Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2018 / iii / Paper 113 / 4 / Solution

The resolution principle for sheaf cohomology states that an exact sequencewith $H^q(X,{\mathcal{A}}^j)=0$ for every $q>0$ computes $H^i(X,\mathcal{F})$ as the cohomology of $\Gamma (X,{\mathcal{A}}^{\bullet })$. In particular one may use a flasque resolution.

An affine morphism $\varphi :X\to Y$ is one for which the inverse image of every affine open subset of $Y$ is affine. We use vanishing of quasi-coherent cohomology on an affine scheme: a quasi-coherent sheaf has zero higher sheaf cohomology on an affine variety. Take a flasque resolution $\mathcal{F}\to {\mathcal{I}}^{\bullet }$. Each direct image sheaf ${\varphi }_{\ast }{\mathcal{I}}^j$ is flasque, because restriction on $V\subseteq U\subseteq Y$ is restriction on ${\varphi }^{-1}V\subseteq {\varphi }^{-1}U$. On an affine open $U\subseteq Y$, the augmented complex of sections isIts positive-degree cohomology vanishes by the affine theorem, and its degree-zero kernel is $\Gamma ({\varphi }^{-1}U,\mathcal{F})$. Checking exactness on this affine basis shows that ${\varphi }_{\ast }{\mathcal{I}}^{\bullet }$ is a flasque resolution of ${\varphi }_{\ast }\mathcal{F}$. The global-section complexes are identical, proving cohomology under an affine morphism:

For projective space, put $S=k[x_0,\dots ,x_n]$ with its usual grading and $U_i=\{x_i\ne 0\}$. Construct the twisting sheaf on projective space by setting its sections on $U_i$ to be the degree-$m$ part $(S_{x_i}{)}_m$, viewed as a module over $(S_{x_i}{)}_0$. It is free of rank one with generator $x_i^m$, even when $m$ is negative. On overlaps the generators differ by the unit $(x_i/x_j{)}^m$, so these modules glue to a line bundle $\mathcal{O}(m)$.

Assume first $n\ge 1$. These local modules all embed in the graded fraction field, and agreement on overlaps identifies global sections with ${\bigcap }_i(S_{x_i}{)}_m$. Since $S$ is a unique factorization domain and at least two distinct variables occur, a reduced fraction belonging to every $S_{x_i}$ has no nonconstant denominator. Thus the intersection is $S_m$. Counting monomials by stars and bars givesHere $h_n^i(m)={\dim }_k{H}^i({\mathbf{P}}^n,\mathcal{O}(m))$. The printed formula needs the convention that a counting binomial coefficient is zero when its upper integer is smaller than its nonnegative lower integer; the generalized polynomial convention for negative upper integers would give incorrect dimensions. For $n=0$, every twist on the single point ${\mathbf{P}}^0$ is trivial, so $h_0^0(m)=1$ for every $m$ and its higher cohomology is zero. This case supplies the base of dimension induction; the displayed top-cohomology formula below is for $n\ge 1$.

The standard $n+1$ affine opens have affine finite intersections. The acyclic cover theorem and affine vanishing identify sheaf cohomology with a Čech cochain complex ending in degree $n$. In particular $H^i({\mathbf{P}}^n,\mathcal{O}(m))=0$ for $i>n$.

Let $H=\{x_n=0\}\cong {\mathbf{P}}^{n-1}$, with inclusion $i$. Multiplication by $x_n$ gives the hyperplane exact sequence for twisting sheavesExactness is checked in the local trivializations, where a hyperplane equation is a non-zero-divisor and the quotient is its restriction to $H$. Since a closed immersion is an affine morphism, the first part identifies the cohomology of $i_{\ast }{\mathcal{O}}_H(m)$ with that on $H$.

For $n=1$, the long exact sequence in sheaf cohomology and $H\cong {\mathbf{P}}^0$ giveStarting from the given vanishing for sufficiently large $m$ and descending gives $h_1^1(m)=0$ for $m\ge -1$ and $h_1^1(m)=-m-1$ for $m\le -2$.

Now let $n\ge 2$, and assume the formulas in dimension $n-1$. Restrictionis surjective for every $m$: for $m\ge 0$ it is polynomial restriction, and for $m<0$ both groups are zero since $\dim H\ge 1$. The long exact sequence in sheaf cohomology therefore makes $H^1({\mathbf{P}}^n,\mathcal{O}(m-1))\to H^1({\mathbf{P}}^n,\mathcal{O}(m))$ injective. For $2\le j<n$, dimension induction gives $H^{j-1}(H,{\mathcal{O}}_H(m))=0$, so the same sequence makesinjective. Composing these injections up to a sufficiently large twist, where the target is zero by the given hypothesis, proves $H^j({\mathbf{P}}^n,\mathcal{O}(m))=0$ for every $m$ and $0<j<n$.

The remaining part of the long exact sequence in sheaf cohomology is consequentlywhere the last zero uses the affine-cover dimension bound on $H$. Hence $h_n^n(m-1)=h_n^n(m)+h_{n-1}^{n-1}(m)$. Using dimension induction and eventual vanishing, downward summation yieldsby telescoping Pascal's identity; for $m\ge -n$ it is zero. Thus, without invoking Serre duality in the induction,Finally, the canonical bundle of projective space is ${\omega }_{{\mathbf{P}}^n}\cong \mathcal{O}(-n-1)$, obtained by taking determinants in the dual Euler sequence. Serre duality therefore predictsIt pairs the two computed extreme-degree dimensions and pairs zero intermediate groups with zero intermediate groups, exactly as required.