Complements of hypersurfaces, variation maps and minimal models of arrangements

We prove the minimality of the CW-complex structure for complements of hyperplane arrangements in $\mathbb C^n$ by using the theory of Lefschetz pencils and results on the variation maps within a pencil of hyperplanes. This also provides a method to compute the Betti numbers of complements of arrangements via global polar invariants

The Γ^\hat{\Gamma}-genus and a regularization of an S1S^1-equivariant Euler class

We show that a new multiplicative genus, in the sense of Hirzebruch, can be obtained by generalizing a calculation due to Atiyah and Witten. We introduce this as the $\hat{\Gamma}$-genus, compute its value for some examples and highlight some of its interesting properties. We also indicate a connection with the study of multiple zeta values, which gives an algebraic interpretation for our proposed regularization procedure.Comment: 14 pages; version to appear in J. Phys.

Cohomology of bundles on homological Hopf manifold

We discuss the properties of complex manifolds having rational homology of $S^1 \times S^{2n-1}$ including those constructed by Hopf, Kodaira and Brieskorn-van de Ven. We extend certain previously known vanishing properties of cohomology of bundles on such manifolds.As an application we consider degeneration of Hodge-deRham spectral sequence in this non Kahler setting.Comment: To appear in Proceedings of 2007 conference on Several complex variables and Complex Geometry. Xiamen. Chin

Geometric and homological finiteness in free abelian covers

We describe some of the connections between the Bieri-Neumann-Strebel-Renz invariants, the Dwyer-Fried invariants, and the cohomology support loci of a space X. Under suitable hypotheses, the geometric and homological finiteness properties of regular, free abelian covers of X can be expressed in terms of the resonance varieties, extracted from the cohomology ring of X. In general, though, translated components in the characteristic varieties affect the answer. We illustrate this theory in the setting of toric complexes, as well as smooth, complex projective and quasi-projective varieties, with special emphasis on configuration spaces of Riemann surfaces and complements of hyperplane arrangements.Comment: 30 pages; to appear in Configuration Spaces: Geometry, Combinatorics and Topology (Centro De Giorgi, 2010), Edizioni della Normale, Pisa, 201

Around the tangent cone theorem

A cornerstone of the theory of cohomology jump loci is the Tangent Cone theorem, which relates the behavior around the origin of the characteristic and resonance varieties of a space. We revisit this theorem, in both the algebraic setting provided by cdga models, and in the topological setting provided by fundamental groups and cohomology rings. The general theory is illustrated with several classes of examples from geometry and topology: smooth quasi-projective varieties, complex hyperplane arrangements and their Milnor fibers, configuration spaces, and elliptic arrangements.Comment: 39 pages; to appear in the proceedings of the Configurations Spaces Conference (Cortona 2014), Springer INdAM serie

Hirzebruch-Milnor classes and Steenbrink spectra of certain projective hypersurfaces

We show that the Hirzebruch-Milnor class of a projective hypersurface, which gives the difference between the Hirzebruch class and the virtual one, can be calculated by using the Steenbrink spectra of local defining functions of the hypersurface if certain good conditions are satisfied, e.g. in the case of projective hyperplane arrangements, where we can give a more explicit formula. This is a natural continuation of our previous paper on the Hirzebruch-Milnor classes of complete intersections.Comment: 15 pages, Introduction is modifie

Exotic smooth structures on 4-manifolds with zero signature

For every integer $k\geq 2$, we construct infinite families of mutually nondiffeomorphic irreducible smooth structures on the topological $4$-manifolds $(2k-1)(S^2\times S^2)$ and (2k-1)(\CP#\CPb), the connected sums of $2k-1$ copies of $S^2\times S^2$ and \CP#\CPb.Comment: 6 page