Abstract
Let X be a cubic surface over a p-adic field k. Given an Azumaya algebra on X, we describe the local evaluation map \({X(k) \to \mathbb{Q}/\mathbb{Z}}\) in two cases, showing a sharp dependence on the geometry of the reduction of X. When X has good reduction, then the evaluation map is constant. When the reduction of X is a cone over a smooth cubic curve, then generically the evaluation map takes as many values as possible. We show that such a cubic surface defined over a number field has no Brauer–Manin obstruction. This extends results of Colliot-Thélène, Kanevsky and Sansuc.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bright M.J.: Efficient evaluation of the Brauer–Manin obstruction. Math. Proc. Camb. Philos. Soc. 142, 13–23 (2007)
Bruce J.W., Wall C.T.C.: On the classification of cubic surfaces. J. Lond. Math. Soc. (2) 19(2), 245–256 (1979)
Clebsch A.: Zur Theorie der algebraischen Flächen. Journal für die Reine und Angewandte Mathematik 58, 93–108 (1861)
Colliot-Thélène J.-L.: Hilbert’s Theorem 90 for K 2, with application to the Chow groups of rational surfaces. Invent. Math. 71(1), 1–20 (1983)
Colliot-Thélène J.-L.: L’arithmétique des variétés rationnelles. Ann. Fac. Sci. Toulouse (6) 1(3), 295–336 (1992)
Colliot-Thélène, J.-L., Kanevsky, D., Sansuc, J.-J.: Arithmétique des surfaces cubiques diagonales. In: Diophantine Approximation and Transcendence Theory (Bonn, 1985). Lecture Notes in Mathematics, vol. 1290, pp. 1–108. Springer, Berlin (1987)
Eisenbud D., Harris J.: The geometry of schemes Graduate. Texts in Mathematics, vol. 197. Springer-Verlag, New York (2000)
Fujiwara, K.: A proof of the absolute purity conjecture (after Gabber). In: Algebraic Geometry 2000, Azumino (Hotaka). Advanced Studies in Pure Mathematics, vol. 36, pp. 153–183. Mathematical Society of Japan, Tokyo (2002)
Fulton, W.: Intersection theory, volume 2 of Ergebnisse der Mathematik und ihrer Grenzgebiete. 3. Folge. A Series of Modern Surveys in Mathematics [Results in Mathematics and Related Areas. 3rd Series. A Series of Modern Surveys in Mathematics], 2nd edn. Springer-Verlag, Berlin (1998)
Grothendieck, A.: Géométrie formelle et géométrie algébrique. In: Fondements de la géométrie algébrique. [Extraits du Séminaire Bourbaki, 1957–1962.]. Secrétariat mathématique, Paris (1962)
Hartshorne, R.: Algebraic geometry. Graduate Texts in Mathematics, Number 52. Springer-Verlag, New York (1977)
Lichtenbaum S.: Duality theorems for curves over p-adic fields. Invent. Math. 7, 120–136 (1969)
Manin, Yu.I.: Le groupe de Brauer–Grothendieck en géométrie diophantienne. In: Actes du Congrès International des Mathématiciens (Nice, 1970), Tome 1, pp. 401–411. Gauthier-Villars, Paris (1971)
Manin, Yu.I.: Cubic Forms: Algebra, Geometry, Arithmetic. North-Holland Publishing Co., Amsterdam, 1974. Translated from Russian by M. Hazewinkel, North-Holland Mathematical Library, vol. 4
Serre, J.-P.: Local fields. Graduate Texts in Mathematics, vol. 67. Springer-Verlag, New York, 1979. Translated from the French by Marvin Jay Greenberg
Skorobogatov, A.: Torsors and rational points. Cambridge Tracts in Mathematics, vol. 144. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (2001)
Swinnerton-Dyer H.P.F.: Two special cubic surfaces. Mathematika 9, 54–56 (1962)
Swinnerton-Dyer S.P.: The Brauer group of cubic surfaces. Math. Proc. Camb. Phil. Soc. 113, 449–460 (1993)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bright, M. Evaluating Azumaya algebras on cubic surfaces. manuscripta math. 134, 405–421 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00229-010-0400-2
Received:
Revised:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00229-010-0400-2