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# Introduction

## Introduction

Let $`X`$ be a variety defined over an algebraically closed field $`k`$ of characteristic zero. The $`m`$th jet scheme $`X_m`$ of $`X`$ is a scheme whose closed points over $`xX`$ are morphisms $`𝒪_{X,x}k[t]/(t^{m+1})`$. When $`X`$ is a smooth variety, this is an affine bundle over $`X`$, of dimension $`(m+1)dimX`$. The space of arcs $`X_{\mathrm{}}`$ of $`X`$ is the projective limit $`X_{\mathrm{}}=proj\; lim_mX_m`$.

Our main result is a proof of the following theorem, which was conjectured by Eisenbud and Frenkel:

###### Theorem 0.1.

If $`X`$ is locally a complete intersection variety, then $`X_m`$ is irreducible for all $`m1`$ if and only if $`X`$ has rational singularities.

In the appendix, Eisenbud and Frenkel apply this result when $`X`$ is the nilpotent cone of a simple Lie algebra to extend results of Kostant in the setting of jet schemes.

Note that since $`X`$ is assumed to be locally complete intersection, hence Gorenstein, a result of Elkik \[El\] and Flenner \[Fl\] says that $`X`$ has rational singularities if and only if it has canonical singularities.

We make also make the following conjecture toward a similar characterization of log canonical singularities.

###### Conjecture 0.2.

If $`X`$ is locally a complete intersection, normal variety, then $`X_m`$ is pure dimensional for all $`m1`$ if and only if $`X`$ has log canonical singularities.

We prove the “only if” part of Conjecture 0.2 and show that the “if” part is equivalent to a special case of the Inverse of Adjunction Conjecture due to Shokurov and several other people (see \[Kol\], Conjecture 7.3).

One should contrast Theorem 0.1 with the following result of Kolchin.

###### Theorem 0.3 (\[Kln\]).

If $`X`$ is a variety over a field of characteristic zero, then $`X_{\mathrm{}}`$ is irreducible.

However, when $`X`$ is locally a complete intersection and has rational singularities, Theorem 0.1 gives much more information about $`X_{\mathrm{}}`$ (for example, as we will see, it implies that $`X_{\mathrm{}}`$ is reduced).

The main technique we use in proving Theorem 0.1 is motivic integration, as developed by Kontsevich, Denef and Loeser, and Batyrev. Here is a brief description of the proof of Theorem 0.1. Consider an embedding $`XY`$, of codimension $`r`$, where $`Y`$ is smooth, and an embedded resolution of singularities $`\gamma :\stackrel{~}{Y}Y`$ for $`X`$. There is a function $`F_X`$ on $`Y_{\mathrm{}}`$, defined by $`F_X(w)=\mathrm{ord}(w(_{X,y}))`$, where $`w`$ is considered as a morphism $`w:𝒪_{Y,y}k[[t]]`$. By integrating the function $`fF_X`$ on $`Y_{\mathrm{}}`$, for a convenient function $`f:`$, we get a Laurent series in two variables which encodes information about the dimensions of $`X_m`$ and the number of irreducible components of maximal dimension.

Applying the change of variable formula in \[Ba1\] or \[DL1\], this integral can be expressed as an integral on $`\stackrel{~}{Y}_{\mathrm{}}`$ and since $`\gamma ^1(X)`$ is a divisor with normal crossings, this can be explicitely computed. If $`\gamma ^1(X)=_{i=1}^ta_iE_i`$, where $`E_1`$ is the only exceptional divisor dominating $`X`$ and the discrepancy of $`\gamma `$ is $`W=_{i=1}^tb_iE_i`$, then we see that $`b_jra_j`$ for all $`j2`$ if and only if $`dimX_m=(m+1)dimX`$, and $`X_m`$ has exactly one component of maximal dimension for all $`m`$. When $`X`$ is locally a complete intersection, this says precisely that $`X_m`$ is irreducible for all $`m`$.

The last step needed is that this numerical condition is equivalent with $`X`$ having canonical singularities when $`X`$ is locally a complete intersection. We consider the following construction of $`\gamma `$: let $`p:BY`$ be the blowing-up of $`Y`$ along $`X`$, $`F`$ the exceptional divisor, and $`\stackrel{~}{p}:\stackrel{~}{Y}B`$ an embedded resolution of singularities for $`FB`$. We take $`\gamma =p\stackrel{~}{p}`$ and we show that the numerical condition is equivalent with $`(B,F)`$ being canonical. By a result of Stevens \[St\], this is equivalent with $`F`$, hence $`X`$ having canonical singularities.

The computation of motivic integrals gives an analogous condition for a variety which is locally a complete intersection to have pure dimensional jet schemes. The condition is that $`b_jra_j1`$, for all $`j`$. Conjecture 0.2 can therefore be translated into a conjectural analogue of the result of Stevens for log canonical singularities.

The technique we use to describe singularities in terms of jet schemes can be applied also to study pairs $`(X,D)`$, where $`X`$ is a smooth variety and $`D`$ an effective $``$-divisor on $`X`$. For example, we prove in \[Mu\] the following characterization of log canonical pairs.

###### Theorem 0.4.

Let $`X`$ be a smooth variety and $`D`$ an effective divisor on $`X`$ with integral coefficients.

i) For every positive integer $`n`$, the pair $`(X,\frac{1}{n}D)`$ is log canonical if and only if

$$dimD_m(m+1)(dimX1/n),$$

for all $`m`$.

ii) The log canonical threshold of $`(X,D)`$ is given by

$$c(X,D)=dimX\underset{m0}{sup}\frac{dimD_m}{m+1}.$$

In the first section of the paper we give the definition of jet schemes and discuss the irreducibility condition for jets of locally complete intersection varieties. The condition that the jet schemes are irreducible (or pure dimensional) can be formulated in terms of the dimension of the space of jets lying over the singular part.

Starting with equations of $`X`$ in an affine space $`𝔸^N`$, it is easy to give equations for $`X_m`$. If $`X`$ is defined by $`(f_\alpha (U))k[U_1,\mathrm{},U_N]`$, then $`X_m`$ can be defined in $`𝔸^{(m+1)N}`$ by $`(f_\alpha ^{(j)})_{0jm}`$, where $`f_\alpha ^{(j)}k[U,U^{},\mathrm{},U^{(m)}]`$ is given by $`f_\alpha ^{(j)}=D^j(f_\alpha )`$, $`D`$ being the derivation taking $`U_i^{(l)}`$ to $`U_i^{(l+1)}`$ for $`lm1`$.

Using this explicit description and the irreducibility criterion, one can check directly that some jet schemes are irreducible. We give applications in the last section.

We deduce from the description by equations that if $`X`$ is locally a complete intersection and $`X_m`$ is pure dimensional, then it is locally a complete intersection, too. It follows that if $`X_m`$ is irreducible, then it is reduced. We see also that if $`X_m`$ is irreducible, then so is $`X_{m1}`$.

In the second section we show that the numerical condition coming from an embedded resolution of singularities of $`X`$ is equivalent with $`X`$ having canonical singularities. The third section uses motivic integration as we described.

In the last section we discuss several examples and open questions. We consider first the small dimension case. If $`X`$ is a singular curve, then $`X_m`$ is reducible for all $`m`$. If $`X`$ is a surface (and $`\mathrm{char}k=0`$), we show that being locally a complete intersection is a necessary condition for the irreducibility of jet schemes. More precisely, if $`X`$ is a surface, then $`X_m`$ is irreducible for all $`m`$ if and only if all the singular points of $`X`$ are rational double points.

We give an example of a toric variety of dimension $`3`$ which shows that in Theorem 0.1 it is not possible to replace locally complete intersection with Gorenstein. On the other hand, the example of the cone over the Segre embedding of $`^1\times ^n`$, with $`n2`$, shows that the condition of being locally a complete intersection is not necessary in order to have all the jet schemes irreducible.

Our results in the second and the third section, where we used the theory of singularities of pairs and motivic integration, rely on the fact that the characteristic of the ground field is zero. We discuss briefly a possible analogue of Theorem 0.1 in positive characteristic and we end with a characteristic free proof of the fact that if $`X`$ is a locally complete intersection toric variety, then $`X_m`$ is irreducible for all $`m`$. This is achieved using an inductive description due to Nakajima \[Nak\] for such varieties in order to describe a desingularization of the “dual” toric variety.

### 0.1. Acknowledgements

It is a pleasure to thank David Eisenbud and Edward Frenkel who got me interested in this problem and helped me all along with useful suggestions and comments. Without their constant encouragement and support, this work would have not been done. I am grateful to Joe Harris, János Kollár, Monique Lejeune-Jalabert, Miles Reid and Matthew Szczesny for their help and suggestions during various stages of this project. Thanks are due also to Lawrence Ein who pointed out some incomplete arguments in an earlier version of this paper.

## 1. Jet basics

The study of singularities via the space of arcs has gotten a lot of attention recently. Nash initiated this study in \[Na\]. He suggested that the study of the images $`\eta _m(X_{\mathrm{}})X_m`$ for all $`m`$, where $`\eta _m`$ are the canonical projections, should give information about the fibers over the singular points in the desingularizations of $`X`$. For more on this approach, see \[Le\] and \[LR\]. For applications of spaces of arcs with a different flavour, for example the proof of a geometric analogue of Lang’s Conjecture, see \[Bu\].

We start by reviewing the definition and the general properties of jet schemes. In the case of locally complete intersection varieties, we give an irreducibility criterion for these schemes and show that under the irreducibility assumption, they are, as well, locally complete intersection varieties.

Let $`k`$ be an algebraically closed field. If $`𝒮ch/k`$ is the category of schemes of finite type over $`k`$, consider for every $`m0`$ the covariant functor $`𝐅:𝒮ch/k𝒮ch/k`$, given by $`𝐅(Y)=Y\times _{\mathrm{Spec}k}\mathrm{Spec}k[t]/(t^{m+1})`$. This functor has a right adjoint $`𝐆:𝒮ch/k𝒮ch/k`$, given by $`𝐆(X)=X_m`$, and $`X_m`$ is called the scheme of jets of order $`m`$ of $`X`$.

For an affine scheme $`Y=\mathrm{Spec}A`$, the adjointness relation says that the $`A`$-valued points of $`X_m`$ are in bijection with the $`A[t]/(t^{m+1})`$-valued points of $`X`$. In particular, there are canonical isomorphisms $`X_0X`$ and $`X_1TX`$, where $`TX`$ is the total tangent space of $`X`$.

