English

On a rationality problem for fields of cross-ratios II

Algebraic Geometry 2020-09-01 v2 Commutative Algebra Group Theory

Abstract

Let kk be a field, x1,,xnx_1, \dots, x_n be independent variables and Ln=k(x1,,xn)L_n = k(x_1, \dots, x_n). The symmetric group Σn\Sigma_n acts on LnL_n by permuting the variables, and the projective linear group PGL2\text{PGL}_2 acts by (abcd) ⁣:xiaxi+bcxi+d \begin{pmatrix} a & b \\ c & d \end{pmatrix} \colon x_i \mapsto \frac{a x_i + b}{c x_i + d} for each i=1,,ni = 1, \ldots, n. The fixed field LnPGL2L_n^{\text{PGL}_2} is called "the field of cross-ratios". Given a subgroup SΣnS \subset \Sigma_n, H. Tsunogai asked whether LnSL_n^S rational over KnSK_n^S. When n5n \geqslant 5 the second author has shown that LnSL_n^S is rational over KnSK_n^S if and only if SS has an orbit of odd order in {1,,n}\{ 1, \dots, n \}. In this paper we answer Tsunogai's question for n4n \leqslant 4.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2007.05818,
  title  = {On a rationality problem for fields of cross-ratios II},
  author = {Tran-Trung Nghiem and Zinovy Reichstein},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2007.05818},
  year   = {2020}
}

Comments

9 pages; to be appeared on the Canadian Mathematical Bulletin

R2 v1 2026-06-23T17:02:43.627Z