\documentclass[12pt]{article} %\usepackage{amssymb} %\usepackage{amsthm} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{url} \usepackage{hyperref} \newtheorem{theorem}{Theorem} \newtheorem{corollary}[theorem]{Corollary} \newtheorem{conjecture}[theorem]{Conjecture} \newtheorem{lemma}[theorem]{Lemma} \newtheorem{proposition}[theorem]{Proposition} \newtheorem{definition}[theorem]{Definition} \newtheorem{example}[theorem]{Example} \newtheorem{axiom}{Axiom} \newtheorem{remark}{Remark} \newtheorem{exercise}{Exercise}[section] \def\ppp{{\mathbb{P}}} \def\hhh{{\mathbb{H}}} \def\aaa{{\mathbb{A}}} \def\fff{{\mathbb{F}}} \def\qqq{\mathbb{Q}} \def\rrr{\mathbb{R}} \def\ttt{\mathbb{T}} \def\ccc{\mathbb{C}} \def\zzz{\mathbb{Z}} \def\nnn{\mathbb{N}} \def\pf{{\bf proof}:\ } \def\qed{$\Box$} \def\div{{\rm div}} \def\Div{{\rm Div}} \def\Pic{{\rm Pic}} \def\Prin{{\rm Prin}} \def\suchthat{{\ :\ }} \begin{document} \author{A. Ksir, C. Melles, D. Joyner} \title{A question about tropical $\Pic(X)$ as a $G$-module} \date{7-7-2008} \maketitle \begin{abstract} This paper addresses the following question: Let $X$ be a tropical curve and let $G$ be a finite subgroup of the automorphism group of $X$. Let $D$ be a divisor and assume that its equivalence class $[D]$ is $G$-invariant. \noindent {\bf Question}: Is there always a $D'\in [D]$ which is $G$-equivariant? This was answered by Goldstein, Guralnick, and Joyner \cite{GGJ} in the case of an irreducible algebraic curve over an algebraically closed field. We try to extend the arguments of \cite{GGJ} to the tropical case. For instance, in the tropical case, we prove a tropical analog of Hilbert's Theorem 90 and of Tsen's Theorem (in the abelian case). As our main result, we show that, the answer to the above question is ``yes'' for the class of tropical ``$\qqq$-divisors''. \end{abstract} %\tableofcontents \section{Introduction} Let $X$ be a connected tropical curve and let $G$ denote a (finite) subgroup of the automorphism group of $X$. \begin{lemma} A tropical curve can be identified with a metric graph with leaves (possibly with infinite terminal edges, possibly with loops). The automorphism group of a tropical curve can be identified with the isometry group of that graph. \end{lemma} \pf This is an immediate consequence of Proposition 5.3 in \cite{M1}. \qed Let $\ttt=\rrr\cup \{\pm \infty\}$. Let $M(X)$ denote the (tropical) ring of {\it rational functions} on $X$, i.e., continuous piecewise-linear $\ttt$-valued functions with integral slopes. Let $S\subset \qqq$ denote any (non-trivial, additive) subgroup and let $M_S(X)$ denote the ring of continuous piecewise-linear functions on $X$ with $S$-valued slopes. In this case we call $S$ the {\it slope group}. When $S=\zzz$ we omit the subscript. Let $M_S(X)^\sharp$ denote those functions which are not equal to $\pm \infty$ on any part. Let $\Div(X)$ denote the group of divisors (the free abelian group generated by the points of $X$) and call $\Div_S(X)=\Div(X)\otimes S$ the {\it $S$-divisor classes}. Define the map ${\rm div}:M_S(X)^\sharp \to \Div_S(X)$ by ${\rm div}(f)=\sum_{P\in X} {\rm ord}_P(f)\cdot P$, where ${\rm ord}_P(f)$ is the sum of all ($S$-valued) slopes of $f$ for all edges emanating from $P$. Let \[ \div: M_S(X)^\sharp\to \Div_S(X), \] and let $\Prin_S(X)=\div (M_S(X)^\sharp)$ denote the subgroup of {\it principal divisors} Let $\Pic_S(X)=\Div_S(X)/\Prin_S(X)$ denote the {\it Picard group} of $S$-divisor classes. For background on tropical