By adjointness, the canonical embeddings

$$Y\times _{\mathrm{Spec}k}\mathrm{Spec}k[t]/(t^m)Y\times _{\mathrm{Spec}k}\mathrm{Spec}k[t]/(t^{m+1})$$

induce canonical morphisms $`\varphi _m^X:X_mX_{m1}`$, for $`m1`$. We will use the notation $`\pi _m^X=\varphi _1^X\mathrm{}\varphi _m^X:X_mX`$, but we will supress the variety $`X`$, whenever this leads to no confusion.

The space of arcs of $`X`$, denoted by $`X_{\mathrm{}}`$, is the inverse limit of $`\{X_m\}_{m0}`$. This is a scheme over $`k`$, in general not of finite type, whose $`A`$-valued points are in natural bijection with the $`A[[t]]`$-valued points of $`X`$.

###### Proposition 1.1.

If $`f:XY`$ is an étale morphism, then $`X_mY_m\times _YX`$, for all $`m`$.

###### Proof.

The assertion follows by adjointness from the fact that $`f`$ is also formally étale. ∎

In particular, the construction of jet schemes is compatible with open immersions. Therefore, in order to describe $`X_m`$, we may restrict ourselves to the affine case: suppose $`X𝔸^N`$, $`X=\mathrm{Spec}(R)`$ and $`R=k[U_1,\mathrm{},U_N]/(f_1,\mathrm{},f_r)`$. For every $`A`$, an element in $`\mathrm{Hom}(\mathrm{Spec}A[t]/(t^{m+1}),X)`$ is given by a morphism $`\theta :k[U_1,\mathrm{},U_N]A[t]/(t^{m+1})`$ such that $`\theta (f_\alpha )=0`$ for all $`\alpha `$. The condition $`\theta (f_\alpha )=0`$ is equivalent with the vanishing of each of the coefficients of $`t^i`$ in $`\theta (f_\alpha )`$, for $`0im`$ and gives $`m+1`$ equations. Therefore the map $`\theta (\theta _i^{(j)})`$, where $`\theta (U_i)=_{j=0}^m\theta _i^{(j)}t^j`$, induces a closed immersion $`X_m𝔸^{(m+1)N}`$, such that $`X_m`$ can be defined by $`(m+1)r`$ equations.

When $`\mathrm{char}k>m`$, by normalizing the variables, the equations defining $`X_m`$ can be written as follows. Let $`S_m=k[U_i^{(j)};1iN,0jm]`$ be the coordinate ring of $`𝔸^{(m+1)N}`$ and $`D:S_mS_{m+1}`$ the unique derivation over $`k`$ such that $`D(U_i^{(j)})=U_i^{(j+1)}`$ for all $`i`$ and $`j`$. If we embed $`X_m`$ in $`𝔸^{(m+1)N}`$ by $`\theta (j!\theta _i^{(j)})`$, then the ideal of $`X_m`$ is generated by $`f_\alpha ^{(j)}`$, for all $`\alpha `$ and all $`j`$, $`0jm`$, where $`f^{(j)}=D^j(f)`$.

We will need later the following lemma.

###### Lemma 1.2.

For every scheme $`X`$ and every $`uX_m`$, either $`\varphi _{m+1}^1(u)=\mathrm{}`$, or $`\varphi _{m+1}^1(u)\varphi _1^1(x)`$, where $`x=\pi _m(u)`$.

###### Proof.

If we look at $`A`$-valued points, then $`\mathrm{Hom}(\mathrm{Spec}A,\varphi _{m+1}^1(u))`$ is a pseudotorsor over $`\mathrm{Hom}(\mathrm{Spec}A,T_xX)`$. Indeed, suppose that $`v:𝒪_{X,x}A[t]/(t^{m+2})`$, $`v(y)=_{im+1}v_i(y)t^i`$ corresponds to an $`A`$-valued point of $`\varphi _{m+1}^1(u)`$. Any other such morphism is of the form $`v^{}(y)=v(y)+w(y)t^{m+1}`$, where $`v_0+wt`$ is an $`A`$-valued point of $`T_xX`$.

If $`\varphi _{m+1}^1(u)\mathrm{}`$, then for a fixed closed point in $`\varphi _{m+1}^1(u)`$, we get induced $`A`$-valued points in $`\varphi _{m+1}^1(u)`$, and therefore an isomorphism $`\varphi _{m+1}^1(u)T_xX`$. ∎

It is well-known that if $`X`$ is a smooth, connected variety of dimension $`n`$, then for every $`m`$, the morphism $`\pi _m`$ is an affine bundle with fiber $`𝔸^{mn}`$. Under these circumstances, $`X_m`$ is smooth, connected, of dimension $`(m+1)n`$.

We define now a morphism $`\mathrm{\Psi }_m:𝔸^1\times X_mX_m`$ by defining it on $`A`$-valued points. If $`(a,f)`$ corresponds to an $`A`$-valued point of $`𝔸^1\times X_m`$, where $`aA`$ and $`f:\mathrm{Spec}A[t]/(t^{m+1})X`$, then $`\mathrm{\Psi }_m(a,f)`$ is given by the composition

$$\mathrm{Spec}A[t]/(t^{m+1})\stackrel{g_a}{}\mathrm{Spec}A[t]/(t^{m+1})\stackrel{𝑓}{}X,$$

where $`g_a`$ corresponds to the morphism of $`A`$-algebras which maps $`t`$ to $`at`$.

It is clear that these morphisms are compatible with the projections $`\varphi _m:X_mX_{m1}`$ and that the restriction to $`k^{}\times X_m`$ defines an action of $`k^{}`$ on $`X_m`$. Notice that there is a canonical section of the projection $`\pi _m`$. This is the morphism $`s_m:XX_m`$, which takes an $`A`$-valued point of $`X`$, $`f:\mathrm{Spec}AX`$ to the composition $`fp_m`$, where $`p_m`$ corresponds to the inclusion $`AA[t]/(t^{m+1})`$. It follows from the definition that $`\varphi _{m+1}s_{m+1}=s_m`$ and $`\mathrm{\Psi }_m|_{\{0\}\times X_m}=s_m\pi _m`$.

We want to study the irreducible components of $`X_m`$. The following lemma allows us to relate the irreducible components of $`X_m`$ and $`X_{m+1}`$.

###### Lemma 1.3.

If $`ZX`$ is a closed subscheme and $`S`$ is an irreducible component of $`\pi _m^1(Z)`$, then $`\overline{s_m(\pi _m(S))}S`$. In particular, $`\varphi _{m+1}^1(S)\mathrm{}`$.

###### Proof.

It is enough to notice that since $`S`$ is an irreducible component of $`\pi _m^1(Z)`$, we have $`\mathrm{\Psi }_m(𝔸^1\times S)S`$ and therefore $`s_m(\pi _m(S))S`$. ∎

From now on, we will restrict ourselves to the case when $`X`$ is locally a complete intersection (l.c.i. for short) variety. As usual, a variety is an integral scheme of finite type over $`k`$. We denote the smooth part of $`X`$ by $`X_{\mathrm{reg}}`$ and its complement by $`X_{\mathrm{sing}}`$.

###### Proposition 1.4.

Let $`X`$ be an l.c.i. variety of dimension $`n`$ and $`m`$ a positive integer. The scheme $`X_m`$ is pure dimensional if and only if $`dimX_mn(m+1)`$, and in this case $`X_m`$ is locally complete intersection, too. Similarly, $`X_m`$ is irreducible if and only if $`dim\pi _m^1(X_{\mathrm{sing}})<n(m+1)`$.

###### Proof.

We have a decomposition

$$X_m=\pi _m^1(X_{\mathrm{sing}})\overline{\pi _m^1(X_{\mathrm{reg}})}$$

and in general $`\overline{\pi _m^1(X_{\mathrm{reg}})}`$ is an irreducible component of $`X_m`$ of dimension $`n(m+1)`$. Therefore the “only if” part of both assertions is obvious and holds without the l.c.i. hypothesis.

Suppose now that $`dimX_mn(m+1)`$. Working locally, we may assume that $`X𝔸^N`$ and that $`X`$ is defined by $`Nn`$ equations. We have seen that $`X_m𝔸^{N(m+1)}`$ is defined by $`(Nn)(m+1)`$ equations, and therefore every irreducible component of $`X_m`$ has dimension at least $`n(m+1)`$. We deduce that $`X_m`$ is pure dimensional and locally a complete intersection.

If $`dim\pi _m^1(X_{\mathrm{sing}})<n(m+1)`$, this implies that $`dimX_mn(m+1)`$, so that $`X_m`$ is pure dimensional. The above decomposition of $`X_m`$ shows that $`X_m`$ is irreducible. ∎

###### Proposition 1.5.

If $`X`$ is an l.c.i. variety and $`X_m`$ is irreducible for some $`m1`$, then $`X_m`$ is also reduced.

###### Proof.

By Proposition 1.4, $`X_m`$ is l.c.i., hence Cohen-Macaulay. Since $`\pi _m^1(X_{\mathrm{reg}})`$ is smooth, $`X_m`$ is generically reduced, and we conclude by Macaulay’s theorem (see \[Ei\], Corollary 18.14). ∎

###### Proposition 1.6.

If $`X`$ is an l.c.i. variety of dimension $`n`$ and $`ZX`$ is a closed subscheme, then $`dim(\pi _{m+1}^1(Z))dim(\pi _m^1(Z))+n`$, for every $`m1`$. In particular, if $`X_{m+1}`$ is irreducible or pure dimensional, then so is $`X_m`$.

###### Proof.

Again, we may assume that $`X𝔸^N`$ is defined by $`Nn`$ equations. It follows from the equations of $`X_{m+1}`$ that we have $`\pi _{m+1}^1(Z)\pi _m^1(Z)\times 𝔸^N`$, such that $`\pi _{m+1}^1(Z)`$ is defined by $`Nn`$ equations. The first assertion follows from this once we notice that by Lemma 1.3, for every irreducible component $`S`$ of $`\pi _m^1(Z)`$, we have $`\varphi _{m+1}^1(S)\mathrm{}`$. The last statement is a consequence of Proposition 1.4. ∎

###### Proposition 1.7.

If $`X`$ is an l.c.i. variety and $`X_m`$ is irreducible for some $`m1`$, then $`X`$ is normal.

