# MA4L7 Algebraic Curves

Lecturer: Diane Maclagan

Term(s): Term 1

Status for Mathematics students: List C

Commitment: 30 Lectures

Assessment: 85% exam, 15% assessed worksheets

Prerequisites: The module is intended as an entry-level introduction to the ideas of algebraic geometry. The student may have picked up part or all of the prerequisites from different sections of these Warwick modules: MA3D5 Galois Theory, MA3G6 Commutative Algebra or MA3A6 Algebraic Number Theory.

Some familiarity with basic ideas of commutative algebra is a prerequisite. More specifically, the main technical items are localisation (partial rings of fraction of an integral domain), local rings and integral closure. These ideas are similar to those that apply to rings of integers in a number field. The proof of RR develops characterisations of free modules over a polynomial ring such as $k[x,y]$, from first principles.

Content:

The module covers basic questions on algebraic curves. The first sections establishes the class of nonsingular projective algebraic curves in algebraic geometry as an object of study, and, for comparison and motivation, the parallel world of compact Riemann surfaces. After these preliminaries, most of the rest of the course focuses on the Riemann--Roch space $\mathcal{L}(C,D)$, the vector space of meromorphic functions on a compact Riemann surface or a nonsingular projective algebraic curve with poles bounded by a divisor $D$ - roughly speaking, allowing more poles gives more meromorphic functions.

The statement of the Riemann-Roch theorem

$\dim\mathcal{L}(C,D) \ge 1-g+\deg D.$

It comes with sufficient conditions for equality. The main thrust of the result is to provide rational functions that allows us to embed $C$ into projective space $\mathbb{P}^n$. The formula involves an invariant called the genus $g(C)$ of the curve. In intuitive topological terms, we think of it as the ''number of holes''. However, it has many quite different characterisations in analysis and in algebraic geometry, and is calculated in many different ways. The logical relations between these treatments is a little complicated. A middle section of the course emphasizes the meaning and purpose of the theorem (independent of its proof), and give important examples of its applications.

The proof of RR is based on commutative algebra. Algebraic varieties have many different types of rings associated with them, including affine coordinate rings, homogeneous coordinate rings, their integral closures, and their localisations such as the DVRs that correspond to points of a nonsingular curve. Footnote to the course notes include (as nonexaminable material) references to high-brow ideas such as coherent sheaves and their cohomology and Serre--Grothendieck duality.

Learning Outcomes:

﻿By the end of the module the student should be able to:

• Demonstrate understanding of the basic concepts, theorems and calculations related to projective curves defined by homogeneous polynomials of low degree.
• Demonstrate understanding of the basic concepts, theorems and calculations that relate the zeroes and poles of rational functions with the general theory of discrete valuation rings and divisors on projective curves.
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the statement of the Riemann-Roch theorem and an understanding of some of its applications.
• Demonstrate understanding of the proof of the Riemann-Roch theorem.

Books:

Frances Kirwan, Complex algebraic curves, LMS student notes

William Fulton, Algebraic Curves: An Introduction to Algebraic Geometry online at www.math.lsa.umich.edu/~wfulton/CurveBook.pdf

I.R. Shafarevich, Basic Algebraic Geometry (especially Part 1, Chapter 3, Section 3.7)

Robin Hartshorne, Algebraic Geometry, (Chapter 4 only)

The lecturer's notes will be made available during the course.

2018

Year 1 regs and modules
G100 G103 GL11 G1NC

Year 2 regs and modules
G100 G103 GL11 G1NC

Year 3 regs and modules
G100 G103

Year 4 regs and modules
G103

Past Exams
Core module averages