operatorname{CH}^2(\mathfrak{h}^4(S\times S'))\). In the Appendix, the authors provide further examples of infinite families of pairwise non-isogenous \(K3\) surfaces with isomorphic rational Hodge structures.