###### Proof.

Since $`X`$ is in particular Cohen-Macaulay, by Serre’s Criterion (see \[Ei\], Theorem 11.5) it is enough to show that $`\mathrm{codim}(X_{\mathrm{sing}},X)2`$. If $`X_m`$ is irreducible, by Proposition 1.6, we may assume that $`m=1`$. But if $`\mathrm{codim}(X_{\mathrm{sing}},X)=1`$, since for every $`xX_{\mathrm{sing}}`$ we have $`dim\pi _1^1(x)=dimT_xXdimX+1`$, it follows that $`dim\pi _1^1(X_{\mathrm{sing}})2dimX`$, contradicting Proposition 1.4. ∎

## 2. A Criterion for L.C.I. Varieties to Have Canonical Singularities

In this section we establish the criterion we will use to check that an l.c.i. variety $`X`$ has canonical singularities. We embed $`X`$ in a smooth variety $`Y`$ and our criterion is in terms of the data coming from an embedded resolution of singularities of $`XY`$.

We assume that the characteristic of the ground field is zero. For the definitions of singularities of pairs, we refer to \[Kol\] or to \[KM\], Chapter 2.3. Let $`X`$ be a normal l.c.i. variety and we fix an arbitrary embedding $`XY`$, where $`Y`$ is a smooth variety. Let $`r`$ be the codimension of $`X`$ in $`Y`$.

Consider the blowing-up $`p:B=Bl_XYY`$ of $`Y`$ along $`X`$, and let $`F=p^1(X)`$ be the exceptional divisor. Since $`X`$ is locally a complete intersection, $`F`$ is a projective bundle over $`X`$. In particular, $`F`$ is an integral divisor on $`B`$, and is locally a complete intersection. Moreover, $`F`$ is normal since $`X`$ is, and therefore $`B`$ is normal, too.

By Hironaka’s embedded resolution of singularities (see \[Hir\]), there is a morphism $`\stackrel{~}{p}:\stackrel{~}{Y}B`$ which is proper, an isomorphism over the complement of a proper closed subset of $`F`$, and such that $`\stackrel{~}{Y}`$ is smooth and $`\stackrel{~}{p}^1(F)`$ is a divisor with normal crossings.

Let $`\gamma `$ be the composition $`p\stackrel{~}{p}`$. We can write $`\gamma ^1(X)=\stackrel{~}{p}^1(F)=E_1+_{i=2}^ta_iE_i`$, where $`E_2,\mathrm{},E_t`$ are the exceptional divisors of $`\stackrel{~}{p}`$, and $`E_1`$ is the proper transform of $`F`$.

The discrepancy $`W`$ of $`\gamma `$ is defined by the formula $`K_{\stackrel{~}{Y}}=\gamma ^1(K_Y)+W`$. We write $`W=_{i=1}^tb_iE_i`$. The following is our criterion for $`X`$ to have canonical singularities.

###### Theorem 2.1.

With the above notation, $`X`$ has canonical singularities if and only if $`b_ira_i`$ for every $`i2`$.

###### Proof.

Notice first that we have $`K_B=p^1(K_Y)+(r1)F`$. Indeed, in order to compute the coefficient of $`F`$, we may restrict to an open subset whose intersection with $`X`$ is nonempty and smooth, in which case the formula is well-known.

Consider the divisor $`R`$ on $`\stackrel{~}{Y}`$, defined by $`K_{\stackrel{~}{Y}}=\stackrel{~}{p}^1(K_B+F)+R`$. We can write $`R=E_1+_{i=2}^tc_iE_i`$. But we have

$$R=\gamma ^1(K_Y)+W\stackrel{~}{p}^1(p^1(K_Y))\stackrel{~}{p}^1(rF)=W\stackrel{~}{p}^1(rF).$$

Therefore we have $`b_1=r1`$ and $`c_i=b_ira_i`$, for all $`i2`$. It follows from the definition and from \[Kol\], Corollary 3.12, that the pair $`(B,F)`$ is canonical if and only if $`c_i0`$ for all $`i2`$.

Since $`B`$ is locally a complete intersection, hence Gorenstein, a result of Stevens \[St\] (see also\[Kol\], Theorem 7.9) says that $`F`$ is canonical if and only if the pair $`(B,F)`$ is canonical near $`F`$. Since $`BF`$ is smooth, this means precisely that $`(B,F)`$ is canonical.

On the other hand, since $`F`$ is locally a product of $`X`$ and an affine space, it follows that $`X`$ is canonical if and only if $`F`$ is canonical, which completes the proof of the theorem. ∎

###### Remark 2.2.

Since $`X`$ is locally a complete intersection, in particular Gorenstein, it is a result of Elkik \[El\] and Flenner \[Fl\] (see also \[KM\], Corollary 5.24) that $`X`$ has canonical singularities if and only if it has rational singularities.

We give also a necessary condition for $`X`$ to have log canonical singularities and show that the sufficiency would follow from the Inverse of Adjunction Conjecture (\[Kol\], Conjecture 7.3).

###### Theorem 2.3.

With the above notation, if $`b_ira_i1`$ for every $`i`$, then $`X`$ has log canonical singularities.

###### Proof.

As in the proof of Theorem 2.1, we have $`X`$ log canonical if and only if $`F`$ is log canonical and on the other hand $`b_ira_i1`$ for all $`i`$ if and only if the pair $`(B,F)`$ is log canonical.

It follows from Proposition 7.3.2 in \[Kol\] that if $`(B,F)`$ is log canonical, then $`F`$ is log canonical. ∎

We conjecture that the converse is also true.

###### Conjecture 2.4.

If $`X`$ has log canonical singularities, then $`b_ira_i1`$, for all $`i`$.

The argument in the proof of Theorem 2.3 shows that Conjecture 2.4 is implied by the conjecture below. In fact, we will prove in the next section that these two conjectures are equivalent.

###### Conjecture 2.5 (Inverse of Adjunction).

Let $`X`$ be a normal, l.c.i. variety and $`D`$ a normal Cartier divisor on $`X`$. If $`D`$ is log canonical, then $`(X,D)`$ is log canonical around $`D`$.

###### Remark 2.6.

In fact, the Inverse of Adjunction Conjecture is more general: it deals with arbitrary normal varieties and with restriction of pairs (see \[Kol\], Conjecture 7.3). It is known that it is implied by the Log Minimal Model Program (see \[K+\], Corollary 17.12). In particular, Conjecture 2.4 is true when $`dimY=3`$.

## 3. Irreducibility of Jet Schemes via Motivic Integration

In this section we use motivic integration to give necessary and sufficient conditions for a variety to have all the jet schemes of the expected dimension and precisely one component of maximal dimension. When the variety is locally a complete intersection, this gives via the results in the previous two sections a proof of Theorem 0.1.

The construction of motivic integrals for smooth spaces is due to Kontsevich \[Kon\], who used it to prove a conjecture of Batyrev and Dais \[BaDa\] about the stringy Hodge numbers of varieties with mild Gorenstein singularities (see \[Ba1\]). An other application is the proof due to Batyrev \[Ba2\] of a conjecture of Reid on the McKay correspondence (see \[Re\]). The construction was generalized by Denef and Loeser in \[DL1\] and \[DL2\] to singular spaces (see the recent surveys \[DL3\] and \[Lo\] for other applications of this idea). We will need only the Hodge realizations of motivic integrals on the space of arcs of a smooth variety. We refer for definitions and proofs to \[Ba1\] (see also \[Cr\] for a nice introduction).

From now on, $`X`$ will be a fixed variety over $`k`$, with $`\mathrm{char}k=0`$. Unless explicitely mentioned, $`X`$ is not assumed to be locally complete intersection. We fix an embedding $`XY`$, where $`Y`$ is a smooth variety, and an embedded resolution of singularities $`\gamma :\stackrel{~}{Y}Y`$ for $`(Y,X)`$, as in the previous section.

More precisely, we assume that $`\gamma `$ is a proper morphism which is an isomorphism over $`YX`$, and $`\stackrel{~}{Y}`$ is smooth and $`\gamma ^1(X)=_{i=1}^ta_iE_i`$ is a divisor with normal crossings. Let $`W=_{i=1}^tb_iE_i`$ be the discrepancy of $`\gamma `$. We set $`N=dimY`$ and $`r=\mathrm{codim}(X,Y)1`$. We can further assume that $`E_1`$ is the only prime divisor in $`\gamma ^1(X)`$ dominating $`X`$ and that $`a_1=1`$ and $`b_1=r1`$. With this notation, we prove the following results.

###### Theorem 3.1.

The following statements are equivalent:

i) For every $`i1`$, we have $`b_ira_i1`$.

ii) $`dimX_m=(m+1)dimX`$, for every $`m1`$.

iii) There is $`q1`$, with $`a_i|(q+1)`$, for all $`i`$, such that $`dimX_q=(q+1)dimX`$.

###### Theorem 3.2.

The following statements are equivalent:

i) For every $`i2`$, we have $`b_ira_i`$.

ii) For every $`m1`$, we have $`dimX_m=(m+1)dimX`$, and $`X_m`$ has only one irreducible component of maximal dimension.

iii) There is $`q1`$, with $`a_i|(q+1)`$, for all $`i`$, such that $`dimX_q=(q+1)dimX`$, and such that $`X_q`$ has only one irreducible component of maximal dimension.

By combining Theorems 2.1 and 3.2 and Theorems 2.3 and 3.1, we obtain the main results in our paper.

###### Theorem 3.3.

If $`X`$ is an l.c.i. variety over $`k`$, and $`\mathrm{char}k=0`$, then $`X_m`$ is irreducible for every $`m`$ if and only if $`X`$ has canonical singularities.

###### Proof.

Notice that by Proposition 1.7 and by the definition of canonical singularities, either condition implies that $`X`$ is normal, so that Theorem 2.1 applies. Moreover, by Proposition 1.4, if $`dimX_m=(m+1)dimX`$, then $`X_m`$ is pure dimensional, so that an application of Theorems 2.1 and 3.2 completes the proof. ∎

Note that because of Remark 2.2, the above result is equivalent with Theorem 0.1.

###### Theorem 3.4.

If $`X`$ is a normal, l.c.i. variety over $`k`$ and $`\mathrm{char}k=0`$, and if $`X_m`$ is pure dimensional for every $`m1`$, then $`X`$ has log canonical singularities.

###### Proof.

Again, Proposition 1.4 shows that $`X_m`$ is pure dimensional if and only if $`dimX_m=(m+1)dimX`$ and we apply Theorems 3.1 and 2.3. ∎

###### Conjecture 3.5.

If $`X`$ is an l.c.i. variety over a field of characteristic zero and $`X`$ has log canonical singularities, then $`X_m`$ is pure dimensional for every $`m`$.

In fact, the above conjecture is equivalent with the conjectures we made in the previous section.

###### Proposition 3.6.

Conjectures 2.4, 2.5 and 3.5 are equivalent.

