"Lines Generate the Picard Group of a Fermat
Surface"
By
Abstract: We answer a question of T. Shioda and show that, for any positive integer m prime to 6, the Picard group of the Fermat surface _m is generated by the classes of lines contained in _m. More generally, for any integer m, the classes of lines span a primitive subgroup of Pic_m. These results admit an even further generalization (although not quite straightforward) to Delsarte surfaces. In spite of the algebro-geometric setting, the proof is purely topologi- cal: it revolves about the topology of abelian coverings and the concept of Alexander module of a plane curve.
Date: Monday, October 7, 2013
Time: 13.40-14.30
Place: Mathematics Seminar Room,
SA-141
All are most cordially invited.
Tea and cookies will be served after the talk.