A Borel open cover of the Hilbert scheme

Let $p(t)$ be an admissible Hilbert polynomial in \PP^n of degree $d$. The Hilbert scheme \hilb^n_p(t) can be realized as a closed subscheme of a suitable Grassmannian $\mathbb G$, hence it could be globally defined by homogeneous equations in the Plucker coordinates of $\mathbb G$ and covered by open subsets given by the non-vanishing of a Plucker coordinate, each embedded as a closed subscheme of the affine space $A^D$, $D=\dim(\mathbb G)$. However, the number $E$ of Plucker coordinates is so large that effective computations in this setting are practically impossible. In this paper, taking advantage of the symmetries of \hilb^n_p(t), we exhibit a new open cover, consisting of marked schemes over Borel-fixed ideals, whose number is significantly smaller than $E$. Exploiting the properties of marked schemes, we prove that these open subsets are defined by equations of degree $\leq d+2$ in their natural embedding in \Af^D. Furthermore we find new embeddings in affine spaces of far lower dimension than $D$, and characterize those that are still defined by equations of degree $\leq d+2$. The proofs are constructive and use a polynomial reduction process, similar to the one for Grobner bases, but are term order free. In this new setting, we can achieve explicit computations in many non-trivial cases.Comment: 17 pages. This version contains and extends the first part of version 2 (arXiv:0909.2184v2[math.AG]). A new extended version of the second part, with some new results, is posed at arxiv:1110.0698v3[math.AC]. The title is slightly changed. Final version accepted for publicatio

Segre Class Computation and Practical Applications

Let $X \subset Y$ be closed (possibly singular) subschemes of a smooth projective toric variety $T$. We show how to compute the Segre class $s(X,Y)$ as a class in the Chow group of $T$. Building on this, we give effective methods to compute intersection products in projective varieties, to determine algebraic multiplicity without working in local rings, and to test pairwise containment of subvarieties of $T$. Our methods may be implemented without using Groebner bases; in particular any algorithm to compute the number of solutions of a zero-dimensional polynomial system may be used

Semi-inverted linear spaces and an analogue of the broken circuit complex

The image of a linear space under inversion of some coordinates is an affine variety whose structure is governed by an underlying hyperplane arrangement. In this paper, we generalize work by Proudfoot and Speyer to show that circuit polynomials form a universal Groebner basis for the ideal of polynomials vanishing on this variety. The proof relies on degenerations to the Stanley-Reisner ideal of a simplicial complex determined by the underlying matroid. If the linear space is real, then the semi-inverted linear space is also an example of a hyperbolic variety, meaning that all of its intersection points with a large family of linear spaces are real.Comment: 16 pages, 1 figure, minor revisions and added connections to the external activity complex of a matroi

A Borel open cover of the Hilbert scheme

Let $p(t)$ be an admissible Hilbert polynomial in $\mathbb{P}^n$ of degree $d$. The Hilbert scheme $Hilb^n_{p(t)}$ can be realized as a closed subscheme of a suitable Grassmannian $\mathbb{G}$, hence it could be globally defined by homogeneous equations in the Plücker coordinates of $\mathbb{G}$ and covered by open subsets given by the non-vanishing of a Plücker coordinate, each embedded as a closed subscheme of the affine space $\mathbb{A}^D$, $D = \dim(\mathbb{G})$. However, the number $E$ of Plücker coordinates is so large that effective computations in this setting are practically impossible. In this paper, taking advantage of the symmetries of $Hilb^n_{p(t)}$, we exhibit a new open cover, consisting of marked schemes over Borel-fixed ideals, whose number is significantly smaller than $E$. Exploiting the properties of marked schemes, we prove that these open subsets are defined by equations of degree $\leqslant d + 2$ in their natural embedding in $\mathbb{A}^D$. Furthermore we find new embeddings in affine spaces of far lower dimension than $D$, and characterize those that are still defined by equations of degree $\leqslant d + 2$. The proofs are constructive and use a polynomial reduction process, similar to the one for Gröbner bases, but are term order free. In this new setting, we can achieve explicit computations in many non-trivial cases

On the Rapoport-Zink space for GU(2,4)\mathrm{GU}(2, 4) over a ramified prime

In this work, we study the supersingular locus of the Shimura variety associated to the unitary group $\mathrm{GU}(2,4)$ over a ramified prime. We show that the associated Rapoport-Zink space is flat, and we give an explicit description of the irreducible components of the reduction modulo $p$ of the basic locus. In particular, we show that these are universally homeomorphic to either a generalized Deligne-Lusztig variety for a symplectic group or to the closure of a vector bundle over a classical Deligne-Lusztig variety for an orthogonal group. Our results are confirmed in the group-theoretical setting by the reduction method \`a la Deligne and Lusztig and the study of the admissible set

Quasi-Splines and their moduli

We study what we call quasi-spline sheaves over locally Noetherian schemes. This is done with the intention of considering splines from the point of view of moduli theory. In other words, we study the way in which certain objects that arise in the theory of splines can be made to depend on parameters. In addition to quasi-spline sheaves, we treat ideal difference-conditions, and individual quasi- splines. Under certain hypotheses each of these types of objects admits a fine moduli scheme. The moduli of quasi-spline sheaves is proper, and there is a natural compactification of the moduli of ideal difference-conditions. We include some speculation on the uses of these moduli in the theory of splines and topology, and an appendix with a treatment of the Billera-Rose homogenization in scheme theoretic language

A counterexample to the parity conjecture

Let $[Z]\in\text{Hilb}^d \mathbb A^3$ be a zero-dimensional subscheme of the affine three-dimensional complex space of length $d>0$. Okounkov and Pandharipande have conjectured that the dimension of the tangent space of $\text{Hilb}^d \mathbb A^3$ at $[Z]$ and $d$ have have the same parity. The conjecture was proven by Maulik, Nekrasov, Okounkov and Pandharipande for points $[Z]$ defined by monomial ideals and very recently by Ramkumar and Sammartano for homogeneous ideals. In this paper we exhibit a family of zero-dimensional schemes in $\text{Hilb}^{12} \mathbb A^3$, which disproves the conjecture in the general non-homogeneous case.Comment: 11 pages. Comments are welcom

Polynomial Equations: Theory and Practice

Solving polynomial equations is a subtask of polynomial optimization. This article introduces systems of such equations and the main approaches for solving them. We discuss critical point equations, algebraic varieties, and solution counts. The theory is illustrated by many examples using different software packages.Comment: This article will appear as a chapter of a forthcoming book presenting research acitivies conducted in the European Network POEMA. It discusses polynomial equations, with optimization as point of entry. 24 pages, 7 figure