###### Proof.

Theorem 3.3 implies that Conjectures 2.4 and 3.5 are equivalent, and we have seen in the previous section that Conjecture 2.5 implies Conjecture 2.4. It is therefore enough to prove that if Conjecture 3.5 is true for all normal, l.c.i. varieties, then so is Conjecture 2.5.

Using a trick due to Manivel (see \[Kol\], Lemma 7.1.3), the assertion in Conjecture 2.5 can be reduced to the following: if $`X`$ is a normal, l.c.i. variety and $`D`$ is a normal, Cartier divisor on $`X`$ which is log canonical, then $`X`$ is log canonical around $`D`$.

Applying Conjecture 3.5 to $`D`$, we get $`dimD_m=(m+1)(dimX1)`$, for all $`m`$. We may assume that $`DX`$ is defined by one equation, so that $`D_mX_m`$ is defined by $`m+1`$ equations. Therefore, if $`F`$ is an irreducible component of $`X_m`$, with $`dimF>(m+1)dimX`$, then $`FD_m=\mathrm{}`$. Since by Lemma 1.3 we have $`s_m(\overline{\pi _m(F)})F`$, we deduce that $`\overline{\pi _m(F)}D=\mathrm{}`$. We conclude that there is an open neighbourhood $`U`$ of $`D`$ such that $`dimU_m=(m+1)dimU`$. By Theorem 3.1, it is possible to pick $`m`$ (depending on an embedded resolution of $`X`$) such that if $`dimU_m=(m+1)dimX`$, then $`U`$ is log-canonical, which finishes the proof of the proposition. ∎

By Lefschetz’s principle, in order to prove Theorems 3.1 and 3.2, we may assume $`k=`$. Before we give the proof of the theorems, we review the basics of motivic integration. For every $`m0`$, we have natural projections

$$Y_{\mathrm{}}\stackrel{\eta _m}{}Y_m\stackrel{\pi _m}{}Y,$$

where $`\pi _m`$ is an affine bundle with fiber $`𝔸^{mN}`$.

The theory provides an algebra $``$ of subsets of $`Y_{\mathrm{}}`$, containing the algebra $`𝒞yl`$ of cylinders of the form $`\eta _m^1(Z)`$, where $`ZY_m`$ is a constructible subset. We consider the ring of Laurent power series in two variables $`u^1`$ and $`v^1`$: $`S=[[u^1,v^1]][u,v]`$, with the linear topology given by the descending sequence of subgroups $`\{_{i+jl}u^iv^j\}_l`$. On $``$ there is a finitely additive measure $`\mu `$ with values in $`S`$, whose restriction to $`𝒞yl`$ is defined as follows. If $`C=\eta _m^1(Z)`$ is a cylinder, then

$$\mu (C)=E(Z;u,v)(uv)^{(m+1)N}S,$$

where $`E(Z;u,v)`$ is the Hodge-Deligne polynomial of $`Z`$. For a variety $`Z`$,

$$E(Z;u,v)=\underset{1p,qdimZ}{}\underset{k0}{}(1)^kh^{p,q}(H_c^k(Z;))u^pv^q,$$

where $`\{h^{p,q}(H_c^k(Z;))\}`$ are the Hodge -Deligne numbers of $`Z`$. What is important for us is that $`E(Z;u,v)`$ is a polynomial of degree $`2(dimZ)`$, and the term of degree $`2(dimZ)`$ is $`c(uv)^{dimZ}`$, where $`c`$ is the number of irreducible components of $`Z`$ of maximal dimension.

If $`TY_{\mathrm{}}`$ is a subset such that there is a sequence of cylinders $`C_i`$, with $`TC_i`$ and $`\mu (C_i)0`$, then $`T`$ is in $``$ and $`\mu (T)=0`$.

If $`F:Y_{\mathrm{}}\{\mathrm{}\}`$ is a function such that $`F^1(m)`$ for all $`0m\mathrm{}`$ and $`\mu (F^1(\mathrm{}))=0`$, and such that the series

$$\underset{m}{}\mu (F^1(m))(uv)^m$$

is convergent in $`S`$, then $`F`$ is called integrable. In this case, the sum of the above series is called the motivic integral of $`F`$ and is denoted by $`_Y_{\mathrm{}}e^F`$.

In general, a subscheme $`ZY`$, with corresponding ideal $`_Z`$, defines a function $`F_Z:Y_{\mathrm{}}\{\mathrm{}\}`$, as follows. If $`wY_{\mathrm{}}`$ is an arc over $`yY`$, then $`w`$ can be identified with a ring homomorphism $`w:𝒪_{Y,y}[[t]]`$ and

$$F_Z(w)=\mathrm{ord}(w(_{Z,y})).$$

In \[Ba1\] and \[Cr\], the authors consider this function when $`Z`$ is a divisor in $`Y`$. It follows from the definition that $`F_Z^1(\mathrm{})=Z_{\mathrm{}}`$ and that

$$F_Z^1(m)=\eta _{m1}^1(Z_{m1})\eta _m^1(Z_m),$$

for any integer $`m0`$ (we make the convention that $`Z_1=Y`$ and $`\eta _1=\eta _0`$). In particular, $`F_Z^1(m)`$ is a cylinder.

###### Lemma 3.7.

If $`DY`$ is a divisor and $`yY`$ is a point such that $`\mathrm{mult}_yD=a`$, then $`dim(\pi _m^D)^1(y)Nm[m/a]`$, where $`[x]`$ denotes the integral part of $`x`$. In particular, for every proper subscheme $`ZY`$, we have $`dimZ_mN(m+1)\mathrm{}`$.

###### Proof.

The second assertion follows from the first one, since working locally we may assume that $`ZD`$, for some divisor $`D`$ and if $`a=\mathrm{max}_{yY}\{\mathrm{mult}_yD\}`$, then $`dimZ_mN(m+1)[m/a]`$.

To prove the first statement, note that the case $`a=0`$ is trivial, and therefore we may assume that $`yD`$. It is enough to show that for every $`p1`$ we have

(3.1)
$$dim(\pi _{pa}^D)^1(y)paNp.$$

If we pick a regular system of parameters $`x_1\mathrm{},x_N`$ in $`𝒪_{Y,y}`$, we get an étale ring homomorphism $`w:𝒪_{𝐀^N,0}𝒪_{Y,y}`$. Let $`f𝒪_{Y,y}`$ be an equation for $`D`$ at $`y`$. In general $`f\mathrm{Im}(w)`$. However, if $`g𝒪_{Y,y}`$ is such that $`gf\underset{¯}{m}_{Y,y}^{pa+1}`$, then $`(\pi _{pa}^D)^1(y)=(\pi _{pa}^{V(g)})^1(y)`$. Since $`w`$ induces an isomorphism of the associated graded rings, we can find $`g`$ as before such that $`g\mathrm{Im}(w)`$. Therefore, in order to prove (3.1), we may assume that $`f\mathrm{Im}(w)`$. Since $`w`$ is étale, by replacing $`𝐀^N`$ and $`Y`$ with suitable open neighbourhoods of $`0`$ and $`y`$, respectively, we can apply Lemma 1.1 to reduce to the case when $`Y=𝐀^N`$, $`y=0`$ and $`D`$ is defined by a polynomial $`fk[X]=k[X_1,\mathrm{},X_N]`$.

We use the equations for $`D_{pa}`$ described in the first section. With the notation $`f_0^{(j)}=f^{(j)}(0,X^{},\mathrm{},X^{(j)})`$ for every $`j`$, we have $`(\pi _{pa}^D)^1(0)Z_p`$, where $`Z_p`$ is defined in $`\mathrm{Spec}k[X^{},\mathrm{},X^{(pa)}]`$ by the polynomials $`f_0^{(ja)}`$, with $`1jp`$.

We prove that $`dimZ_ppaNp`$ by computing the dimension of a deformation of this set. Note that if we put $`\mathrm{deg}(X_i^{(j)})=j`$ for every $`i`$ and $`j`$, then each polynomial $`f_0^{(j)}k[X^{},\mathrm{},X^{(pa)}]`$ is homogeneous of degree $`j`$.

Consider the family $`𝒵_p`$ over $`\mathrm{Spec}k[t]`$ defined in $`𝐀^{paN}\times \mathrm{Spec}k[t]`$ by the polynomials $`(1/t^a)f_0^{(j)}(tX^{},\mathrm{},tX^{(j)})`$, with $`1jp`$. The fiber of $`𝒵_p`$ over every $`t_00`$ is isomorphic to $`Z_p`$, while the fiber over $`0`$ is the corresponding scheme obtained by replacing $`f`$ with its homogeneous component of degree $`a`$. Since all the rings are graded (for the grading we defined above), the semicontinuity theorem for the dimension of the fibers of a morphism (see \[Ei\], Theorem 14.8) shows that in order to prove that $`dimZ_ppaNp`$, we may assume that $`f`$ is homogeneous of degree $`a`$.

Consider now on $`k[X,X^{},\mathrm{},X^{(pa)}]`$ the reverse lexicographic order where we order the variables such that $`X_i^{(j)}<X_i^{}^{(j^{})}`$ if $`j>j^{}`$ or if $`j=j^{}`$ and $`i>i^{}`$ (see, for example, \[Ei\] Chapter 15). Let $`m(X)=\mathrm{in}(f)`$ be the initial term of $`f`$ is this order. It is then easy to see that $`\mathrm{in}(f_0^{(ja)})=m(X^{(j)})`$, for $`1jp`$. Therefore the initial ideal of the ideal defining $`Z_p`$ has dimension $`paNp`$. Since the dimension of an ideal is equal with the dimension of its initial ideal, we deduce that $`dimZ_p=paNp`$, which concludes the proof of the lemma. ∎

###### Corollary 3.8.

For every proper subscheme $`ZY`$, and every $`0m\mathrm{}`$, $`F_Z^1(m)`$ and $`\mu (F_Z^1(\mathrm{}))=0`$.

###### Proof.

We have already seen that $`F_Z^1(m)`$ is a cylinder for every integer $`m0`$. Moreover, $`F_Z^1(\mathrm{})=Z_{\mathrm{}}\eta _m^1(Z_m)`$ and Lemma 3.7 gives

$$\mu (\eta _m^1(Z_m))=E(Z_m;u,v)(uv)^{N(m+1)}0.$$

In order to prove Theorems 3.1 and 3.2, we will choose a suitable function $`f:`$ (which we extend by $`f(\mathrm{})=\mathrm{}`$) and we will integrate $`F=fF_X`$ on $`Y_{\mathrm{}}`$. The change of variable formula (see \[Ba1\], Theorem 6.27 or \[DL1\], Lemma 3.3) gives

$$_Y_{\mathrm{}}e^F=_{\stackrel{~}{Y}_{\mathrm{}}}e^{(F\gamma _{\mathrm{}}+F_W)},$$

in the sense that one integral exists if and only if the other one does, and in this case they are equal. The point is that $`F\gamma _{\mathrm{}}=fF_{\gamma ^1(X)}`$, and since $`\gamma ^1(X)W`$ has normal crossings, the right-hand side integral can be explicitely computed, while for a suitable choice of $`f`$, the left-hand side contains the information we need about the dimension of $`X_m`$ and about the number of its irreducible components of maximal dimension.