rings, see for example Mikhalkin \cite{M1}. \section{Cohomology} The basic idea is to use group cohomology to attack this question. For background on cohomology, we reference Serre \cite{S}, ch. VII, or the survey \cite{J}. Let $S$ be a slope group and let $M=M_S(X)^\sharp$. The group $G$ acts on the (tropical-multiplicative) abelian group $M$ via its action on $X$. Define the {\it $1$-cocycles} on $G$ with coefficients in $M$ by \[ Z^1(G,M) = \{f:G\to M\ |\ \forall g_1,g_2\in G,\ f(g_1)g_1f(g_2)=f(g_1g_2)\}, \] the {\it $1$-coboundaries} by \[ B^1(G,M) = \{f:G\to M\ |\ \exists m\in M \suchthat \forall g\in G,\ f(g)=gm\cdot m^{-1}\}, \] and the {\it $1$-cohomology} by \[ H^1(G,M) =Z^1(G,M)/B^1(G,M). \] The following result is roughly analogous to Hilbert's Theorem 90: \begin{proposition} \label{prop:thrm90} $H^1(G,M_\qqq(X)^\sharp)=0$. \end{proposition} \pf We prove something slightly more general (while at the same time illustrating some difficulties with computing $H^1(G,M(X)^\sharp)$). Let $M_{|G|\zzz}(X)$ denote the ring of continuous piecewise-linear functions on $X$ with integer slopes, all of which are multiples of $|G|$. We shall show that $H^1(G,M_{|G|\zzz}(X)^\sharp)$ is trivial. Let $M=M_{|G|\zzz}(X)^\sharp$, $f\in Z^1(G,M)$ represent a class in $H^1(G,M)$, so $f(g)=f(gx)gf(x)^{-1}$. Taking the product over all $x\in G$, this implies $f(g)^{|G|}=(\prod_{x\in G}f(x))\cdot g(\prod_{x\in G}f(x))^{-1}$. Taking (tropical) $|G|$-th roots, $f(g)=m\cdot gm^{-1}$, where $m=\prod_{x\in G}f(x)^{1/|G|}$. This implies $f(g)^{-1}\in B^1(G,M)$. Since $B^1(G,M)$ is an abelian group, $f(g)\in B^1(G,M)$, so the class which $f$ represents is trivial. The same proof applies if you replace $M=M_{|G|\zzz}(X)^\sharp$ by $M=M_\qqq(X)^\sharp$ (since taking $|G|$-th roots at the last step is still allowed). \qed \begin{remark} What is $\div(M_{|G|\zzz}(X)^\sharp)$? The map $f(x)\to f(x)^{|G|}$ defines a surjection $M(X)\to M_{|G|\zzz}(X)$. Therefore, $\div(M_{|G|\zzz}(X)^\sharp) =|G|\div(M(X)^\sharp)$. \end{remark} \begin{lemma} For any non-trivial subgroup $S\subset \qqq$, we have a short exact sequence of $\zzz[G]$-modules, \[ 0\rightarrow \rrr\oplus S^d \rightarrow M_S(X)^\sharp \rightarrow \Prin(X) \rightarrow 0, \] where $d$ is the number of leaves minus the number of non-terminal vertices adjacent to a leaf. \end{lemma} \begin{remark} \begin{itemize} \item If $X$ is compact then $d=0$. \item This is the tropical analog of the well-known short exact sequences \[ 1\rightarrow F^\times \rightarrow F(X)^\times \rightarrow \Prin(X) \rightarrow 0, \] for an irreducible non-singular algebraic curve $X$ over an algebraically closed field $F$. \end{itemize} \end{remark} \pf The order of a function $f$ at a point is the sum of the outgoing slopes. So for $f$ to be in the kernel, it must have the the sum of the slopes at each point equal to $0$. First, look at the metric graph of $X$ without its leaves. This is a compact set, so $f$ must take a maximum or minimum somewhere. But at the point where the minimum is attained, all outgoing slopes are greater than or equal to $0$. Therefore, $f$ must be constant on this part of the graph. Second, if there multiple leaves at one vertex then the slop of $f$ must sum to $0$ at that vertex. Otherwise, the slopes can be arbitrary. \qed \vskip .15in Define the {\it $2$-cocycles} on $G$ with coefficients in $M$ by \[ \begin{array}{l} Z^2(G,M) = \{f:G\times G\to M\ |\ \forall g_1,g_2,g_3\in G,\\ \qquad \qquad \qquad \qquad \qquad %\qquad \qquad \qquad \qquad g_1f(g_2,g_3)f(g_1g_2,g_3)^{-1}f(g_1,g_2g_3)f(g_1,g_2)^{-1}=1\}, \end{array} \] the {\it $2$-coboundaries}\footnote{It is straightforward to check that $B^2(G,M)\subset Z^2(G,M)$.