English

Universal vector bundle over the reals

Algebraic Geometry 2010-03-11 v3

Abstract

Let X_R be a geometrically irreducible smooth projective curve, defined over R, such that X_R does not have any real points. Let X= X_R\times_R C be the complex curve. We show that there is a universal real algebraic line bundle over X_R x Pic^d(X_R)ifandonlyif if and only if \chi(L)isoddforLinPicd(XR) is odd for L in Pic^d(X_R). There is a universal quaternionic algebraic line bundle over X x Pic^d(X) if and only if the degree d is odd. Take integers r and d such that r > 1, and d is coprime to r. Let M_{X_R}(r,d) (respectively, M_X(r,d)$) be the moduli space of stable vector bundles over X_R (respectively, X) of rank r and degree d. We prove that there is a universal real algebraic vector bundle over X_R x M_{X_R}(r,d) if and only if \chi(E) is odd for E in M_{X_R}(r,d). There is a universal quaternionic vector bundle over X x M_X(r,d) if and only if the degree d is odd. The cases where X_R is geometrically reducible or X_R has real points are also investigated.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.0909.0041,
  title  = {Universal vector bundle over the reals},
  author = {Indranil Biswas and Jacques Hurtubise},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0909.0041},
  year   = {2010}
}

Comments

Final version; to appear in the Transactions of the AMS

R2 v1 2026-06-21T13:40:52.986Z