###### Proof of Theorems 3.1 and 3.2.

We fix a function $`f:`$, such that for every $`m0`$,

$$()f(m+1)>f(m)+dimX_m+C(m+1),$$

where $`C`$ is a constant with $`C>|N(b_j+1)/a_j|`$, for all $`j`$. We extend it by defining $`f(\mathrm{})=\mathrm{}`$. For the proof of the implication $`iii)i)`$ we will put later an extra condition.

It follows from Corollary 3.8 that if $`F=fF_X`$, then $`F^1(m)`$ for $`0m\mathrm{}`$, and $`\mu (F^1(\mathrm{}))=0`$. Computing the integral of $`F`$ from the definition, we get $`I=_Y_{\mathrm{}}e^F=S_1S_2`$, where

$$S_1=\underset{m0}{}E(X_{m1};u,v)(uv)^{mNf(m)},$$

$$S_2=\underset{m0}{}E(X_m;u,v)(uv)^{(m+1)Nf(m)}.$$

Every monomial which appears in the $`m^{\mathrm{th}}`$ term of $`S_1`$, has degree bounded above by $`2P_1(m)`$ and below by $`2P_2(m)`$, where

$$P_1(m)=dimX_{m1}mNf(m),$$

$$P_2(m)=mNf(m),$$

for all $`m0`$ (recall the convention that $`X_1=Y`$). Moreover, we always have precisely one monomial of degree $`2P_1(m)`$, namely $`(uv)^{P_1(m)}`$, whose coefficient is $`c_m`$, the number of irreducible components of maximal dimension of $`X_{m1}`$.

Similarly, every monomial which appears in the $`m^{\mathrm{th}}`$ term of $`S_2`$ has degree bounded above by $`2Q_1(m)`$ and below by $`2Q_2(m)`$, where

$$Q_1(m)=dimX_m(m+1)Nf(m),$$

$$Q_2(m)=(m+1)Nf(m),$$

for all $`m0`$. We always have exactly one monomial of degree $`2Q_1(m)`$, namely $`(uv)^{Q_1(m)}`$, whose coefficient is $`c_{m+1}`$.

A first consequence of this and Lemma 3.7 is that $`F`$ is, indeed, integrable. Using condition $`()`$, it is an easy computation to show that we have $`P_1(m+1)<\mathrm{min}\{P_2(m),Q_2(m)\}`$, for every $`m0`$.

Moreover, Lemma 1.2 gives $`dimX_mdimX_{m1}+N`$, for every $`m1`$, and Lemma 3.7 implies that the inequality is strict for infinitely many $`m`$. We deduce that $`Q_1(m)P_1(m)`$, for every $`m0`$ and equality holds if and only if $`m1`$ and $`dimX_m=dimX_{m1}+N`$ (therefore, the inequality is strict for infinitely many $`m`$).

We conclude from the above inequalities first that in $`S_1`$, the term $`(uv)^{P_1(m)}`$ appears precisely once for every $`m0`$, and has coefficient $`c_m`$. Similarly, in $`S_2`$, the term $`(uv)^{P_1(m)}`$ appears at most once. It appears if and only if $`m1`$ and $`dimX_m=dimX_{m1}+N`$, and in this case it has coefficient $`c_{m+1}`$.

We use the change of variable formula to compute the integral of $`F`$, as

$$I=_Y_{\mathrm{}}e^F=_{\stackrel{~}{Y}_{\mathrm{}}}e^{(fF_{\gamma ^1(X)}+F_W)}.$$

In this form, $`I`$ can be explicitely computed, since $`\gamma ^1(X)W`$ has normal crossings. For every subset $`J\{1,\mathrm{},t\}`$, let $`E_J^{}=_{iJ}E_i_{iJ}E_i`$. With this notation, we have

$$_{\stackrel{~}{Y}_{\mathrm{}}}e^{(fF_{\gamma ^1(X)}+F_W)}=\underset{J\{1,\mathrm{}t\}}{}S_J,\mathrm{where}$$

$$S_J=\underset{\alpha _i1,iJ}{}E(E_J^{};u,v)(uv1)^{|J|}(uv)^{N_{iJ}\alpha _i(b_i+1)f(_{iJ}a_i\alpha _i)}.$$

We just sketch the proof of this formula, as it is similar to that of Theorem 6.28 in \[Ba1\], or that of Theorem 1.16 in \[Cr\].

Since $`E`$ is additive, we may work locally on $`\stackrel{~}{Y}`$. In order to compute the part $`S_J`$ in $`I`$ which corresponds to arcs over $`E_J^{}`$, we may assume that there is a regular system of parameters $`y_1,\mathrm{},y_N`$ on $`Y`$, such that $`E_i`$ is defined by $`y_i`$, for all $`iJ`$. We have

$$S_J=\underset{\alpha _i1,iJ}{}\mu (\{u\eta _0^1(E_J^{}):F_{E_i}(u)=\alpha _i,iJ\})(uv)^{f(_{iJ}a_i\alpha _i)_{iJ}b_i\alpha _i}.$$

For every $`(\alpha _i)_{iJ}`$, if $`p\mathrm{max}_{iJ}\{\alpha _i\}`$, then

$$\{u\eta _0^1(E_J^{}):F_{E_i}(u)=\alpha _i,iJ\}=\eta _p^1(C_{\alpha _i,iJ}^p),$$

where $`C_{\alpha _i,iJ}^pY_p`$ is locally trivial over $`E_J^{}`$, with fiber $`(k^{})^{|J|}\times 𝔸^{Np_{iJ}\alpha _i}`$, and our formula for $`S_J`$ follows.

Every monomial in the term of $`S_J`$ corresponding to $`(\alpha _i)_{iJ}`$, has degree bounded above by $`2R_1(\alpha _i;iJ)`$, and below by $`2R_2(\alpha _i;iJ)`$, where

$$R_1(\alpha _i;iJ)=\underset{iJ}{}\alpha _i(b_i+1)f(\underset{iJ}{}a_i\alpha _i)$$

and $`R_2(\alpha _i;iJ)=R_1(\alpha _i;iJ)N`$. Note that if $`J=\mathrm{}`$, then $`R_1(\mathrm{})=f(0)`$.

We introduce one more piece of notation: for $`m0`$, let $`\tau (m)=dimX_m(m+1)dimX`$. For every $`m0`$, we have $`\tau _m0`$. We see that for $`J\mathrm{}`$, we have

$$R_1(\alpha _i,iJ)=P_1(\underset{iJ}{}a_i\alpha _i)\tau (\underset{iJ}{}a_i\alpha _i1)\underset{iJ}{}\alpha _i(b_i+1ra_i).$$

Moreover, property $`()`$ implies that if $`J\mathrm{}`$, then

(3.2)
$$P_1(\underset{iJ}{}a_i\alpha _i+1)<R_2(\alpha _i;iJ)<R_1(\alpha _i;iJ)<$$

$$\mathrm{min}\{P_2(\underset{iJ}{}a_i\alpha _i1),Q_2(\underset{iJ}{}a_i\alpha _i1)\}$$

and that $`P_1(1)<R_2(\mathrm{})`$. In particular, this implies that the only monomial of the form $`(uv)^{P_1(m)}`$ which can appear in the term corresponding to $`J`$ and $`(\alpha _i)_{iJ}`$ is for $`m=_{iJ}a_i\alpha _i`$.

To prove the implication $`i)ii)`$ in Theorem 3.3, suppose that $`b_ira_i1`$, for all $`i`$ and assume that for some $`m1`$, we have $`\tau (m)>0`$. The above inequalities show that $`(uv)^{P_1(m+1)}`$ does not appear in the sum $`S_J`$, for every $`J`$.

As we have seen, this imples that $`dimX_{m+1}=dimX_m+N`$. In particular, we have $`\tau (m+1)>0`$. Continuing in this way, we get $`dimX_{p+1}=dimX_p+N`$, for every $`pm`$, a contradiction with Lemma 3.7. Therefore we must have $`\tau (m)=0`$, for all $`m`$, so $`dimX_m=(m+1)dimX`$.

Suppose next that $`b_ira_i`$, for all $`i2`$. The above argument shows that $`\tau (m)=0`$, for every $`m0`$. In particular, the coefficient of $`(uv)^{P_1(m+1)}`$ in $`I`$ is $`c_{m+1}`$, for every $`m0`$. From the above inequalities, we see that for every $`m0`$, the term $`(uv)^{P_1(m+1)}`$ appears in $`S_J`$ if and only if $`J=\{1\}`$ and in this case it has coefficient $`1`$, since $`E_{\{1\}}^{}`$ is irreducible. Therefore $`c_{m+1}=1`$, for every $`m0`$. This proves the implication $`i)ii)`$ in Theorems 3.1 and 3.2.

We next turn to the implication $`iii)i)`$. Suppose that for some $`q1`$, with $`a_i|(q+1)`$, for all $`i`$, we have $`\tau (q)=0`$, and that for some $`jt`$, $`b_j<ra_j1`$.

We pick the function $`f`$ such that in addition to $`()`$ it satisfies the following requirement. For every $`p`$, consider the set $`𝒥_p`$ of all the pairs $`(J,(\alpha _i)_{iJ})`$, such that $`_{iJ}a_i\alpha _i=p`$. This is clearly a finite set. We require that for every $`(J,(\alpha _i)_{iJ})𝒥_{q+1}`$ and every $`(J^{},(\alpha _i^{})_{iJ^{}})𝒥_p`$, for some $`p`$ with $`pq`$, we have

(3.3)
$$f(q+1)>f(p)\underset{iJ}{}\alpha _i(b_i+1)+\underset{iJ^{}}{}\alpha _i^{}(b_i+1)+N,$$

or equivalently, we have $`R_1(\alpha _i;iJ)<R_2(\alpha _i^{};iJ^{})`$.

