Take the 2-minute tour ×

Let $X$ be a smooth protective variety, or just a smooth Kahler manifold. Is it possible to have two curves $C_1$ and $C_2$ in $X$ such that their difference in $H_2(X,\mathbb{Z})$ is a non-trivial torsion class ?

share|improve this question
Thanks every body. –  Mohammad F. Tehrani Oct 25 '12 at 14:41

3 Answers 3

Yes, this is possible. For an example of a Calabi-Yau threefold with such differences of curves, see my paper with Pavanelli http://arxiv.org/pdf/math/0512182.pdf. I am sure there are much simpler examples, however.

share|improve this answer
Thanks Mark, and do these two homology classes have non-trivial GW invariants? I am asking this just for curiosity. –  Mohammad F. Tehrani Oct 25 '12 at 14:59
Yes, they do. This Calabi-Yau is a small resolution of a (2,2,2,2) complete intersection in ${\bf P}^7$, and the curves in question are exceptional curves for this small resolution. Each such curve contributes $1$ to the Gromov-Witten invariants of its homology class. –  Mark Gross Oct 25 '12 at 15:48

This is off the top of my head, but I think that the canonical class of the Enriques surface is a torsion class given by the difference of curves. Every Enriques surface is obtained from a rational elliptic surface by performing log-transforms on two of the elliptic fibers. The class $F_1 + F_2 - F$, where $F_i$ are the transformed fibers and $F$ is a generic fiber, is then 2-torsion.

share|improve this answer

Every divisor class $D$ on a surface is the difference of two smooth, connected curves. Choose a very ample divisor $A$ and an $n$ so that $D+nA$ is also very ample. Then $(D+nA)-nA=D$ so $D$ is the difference of two curves. They may be chosen smoothly by Bertini's Theorem.

ADDED LATER: They may also be chosen to be connected. The Lefschetz hyperplane theorem shows that hyperplane sections of surfaces are connected.

share|improve this answer
It seems to me that your $S'$ is just the product $Y\times E$. To get multiple fibers you have to make some more complicated construction. –  rita Oct 25 '12 at 10:38
Yeah, dunno what I was thinking... I totally just got it backwards. –  Philip Engel Oct 25 '12 at 11:11
In dim>1, an ample divisor is always connected. This follows by Lefschetz theorem. –  Henri Oct 25 '12 at 15:53
Thanks, Henri. So that settles it for all surfaces! –  Philip Engel Oct 26 '12 at 20:09
what is torsion here! –  Mohammad F. Tehrani Oct 29 '12 at 3:02

Your Answer