} by \[ \begin{array}{l} B^2(G,M) = \{f:G\times G\to M\ |\ \exists h:G\to M \suchthat \\ \qquad \qquad \qquad \qquad \qquad \forall g_1,g_2\in G,\ f(g_1,g_2)=h(g_1)g_1h(g_2)h(g_1g_2)^{-1}\}, \end{array} \] and the {\it $2$-cohomology} by \[ H^2(G,M) =Z^2(G,M)/B^2(G,M). \] By definition, we have a short exact sequence \[ 0\rightarrow \Prin(X) \rightarrow \Div(X) \rightarrow \Pic(X) \rightarrow 0, \] as $\zzz[G]$-modules. The covariant functor of $G$-invariants, $M\longmapsto H^0(G,M)=M^G$ is left exact. Therefore, for $M=M_S(X)^\sharp$ we have \begin{equation} \label{eqn:longer} \begin{split} 1\rightarrow H^0(G,\rrr\oplus S^d) \rightarrow H^0(G,M ) \rightarrow H^0(G,\Prin(X))\\ \rightarrow H^1(G,\rrr\oplus S^d) \rightarrow H^1(G,M) \rightarrow H^1(G,\Prin(X)) \rightarrow \\ H^2(G,\rrr\oplus S^d)\rightarrow H^2(G,M)\rightarrow H^2(G,\Prin(X)) \rightarrow ...\ , \end{split} \end{equation} and \begin{equation} \label{eqn:long} \begin{split} 0\rightarrow H^0(G,\Prin(X)) \rightarrow H^0(G,\Div(X)) \rightarrow H^0(G,\Pic(X)) \\ \rightarrow H^1(G,\Prin(X)) \rightarrow H^1(G,\Div(X)) \rightarrow H^1(G,\Pic(X)) \rightarrow ...\ . \end{split} \end{equation} The following result is a corollary of Proposition \ref{prop:thrm90}. \begin{corollary} \label{cor:4} For $M=M_\qqq(X)^\sharp$ we have exact sequences \[ 0\rightarrow (\rrr\oplus \qqq^d)^G \to M^G \rightarrow \Prin(X)^G \rightarrow H^1(G,\rrr\oplus S^d) \rightarrow 0 \] and \[ 0 \rightarrow H^1(G,\Prin(X)) \rightarrow H^2(G,\rrr\oplus S^d)\rightarrow ...\ . \] \end{corollary} \section{Tropical curves} Let $X$ be a connected tropical curve. The following computation will not be needed for our main result. %We claim that the answer to the above question %is ``no'' in general. \begin{proposition} \label{prop:h1div=0} $H^1(G,\Div(X))=0$. \end{proposition} %This result is similar to a result of Tate on the Galois cohomology %of the divisor group of a variety over a $p$-adic field - see %Tate's appendix in Lang \cite{L}. However, this result does %not follow from Tate's result since the $G$-action is different. \begin{remark} \begin{itemize} \item The analogous result for algebraic curves is proven in \cite{GGJ} and the proof below follows the same idea. \item Much of the proof below (but not all) goes through for $H^2(G,\Div(X))$ as well. \end{itemize} \end{remark} \pf Let $GX$ denote the set of all orbits of points of $X$ under the action of $G$. Let $GX/G$ denote a complete set of representatives in $X$ of these orbits. For each $P\in X$, let $G_P=\{g\in G\ |\ gP=P\}$ denote its stabilizer (or inertia group). We have a direct sum decomposition \[ \Div(X)=\oplus_{P\in GX/G} \oplus_{g\in G/G_P} \zzz [gP]. \] Let \[ X_{ram}=\{P\in X\ |\ G_P\not= 1\}, \] \[ X_{unram}=\{P\in X\ |\ G_P= 1\}. \] Let $\Div(X)_{ram}$ and $\Div(X)_{unram}$ denote the corresponding $\zzz[G]$-submodules of $\Div(X)$. Unlike for the algebraic curve analog, $\Div(X)_{ram}$ can have infinite rank (except in the compact case). We have \[ \begin{split} \Div(X)_{unram} &=\oplus_{P\in (GX/G)_{unram}} \oplus_{g\in G} \zzz [gP]\\ &= \oplus_{g\in G} \oplus_{P\in (GX/G)_{unram}} \zzz [gP], \end{split} \] so $\Div(X)_{unram}$ is induced in the sense of Serre \cite{S}, page 110. This implies $H^1(G,\Div(X)_{unram})=0$, by