On the other hand, if $`(J^{},(\alpha _i^{})_{iJ^{}})𝒥_p`$, for some $`pq+2`$, then by $`(\text{3.2})`$ we have

(3.4)
$$P_2(q+1)>R_1(\alpha _i^{};iJ^{}).$$

Note that the top degree monomials which appear in different terms of the sums $`S_J`$ (for possibly different $`J`$) don’t cancel each other, because they have positive coefficients. Let $`d`$ be the highest degree of a monomial which appears in a term corresponding to some $`(J,(\alpha _i)_{iJ})𝒥_{q+1}`$. By the previous remark, the corresponding monomial does not cancel with a monomial in a term corresponding to $`(J^{},(\alpha _i^{})_{iJ^{}})𝒥_{q+1}`$.

Since $`(\{j\},(q+1)/a_j)𝒥_{q+1}`$, our hypothesis implies that $`2P_1(q+1)<d`$, while from $`(\text{3.2})`$ we deduce $`d<2\mathrm{min}\{P_2(q),Q_2(q)\}`$. Moreover, we deduce from $`(\text{3.3})`$ and $`(\text{3.4})`$ that the monomial of degree $`d`$ does not cancel with monomials in terms corresponding to $`(J^{},(\alpha _i^{})_{iJ^{}})𝒥_p`$, if $`pq+1`$. This shows that in $`I`$ there is indeed a monomial of degree $`d`$, where $`2P_1(q+1)<d<2\mathrm{min}\{P_2(q),Q_2(q)\}`$, a contradiction.

Suppose next that for some $`q1`$, with $`a_i|(q+1)`$, for all $`i`$, we have $`\tau (q)=0`$ and $`c_{q+1}=1`$, and that for some $`j2`$, $`b_j<ra_j`$. The above argument shows that $`b_ira_i1`$, for every $`i`$. Note that since $`a_j|(q+1)`$, we have in the expression of $`I`$ the monomial $`(uv)^{P_1(q+1)}`$, with coefficient at least $`2`$, once from $`S_{\{1\}}`$ (with $`\alpha _1=q+1`$), and once from $`S_{\{j\}}`$ (with $`\alpha _j=(q+1)/a_j`$). This gives a contradiction. ∎

## 4. Examples and Open Problems

In this section, unless explicitely mentioned otherwise, $`k`$ has arbitrary characteristic.

We consider first the case of curves and show that none of the higher jet schemes of a singular curve can be irreducible. Since we do not assume $`X`$ to be locally complete intersection, we need first a lemma showing that if the tangent space at a point to a scheme is too big, then so are all the fibers over that point of the higher order jet schemes.

###### Lemma 4.1.

If $`X`$ is a scheme and $`xX`$, then $`dim\pi _{2m}^1(x)dim_xX+mdimT_xX`$ and $`dim\pi _{2m+1}^1(x)(m+1)dimT_xX`$, for all $`m1`$.

###### Proof.

We prove the first assertion. Let $`f:\pi _{2m1}^1(x)\pi _{m1}^1(x)`$ be the canonical projection. Using Lemma 1.2, it is enough to show that there is an isomorphism $`T_xX^mf^1(0)`$, which maps $`C_xX\times T_xX^{(m1)}T_xX^m`$ into $`f^1(0)\mathrm{Im}(\varphi _{2m})`$. Here $`0`$ denotes the image of $`x`$ by the canonical section of $`\pi _{m1}`$ and $`C_xX`$ is the tangent cone to $`X`$ at $`x`$.

We give the isomorphism at the level of $`A`$-valued points. An $`A`$-point of $`f^1(0)`$ is given by an algebra homomorphism $`\theta :𝒪_{X,x}A[t]/(t^{2m})`$ of the form $`\theta (y)=\theta _0(y)+_{i=m}^{2m1}\theta _i(y)t^i`$, where $`\theta _0`$ corresponds to $`x`$. The condition that $`\theta `$ is an algebra homomorphism is equivalent with saying that for every $`i`$, with $`mi2m1`$, the morphisms $`\theta _i^{}`$ mapping $`y`$ to $`\theta _0(y)+\theta _i(y)t`$ are $`A`$-valued points of $`T_xX`$.

If $`\theta `$ is a $`k`$-valued point of $`f^1(0)`$, then $`\theta \mathrm{Im}(\varphi _{2m})`$ if and only if the morphism $`S^2(m_x/m_x^2)k`$, given by $`y_1y_2\theta _m(y_1)\theta _m(y_2)`$ factors through $`m_x^2/m_x^3`$. This condition is satisfied in particular if $`\theta _m^{}`$ is a $`k`$-valued point of $`C_xX`$.

The proof of the second assertion is similar, giving for the projection $`g:\pi _{2m+1}^1(x)\pi _m^1(x)`$, an isomorphism $`g^1(0)T_xX^{(m+1)}`$. ∎

###### Corollary 4.2.

If $`X`$ is an integral curve, then for any $`m1`$, $`X_m`$ is irreducible if and only if $`X`$ is nonsingular.

###### Proof.

Indeed, if $`xX`$ is a singular point, then $`dimT_xX2`$, and by Lemma 4.1, it follows that for every $`m1`$, $`dim\pi _m^1(x)m+1`$, and therefore $`\pi _m^1(x)`$ gives an irreducible component of $`X_m`$. ∎

###### Remark 4.3.

If $`\mathrm{char}k2`$, it is possible to show that an integral curve $`X`$ has all the jet schemes pure dimensional if and only if it has at worst nodes as singularities.

We consider next the case of a surface. In this case, if all the jet schemes of $`X`$ are irreducible, we show that $`X`$ has to be locally complete intersection, so we can apply our previous theory.

###### Theorem 4.4.

Assume that $`\mathrm{char}k=0`$ and let $`X`$ be a surface. Then the following are equivalent:

i) $`X`$ has at worst rational double points as singularities.

ii) $`X_m`$ is irreducible for every $`m1`$.

iii) $`X_m`$ is irreducible for $`m0`$.

###### Proof.

One of the characterizations of rational double points is that they are locally complete intersection rational singularities (see \[Du\]). Therefore “$`i)ii)`$” follows from Theorem 3.3 and the fact that Gorenstein singularities are rational if and only if they are canonical (see Remark 2.2). In order to prove $`iii)i)`$, it is enough to show that if $`X_m`$ is irreducible for some $`m`$, then $`X`$ is locally complete intersection, and then use Proposition 1.6 and Theorem 3.3. But for every $`xX`$, Lemma 4.1 implies that if $`dimT_xX4`$, then $`dim\pi _m^1(x)2m+2`$, and therefore $`X_m`$ is not irreducible. We conclude that $`dimT_xX=3`$ at every singular point $`xX`$, in particular that $`X`$ is locally complete intersection. ∎

###### Remark 4.5.

It is possible to prove Theorem 4.4 directly, by showing that condition $`ii)`$ is equivalent to $`X`$ having the singular points of one of the types in the classification of the rational double points. In fact, that proof shows more, namely that the above conditions are equivalent with having only $`X_5`$ irreducible.

###### Example 4.6.

Theorem 3.3 is not true if we replace the condition of $`X`$ being locally a complete intersection variety, with being Gorenstein. More precisely, it is possible to have a variety with Gorenstein canonical singularities, but such that all its jet schemes are not even pure dimensional.

In fact, it is possible to take $`X`$ to be a toric variety of dimension $`3`$ (for definitions, basic facts and notations for toric varieties, see \[Fu\]). If $`V`$ is a $``$-vector space with basis $`e_i`$, $`1i3`$, let $`NV`$ be the lattice spanned by $`\{e_1,e_2,e_3,1/3(e_1+e_2+e_3)\}`$. If $`\sigma `$ is the cone in $`V`$ spanned by $`\{e_i\}_i`$, let $`X=U_\sigma `$ be the associated toric variety. Then $`X`$ is Gorenstein, since $`_ie_i^{}N^{}`$ (see \[Fu\], Sections 3.4 and 4.4). By \[Fu\], Section 3.5, it has rational, hence canonical singularities (see Remark 2.2). Moreover, $`\{_ia_ie_i^{}a_i𝒩,_ia_i=3\}`$ induce linearly independent elements in $`T_xX`$, where $`xX`$ is the fixed point under the torus action. Therefore, $`dimT_xX10`$, and by Lemma 4.1 we get for every $`m1`$, $`dim\pi _m^1(x)5m+3`$, and since $`dimX=3`$, $`X_m`$ is not pure dimensional.

###### Example 4.7.

On the other hand, the condition that $`X`$ is locally a complete intersection is not necessary in order to have $`X_m`$ irreducible for every $`m`$.

Let $`X𝔸^{2n}`$ be the cone over the Segre embedding $`^1\times ^{n1}^{2n1}`$. It is defined by the ideal generated by the $`2\times 2`$ minors of the generic matrix:

$$\left(\begin{array}{cccc}U_1& U_2& \mathrm{}& U_n\\ V_1& V_2& \mathrm{}& V_n\end{array}\right)$$

in the ring $`S=k[U_1\mathrm{},U_n,V_1,\mathrm{},V_n]`$. Notice that if $`n3`$, then $`X`$ is not a complete intersection, but $`X_m`$ is irreducible for every $`m1`$.

Indeed, since $`X`$ is defined by degree two homogeneous polynomials, it is easy to see that $`\pi _m^1(0)X_{m2}\times 𝔸^{2n}`$, for all $`m1`$ (we take $`X_1`$ to be a point). By induction on $`m`$, we get $`\pi _m^1(0)`$ irreducible, and because $`X_{\mathrm{sing}}=\{0\}`$, it is enough to find a nonempty subset $`U\pi _m^1(0)`$ such that $`U\overline{\pi _m^1(X_{\mathrm{reg}})}`$. We consider the open subset of $`\pi _m^1(0)`$ given by matrices

$$A=\left(\begin{array}{cccc}a_1& a_2& \mathrm{}& a_n\\ b_1& b_2& \mathrm{}& b_n\end{array}\right)$$

with $`a_i`$, $`b_ik[t]/(t^{m+1})`$ of order one, such that $`a_ib_j=a_jb_i`$, for all $`i`$ and $`j`$. There is a unique $`p=p_0+p_1t+\mathrm{}+p_{m2}t^{m2}`$, $`p_00`$, such that for all $`i`$, $`b_i=pa_i+c_it^m`$, for some $`c_ik`$.

By restricting to a smaller open subset, we may assume that $`c_i0`$, for all $`i`$. In this case $`A\overline{\{A_ssk^{}\}}`$, where $`A_s\pi _m^1(X_{\mathrm{reg}})`$ is given by

$$A_s=\left(\begin{array}{ccc}a_1+c_1s& \mathrm{}& a_n+c_ns\\ p_s(a_1+c_1s)& \mathrm{}& p_s(a_n+c_ns)\end{array}\right)$$

where $`p_s=p+1/st^m`$.

