English

Probabilistic intersection theory in Riemannian homogeneous spaces

Differential Geometry 2025-02-13 v1 Algebraic Geometry Combinatorics Metric Geometry Probability

Abstract

Let M=G/HM=G/H be a Riemannian homogeneous space, where GG is a compact Lie group with closed subgroup HH. Classical intersection theory states that the de Rham cohomology ring of MM describes the signed count of intersection points of submanifolds Y1,,YsY_1, \ldots, Y_s of MM in general position, when the codimensions add up to dimM\dim M. We introduce the probabilistic intersection ring HE(M)\mathrm{H}_{\mathbb E}(M), whose multiplication describes the unsigned count of intersection points, when the YiY_i are randomly moved by independent uniformly random elements of GG. The probabilistic intersection ring HE(M)\mathrm{H}_{\mathbb E}(M) has the structure of a graded commutative and associative real Banach algebra. It is defined as a quotient of the ring of Grassmann zonoids of a fixed cotangent space VV of MM. The latter was introduced by the authors in [Adv. Math. 402, 2022]. There is a close connection to valuations of convex bodies: HE(M)\mathrm{H}_{\mathbb E}(M) can be interpreted as a subspace of the space of translation invariant, even, continuous valuations on VV, whose multiplication coincides with Alesker's multiplication for smooth valuations. We describe the ring structure of the probabilistic intersection ring for spheres, real projective space and complex projective space, relying on Fu [J. Diff. Geo. 72(3), 2006] for the latter case. From this, we derive an interesting probabilistic intersection formula in complex projective space. Finally, we initiate the investigation of the probabilistic intersection ring for real Grassmannians, outlining the construction of a probabilistic version of Schubert Calculus.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2502.08256,
  title  = {Probabilistic intersection theory in Riemannian homogeneous spaces},
  author = {Paul Breiding and Peter Bürgisser and Antonio Lerario and Léo Mathis},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2502.08256},
  year   = {2025}
}
R2 v1 2026-06-28T21:41:26.260Z