Prop. 1 in \S VII.2 of \cite{S}. Recall $H^1(G,L_1\oplus L_2)= H^1(G,L_1)\oplus H^1(G,L_2)$, for any $G$-modules $L_1,L_2$. Suppose that $H^1(G,\Div(X)_{ram})\not= 0$ and let $f\in Z^1(G,\Div(X)_{ram})$ denote a non-trivial cocycle. Since $G$ is finite, $f$ is supported on finitely many points. Let $\mathcal{P}$ denote the $G$-orbit of these points and let $L$ denote the sublattice of $\Div(X)_{ram}$ generated by $\mathcal{P}$. There is no harm in assuming that $G$ is transitive on the basis of $L$ ($L$ is a direct sum of such lattices). So, let $L=\oplus_{g\in G/G_P} \zzz [gP]$, for some $P\in GX/G$. So $L \cong ind_H^G(\zzz)$, where $H\cong G_P$ is the stabilizer of one of the basis elements. Here $G$ acts on the induced module \[ ind_H^G(\zzz)=\{f:G\rightarrow \zzz \ |\ f(hg)=hf(g),\ \ \forall h\in H,\ g\in G\}, \] which are just the $\zzz$-valued functions on $H\backslash G$, by right multiplication. By Shapiro's Lemma, $H^1(G,ind_H^G(\zzz)) \cong H^1(H,\zzz)$. Now $H^1(H,\zzz)=Hom(H,\zzz)=0$, since $H$ is finite. \qed \begin{corollary} The map \[ H^0(G,\Pic(X)) \rightarrow H^1(G,\Prin(X)) \] is surjective. \end{corollary} \begin{proposition} \label{prop:tsen} If $G$ is abelian then $H^2(G,M_\qqq(X)^\sharp)$ is trivial. \end{proposition} \pf First, assume $G$ is cyclic and let $M=M_\qqq(X)^\sharp$. Then $H^2(G,M)=M^G/NM$, where $N:M\to M$ is the norm map. Since (tropical) $|G|$-th roots in $M$ always exist, $N$ is surjective, so $H^2G,M)$ is trivial in this case. In general, $G$ is a product of cyclic groups. In this case, the result follows by induction and the inflation-restriction sequence $0\to H^2(G/H,A^H)\to H^2(G,A)\to H^2(H,A)$. \qed %\begin{corollary} %If $G$ is abelian then $H^2(G,\Prin(X))\cong %H^2(G,\rrr\oplus \qqq^d)$. %\end{corollary} \begin{remark} \begin{itemize} %\item %We want to know if $H^1(G,\Prin(X))$ is trivial or not, as %then (thanks to the above proposition) the %answer to the question will follow from (\ref{eqn:long}). % \item In the case of an algebraic curve, $H^2(G,F^\times(X)))=1$ by Tsen's theorem (a function field over an algebraically closed field is a $C^1$ field; see the Corollaries on pages 96 and 109 of Shatz \cite{Sh}, or \S 4 and \S 7 of chapter X in \cite{S}). An analog of Tsen's theorem for tropical curves is, for $G$ abelian, given in Proposition \ref{prop:tsen}. An analog for general finite groups, if it exists, would be very interesting and useful. \item In the case of an algebraic curve, $H^1(G,F(X)^\times )=1$, by Hilbert's Theorem 90. A tropical curve analog of Hilbert's Theorem 90 is Proposition \ref{prop:thrm90}. \end{itemize} \end{remark} %\begin{corollary} %If $X$ is compact and $G$ has trivial Schur multiplier %then $H^1(G,\Prin(X))$ is trivial and the map % %\[ %Div(X)^G\to Pic(X)^G %\] %is surjective. %\end{corollary} % %\begin{remark} %This implies that the answer to the question raised in the %introduction is ``yes'' if %(a) $X$ is compact, (b) $G$ has trivial Schur multiplier. %\end{remark} % %\pf %The hypothesis implies $d=0$ and $H^2(G,\rrr )=0$, so %by (\ref{eqn:longer}), we have % %\[ %H^1(G,M_\qqq(X)^\sharp )\to H^1(G,\Prin(X) )\to 0. %\] %By by Proposition \ref{prop:thrm90}, $H^1(G,M_\qqq(X)^\sharp )=0$, %so $H^1(G,\Prin(X))$ is trivial. The second statement now follows from %Corollary \ref{cor:4}. %\qed \begin{proposition} \label{prop:H2constants} $H^2(G,\rrr\oplus \qqq^d)$ is trivial. \end{proposition} \pf Let $S\subset \qqq$ be any $|G|$-divisible subgroup. By Rotman \cite{R} Proposition 10.119, we have $|G|\cdot H^2(G,\rrr\oplus S^d)=0$. Since $\rrr\oplus S^d$ is torsion-free, this means that if $f\in Z^2(G,\rrr\oplus S^d)$ then $|G|\cdot f\in B^2(G,\rrr\oplus S^d)$. Since $S\subset \qqq$ is $|G|$-divisible, so is $B^2(G,\rrr\oplus S^d)$. This forces, $f\in B^2(G,\rrr\oplus S^d)$. \qed \begin{remark} If $S\subset \qqq$ is finitely generated (which means $S=a\zzz$, for some $a\in \qqq$) then $H^2(G,\rrr\oplus S^d)$ is finite. Indeed, $H^2(G,\rrr\oplus \qqq^d)= H^2(G,\rrr)\oplus H^2(G,S^d)$ and $H^2(G,\rrr)=0$ (this is a corollary of the proof above). Since $S$ is finitely generated, so is $S^d$. Now apply Rotman \cite{R} Corollary 10.120. \qed \end{remark} The following is our main result and implies that the answer to the question raised in the introduction is ``yes'' for the $\qqq$-divisors. \begin{theorem} If $S=\qqq$ then \[ \Div(X)^G\to \Pic(X)^G \] is surjective \end{theorem} \pf By Corollary \ref{cor:4}, the map $H^1(G,\Prin(X))\to H^2(G,\rrr\oplus \qqq^d)$ is injective. Therefore, $H^1(G,\Prin(X))=0$ by the previous result. The result now follows from (\ref{eqn:long}). \qed We return to the case where $S\subset \qqq$ can be arbitrary. Consider $\Pic^0(X)=\Pic_S^0(X)$, the subgroup of $\Pic(X)$ of degree $0$ divisors (i.e. the Jacobian). The degree map $deg_S$ defined on $\Div_S(X)$ factors through $\Pic_S(X)$. Let $B$ be $deg(\Div_S(X)^G)$. We identify this with a subgroup of $S\cong \Pic_S(X)/\Pic_S^0(X)$. Clearly, $B$ contains $|G|\cdot S$ and may be bigger. The analog of Proposition \ref{prop:h1div=0} is the following result. \begin{lemma} \label{lemma:guralnik} $H^1(G,\Div_S^0(X)) \cong S/B$ and $B=bS$, where $b={\rm min}\, \{|G|/|I|\ |\ I\subset G\ {\rm an\ inertia\ subgroup}\}$. \end{lemma} \begin{remark} The analogous result for algebraic curves is also true and the proof below, is basically the same argument as that given in \cite{GGJ}. \end{remark} \pf First, we prove the isomorphism. Consider the sequence $ 0 \rightarrow \Div_S^0(X) \rightarrow \Div_S(X) \rightarrow S \rightarrow 0$. The map from $\Div_S(X)$ to $S$ is $deg$. Using Proposition \ref{prop:h1div=0} yields: \[ (0\rightarrow \Div_S^0(X)^G\rightarrow )\ \ \Div_S(X)^G \rightarrow S \rightarrow H^1(G,\Div_S^0(X)) \rightarrow 0, \] as asserted. Now we prove the claim about $B$. Observe that the smallest possible degree of a divisor fixed by $G$ is the size of the smallest orbit of $G$ acting on $X$. Since each inertia group $I$ is the stabilizer of a point $P$, the orbit of $P$ under $G$ is in one-to-one correspondence with $G/I$. Therefore, the size of the smallest possible degree of a divisor fixed by $G$ is equal to the minimum of the $|G|/|I|$, as $I$ ranges over all the inertia subgroups. Since $d(\Div_S(X)^G)$ is an abelian group, this proves the claim. \qed Now consider the short exact sequence \[ 0 \rightarrow \Prin_S(X) \rightarrow \Div_S^0(X) \rightarrow \Pic_S^0(X) \rightarrow 0. \] Taking fixed points leads to the long exact sequence for cohomology: \[ \begin{split} 0 \rightarrow \Prin_S(X)^G\rightarrow \Div_S^0(X)^G \stackrel{\phi}{\rightarrow} \Pic_S^0(X)^G \rightarrow \\ H^1(G,\Prin_S(X)) \rightarrow H^1(G,\Div_S^0(X)) \rightarrow H^1(G,\Pic_S^0(X)). \end{split} \] \section{Remarks on the general case} This section, to be written, will explain how to weaken the condition $S=\qqq$ to $S=\zzz$. \begin{thebibliography}{99} \bibitem[GGJ]{GGJ} D. Goldstein, R. 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