###### Question 4.8.

What is the analogue of Theorem 3.3 in positive characteristic ? Is it true that if $`X`$ is an l.c.i. variety, then $`X_m`$ is irreducible for all $`m`$ if and only if $`X`$ has pseudorational singularities ? The notion of pseudorational singularities, introduced by Lipman and Teissier in \[LT\], replaces the notion of rational singularities when a good desingularization theory and Grauert-Riemenschneider theorem are not known. When these results are known (for example, in characteristic zero or for surfaces), the two notions coincide.

A different analogue of rational singularities in positive characteristic, coming from tight closure theory, is that of F-rational singularities (see \[Sm1\], for definition and relations with the birational geometry). A result of Smith (see \[Sm2\], Theorem 3.1) says that F-rational singularities are pseudorational. In general, having F-rational singularities is not a necessary condition for having irreducible jet schemes. For example, it follows from Proposition 4.9 below, that $`V(X^2+Y^3+Z^5)`$ has irreducible jet schemes in any characteristic, while it is known that it is not F-rational if $`\mathrm{char}k\{2,3,5\}`$ (see \[BH\], Example 10.3.12).

###### Proposition 4.9.

For $`n3`$, let $`F=X_1^{d_1}+\mathrm{}+X_n^{d_n}`$ and $`Z=V(F)𝔸^n`$, such that there is at most one $`i`$, with $`\mathrm{char}k|d_i`$. We have $`Z_m`$ irreducible for all $`m1`$ if and only if $`_{i=1}^n1/d_i>1`$.

###### Proof.

The hypothesis says that $`Z\{0\}`$ is smooth; in particular, $`Z`$ is integral. By Proposition 1.4, $`Z_m`$ is irreducible for all $`m1`$ if and only if $`dim\pi _m^1(0)<(m+1)(n1)`$ for all $`m`$, and by Proposition 1.6, it is enough to check this for infinitely many $`m`$.

For every $`m1`$ and integers $`a_1,\mathrm{},a_n`$, with $`1a_im+1`$ for all $`i`$, let $`V_{a_1,\mathrm{},a_n}`$ be the locally closed subset of $`\pi _m^1(0)`$ consisting of ring homomorphisms $`\varphi :k[X_1,\mathrm{},X_n]/(F)k[t]/(t^{m+1})`$ with $`\mathrm{ord}(\varphi (X_i))=a_i`$ (we make the convention $`\mathrm{ord}(0)=m+1`$). We obviously have $`\pi _m^1(0)=_{a_1,\mathrm{},a_n}V_{a_1,\mathrm{},a_n}`$.

Set $`d=_{i=1}^nd_i`$ and assume that $`Z_{d1}`$ is irreducible. If $`a_i=d/d_i`$, for every $`i`$, then $`\varphi (X_i)`$ can be chosen arbitrarily with order $`a_i`$, so that $`dimV_{a_1,\mathrm{},a_n}=d(n_i1/d_i)`$. Since $`dimV_{a_1,\mathrm{},a_n}<d(n1)`$, we get $`_i1/d_i>1`$.

Next suppose that $`_i1/d_i>1`$ and that $`d|m+1`$. We will show that $`Z_m`$ is irreducible. Consider first the case when $`d_ia_im+1`$, for all $`i`$. As above, in this case $`\varphi (X_i)`$ can be chosen arbitrarily with order $`a_i`$. Therefore we get

$$dimV_{a_1,\mathrm{},a_n}=\underset{i}{}(ma_i+1)n(m+1)(m+1)\underset{i}{}1/d_i<(m+1)(n1).$$

On the other hand, if $`r=\mathrm{inf}_i\{a_id_i\}m`$, and if $`V_{a_1,\mathrm{},a_n}\mathrm{}`$, then by hypothesis there is $`i`$, such that $`\mathrm{char}k\overline{)}d_i`$, and $`a_id_i=r`$. For every choice of $`\varphi (X_j)`$ with order $`a_j`$, $`ji`$, we have $`\varphi (X_i)=t^{a_i}u`$, where the image of $`u`$ in $`k[t]/(t^{m+1r})`$ can take finitely many values. Moreover, $`\varphi (X_i)`$ is uniquely determined by the image of $`u`$ in $`k[t]/(t^{m+1a_i})`$. Therefore we have

$$dimV_{a_1,\mathrm{},a_n}$$

$$ra_i+\underset{ji}{}(m+1a_j)(n1)(m+1)+r(1\underset{j=1}{\overset{n}{}}1/d_j)<(n1)(m+1).$$

It follows that $`dim\pi _m^1(0)<(n1)(m+1)`$, so $`Z_m`$ is irreducible. Since this is true for all $`m`$ with $`d|(m+1)`$, it follows by Proposition 1.6 that $`Z_m`$ is irreducible for all $`m`$. ∎

###### Question 4.10.

We have studied when an l.c.i. variety has irreducible jet schemes. Proposition 1.5 shows that if $`X_m`$ is irreducible, then $`X_m`$ is reduced. Is the converse true ? We will see below that this the case for $`m=1`$.

###### Question 4.11.

Is it true that if $`X`$ is an l.c.i. variety, then for every $`m1`$, $`(X_m)_{\mathrm{reg}}=\pi _m^1(X_{\mathrm{reg}})`$ ? A positive answer to this question would give a positive answer to Question 4.10. Indeed, if $`X_m`$ is reduced, but not irreducible, then any irreducible component contained in $`\pi _m^1(X_{\mathrm{sing}})`$ has to be generically smooth.

We can give a positive answer when $`m=1`$. This is the content of the following proposition.

###### Proposition 4.12.

If $`X`$ is an l.c.i. variety, then $`(X_1)_{\mathrm{reg}}=\pi _1^1(X_{\mathrm{reg}})`$.

###### Proof.

We show first that if $`u\pi _1^1(x)`$, then

$$()dimT_uX_1dimX+dimT_xX.$$

To see this, we may work locally and assume that $`X𝔸^n`$ is defined by $`\underset{¯}{f}=(f_1,\mathrm{},f_r)`$, where $`r=ndimX`$. $`X_1`$ is defined by $`(\underset{¯}{f},\underset{¯}{f}^{})`$, and if $`u=(x,x^{})X_1𝔸^{2n}`$, then the Jacobian $`J_{(\underset{¯}{f},\underset{¯}{f}^{})}(u)`$ is

$$\left(\begin{array}{cc}J_{\underset{¯}{f}}(x)& 0\\ A& J_{\underset{¯}{f}}(x)\end{array}\right)$$

for some $`r\times n`$ matrix $`A`$. Therefore $`\mathrm{rk}J_{(\underset{¯}{f},\underset{¯}{f}^{})}(u)r+\mathrm{rk}J_{\underset{¯}{f}}(x)`$ and $`()`$ follows.

Suppose now that $`u(X_1)_{\mathrm{reg}}`$. Consider an open connected neighbourhood $`U(X_1)_{\mathrm{reg}}`$ of $`u`$. The inequality $`()`$ for an arbitrary point $`u^{}U`$ gives

$$dimUdimX+dim\pi _1^1(\pi _1(u^{})).$$

This implies that $`\overline{\pi _1(U)}=X`$, and therefore $`U\pi _1^1(X_{\mathrm{reg}})\mathrm{}`$, hence $`dimU=2dimX`$. The inequality $`()`$ for $`u`$ gives now $`dimT_xX=dimX`$. ∎

The last case we consider is that of l.c.i. toric varieties. If $`\mathrm{char}k=0`$, then $`X`$ has rational singularities by \[Fu\], Section 3.5, and it follows by Theorem 3.3 (see, also, Remark 2.2) that $`X_m`$ is irreducible for every $`m`$. We give below a direct argument independent of characteristic, which uses the description due to Nakajima \[Nak\] of l.c.i. toric varieties. This description was used by Dais, Haase and Ziegler in \[DHZ\] to show that all such toric varieties have crepant resolutions. The main point in our proof is to exhibit a certain resolution for the “dual” toric variety.

###### Theorem 4.13.

If $`X`$ is an l.c.i. toric variety, then $`X_m`$ is irreducible for all $`m1`$.

###### Proof.

We use notation and results from \[Fu\]. Since all the semigroups we use are saturated, we make no distinction between the semigroup and the cone it generates.

In general, for two varieties $`X`$ and $`Y`$, we have $`(X\times Y)_mX_m\times Y_m`$. Using this, we reduce immediately to the case when $`X=U_\sigma `$ is affine, where $`\sigma `$ is a strongly convex, rational, polyhedral cone of maximal dimension in $`N_𝐑`$, for some lattice $`N`$ of rank $`n`$. Let $`S=\sigma ^{}M`$, where $`M=N^{}`$ is the dual lattice.

For every face $`\tau \sigma `$, we have a corresponding orbit $`O_\tau `$ of dimension $`ndim\tau `$ and a distinguished point $`x_\tau O_\tau `$ defined by the semigroup morphism $`x_\tau :Sk`$, $`x_\tau (u)=1`$, if $`u\tau ^{}`$ and $`x_\tau (u)=0`$, otherwise. By Proposition 1.4, it is enough to show that if $`\{0\}\tau \sigma `$, then

$$()dim\pi _m^1(x_\tau )<mn+dim\tau .$$

We use the inductive description of $`S`$, due to Nakajima, for the case when $`X`$ is locally complete intersection (see \[Nak\]). There are $`r1`$ and $`s0`$, with $`n=r+s`$, such that $`S`$ can be obtained as follows: take $`S_0=^r`$, $`SS_s`$ and for every $`i`$, $`1is`$, there is $`xS_{i1}\{0\}`$, such that

$$S_i=S_{i1}+e+(xe)S_{i1},$$

where $`e=(0,1)`$.

We show by induction on $`s`$ that if $`TS`$ is a face of $`S`$, then there is a nonsingular fan $`\mathrm{\Delta }_s`$ refining $`S`$, with rays $`v_1,\mathrm{},v_{r+s},w_1,\mathrm{},w_s`$ such that:

i) $`\{v_1,\mathrm{},v_{r+s}\}`$ span a cone of $`\mathrm{\Delta }_s`$.

ii) For every $`is`$, $`\{w_i,v_{r+j};ji\}`$ span a cone of $`\mathrm{\Delta }_s`$.

iii) $`\{ir+s|v_iT\}`$ has at least $`dimT`$ elements.

The assertion is trivial when $`s=0`$. For $`1is`$, let $`\mathrm{\Delta }_{i1}`$ be the refinement corresponding to $`S_{i1}`$ and $`TS_{i1}`$. $`\mathrm{\Delta }_i`$ consists of the cones spanned by $`\{C,e\}`$ and $`\{C,xe\}`$, where $`C`$ is a cone in $`\mathrm{\Delta }_{i1}`$. Notice that $`dim(TS_{i1})dim(TS_i)1`$, with equality if and only if $`eT`$ or $`xeT`$. If we take $`v_{r+i}`$ to be $`e`$ or $`xe`$ (we pick the one in $`T`$, if possible), and $`w_i`$ to be the other one, then this refinement satisfies the requirements for $`S_i`$.

In order to prove $`()`$, notice that $`\pi _m^1(x_\tau )`$ consists of semigroup homomorphisms $`\varphi :Sk[t]/(t^{m+1})`$, such that the composition with the projection onto $`k`$ is $`x_\tau `$. Let $`T=S\tau ^{}`$ and consider the refinemet $`\mathrm{\Delta }_s`$ constructed above.

Let $`a_1,\mathrm{},a_{r+s}`$ be integers such that $`1a_im+1`$, if $`v_iT`$, and $`a_i=0`$, if $`v_iT`$. Take $`V_{a_1,\mathrm{},a_{r+s}}`$ to be the locally closed subset of $`\pi _m^1(x_\tau )`$ consisting of morphisms $`\varphi `$, with $`\mathrm{ord}\varphi (v_i)=a_i`$. We clearly have $`\pi _m^1(x_\tau )=_{a_1,\mathrm{},a_{r+s}}V_{a_1,\mathrm{},a_{r+s}}`$.

Fix $`is`$. Since $`\mathrm{\Delta }_s`$ is a nonsingular fan, by conditions $`i)`$ and $`ii)`$, there is a relation

$$w_i+v_{r+i}=\underset{jr+s,jr+i}{}b_{ij}v_j.$$

This shows that for $`\varphi V_{a_1,\mathrm{},a_{r+s}}`$, the image of $`\varphi (w_i)`$ in $`k[t]/(t^{m+1a_{r+i}})`$ is uniquely determined by the values of $`\varphi `$ on $`v_j`$, $`jr+s`$. Therefore we get

$$dimV_{a_1,\mathrm{},a_{r+s}}\underset{i=1}{\overset{r+s}{}}(ma_i+1)|\{ir+s|v_iT\}|+\underset{i=1}{\overset{s}{}}a_{r+i}$$

$$(m+1)n\underset{i=1}{\overset{r}{}}a_idimT<mn+dim\tau ,$$

since $`dimT=ndim\tau `$, and there is at least one $`ir`$, with $`v_iT`$ (as $`\tau \{0\}`$, we have $`TS`$, and going downward, we get $`TS_0S_0`$). ∎

## Appendix

by David Eisenbud and Edward Frenkel

Let $`G`$ be a connected simple algebraic group over an algebraically closed field $`k`$ of characteristic zero, and $`𝔤`$ its Lie algebra. Denote by $`k[𝔤]`$ the ring of functions on $`𝔤`$. Let $`I(𝔤)`$ be the subring of $`G`$–invariants (equivalently, $`𝔤`$–invariants) of $`k[𝔤]`$ under the adjoint action. According to a theorem of B. Kostant \[Kos\], $`I(𝔤)=k[P_1,\mathrm{},P_{\mathrm{}}]`$ for some graded elements $`P_1,\mathrm{},P_{\mathrm{}}`$ of $`k[𝔤]`$. Here $`\mathrm{}=\mathrm{rank}𝔤`$ and $`\mathrm{deg}P_i=d_i`$ equals the $`i`$th exponent of $`𝔤`$ plus $`1`$. By definition, the nilpotent cone $`𝒩`$ of $`𝔤`$ is $`\mathrm{Spec}k[𝔤]/(I(𝔤)_+)`$, where $`(I(𝔤)_+)=(P_1,\mathrm{},P_{\mathrm{}})`$ is the ideal generated by the augmentation ideal $`I(𝔤)_+`$ of $`I(𝔤)`$.

Kostant \[Kos\] has proved that $`k[𝔤]`$ is free over $`I(𝔤)`$. This important result has numerous applications; in particular, it implies that the universal enveloping algebra $`U(𝔤)`$ is free over its center.

Our goal is to formulate and prove an analogue of Kostant’s theorem in the setting of jet schemes.

Let $`G_n`$ be the $`n`$th jet scheme of $`G`$. This is an algebraic group, which is isomorphic to a semi-direct product of $`G`$ and a unipotent group. The infinite jet scheme $`G_{\mathrm{}}`$ of $`G`$ is a proalgebraic group, which is isomorphic to a semi-direct product of $`G`$ and a prounipotent group. The Lie algebra of $`G_n`$ is the $`n`$th jet scheme $`𝔤_n`$ of $`𝔤`$. The Lie algebra of $`G_{\mathrm{}}`$ is the infinite jet scheme $`𝔤_{\mathrm{}}`$ of $`𝔤`$. We have: $`𝔤_n=𝔤[t]/(t^{n+1})`$ and $`𝔤_{\mathrm{}}=𝔤[[t]]`$. The natural projections $`𝔤_{\mathrm{}}𝔤_n`$ give us embeddings $`ı_n:k[𝔤_n]k[𝔤_{\mathrm{}}]`$.

Let $`d=dim𝔤`$ and let $`x_1,\mathrm{},x_d`$ be a basis of $`𝔤^{}`$, which we take as a set of generators of $`k[𝔤]`$. We can view them as elements of $`k[𝔤_n]`$ and $`k[𝔤_{\mathrm{}}]`$ using the embeddings $`ı_n`$. Define a function $`x_i^{(m)},m0`$, on $`𝔤_n,nm`$ and on $`𝔤_{\mathrm{}}`$ by the formula

$$x_i^{(m)}(y(t))=x_i(_t^my(t)|_{t=0}),y(t)𝔤[t]/(t^{n+1})\mathrm{or}𝔤[[t]].$$

The ring $`k[𝔤_n]`$ (resp., $`k[𝔤_{\mathrm{}}]`$) is the ring of polynomials in $`x_i^{(m)},0mn`$ (resp., $`m0`$). We introduce a $`_0`$–gradation on these rings by setting $`\mathrm{deg}x_i^{(m)}=m+1`$. Note that each graded component of any of the above rings is finite-dimensional.

The ring $`k[𝔤_{\mathrm{}}]`$ carries a canonical derivation $`D`$ of degree $`1`$, defined by the formula $`Dx_i^{(m)}=x_i^{(m+1)}`$ (it corresponds to the vector field $`_t`$ on $`𝔤[[t]]`$). Let $`P_i^{(m)}=D^mP_i`$. Using the injections $`ı_n`$, we view $`P_i^{(m)}`$ as elements of $`k[𝔤_n],nm`$. We have: $`\mathrm{deg}P_i^{(m)}=d_i+m`$. Since the set $`\{P_1,\mathrm{},P_{\mathrm{}}\}`$ is algebraically independent, it follows that the set $`\{P_1^{(m)},\mathrm{},P_{\mathrm{}}^{(m)}\}_{m0}`$ is also algebraically independent. Because the elements $`P_i`$ are $`G`$–invariant, the element $`P_i^{(m)}`$ is $`G_n`$–invariant for $`nm`$ and $`G_{\mathrm{}}`$–invariant.

Denote by $`I(𝔤_n)`$ (resp., $`I(𝔤_{\mathrm{}})`$) the ring of $`G_n`$–invariants (resp., $`G_{\mathrm{}}`$–invariants) of $`k[𝔤_n]`$ (resp., $`k[𝔤_{\mathrm{}}]`$) under the adjoint action.

Proposition A.1.(\[BeDr\]) The ring $`I(𝔤_n)`$ (resp., $`I(𝔤_{\mathrm{}})`$) is generated by the algebraically independent elements $`P_1^{(m)},\mathrm{},P_{\mathrm{}}^{(m)},0mn`$ (resp., $`m0`$). Thus, $`I(𝔤_n)=k[P_1^{(m)},\mathrm{},P_{\mathrm{}}^{(m)}]_{0mn}`$ and $`I(𝔤_{\mathrm{}})=`$ $`k[P_1^{(m)},\mathrm{},P_{\mathrm{}}^{(m)}]_{m0}`$.

###### Proof.

Let $`𝔤_{\mathrm{reg}}`$ be the smooth open subset of $`𝔤`$ consisting of regular elements. It is known that the morphism

$$\chi :𝔤_{\mathrm{reg}}𝒫:=\mathrm{Spec}k[P_1,\mathrm{},P_{\mathrm{}}]$$

is smooth and surjective (see \[Kos\]). Therefore the morphism

$$\chi _n:(𝔤_{\mathrm{reg}})_n𝒫_n:=\mathrm{Spec}k[P_1^{(m)},\mathrm{},P_{\mathrm{}}^{(m)}]_{0mn}$$

is also smooth and surjective.

Consider the map $`a:G\times 𝔤_{\mathrm{reg}}𝔤_{\mathrm{reg}}\underset{𝒫}{\times }𝔤_{\mathrm{reg}}`$ defined by the formula $`a(g,x)=(x,gx)`$. The map $`a`$ is smooth, and since $`G`$ acts transitively along the fibers of $`\chi `$, it is also surjective. Hence the corresponding map of jet schemes $`a_n:G_n\times (𝔤_{\mathrm{reg}})_n(𝔤_{\mathrm{reg}})_n\underset{𝒫_n}{\times }(𝔤_{\mathrm{reg}})_n`$ is surjective. Given two points $`y_1,y_2`$ in the same fiber of $`\chi _n`$, let $`(h,y_1)`$ be a point in the (non-empty) fiber $`a_n^1(y_1,y_2)`$. Then $`y_2=hy_1`$. Hence $`G_n`$ acts transitively along the fibers of the map $`\chi _n`$.

Since $`k[P_1^{(m)},\mathrm{},P_{\mathrm{}}^{(m)}]_{0mn}`$ is normal, this implies that the ring of $`G_n`$–invariant functions on $`(𝔤_{\mathrm{reg}})_n`$ equals $`k[P_1^{(m)},\mathrm{},P_{\mathrm{}}^{(m)}]_{0mn}`$. Because $`𝔤_{\mathrm{reg}}`$ is a smooth open subset of $`𝔤`$, we obtain that $`(𝔤_{\mathrm{reg}})_n`$ is dense in $`𝔤_n`$, and so any $`G_n`$–invariant function on $`𝔤_n`$ is determined by its restriction to $`(𝔤_{\mathrm{reg}})_n`$. This proves the proposition in the case of the finite jet schemes. The same argument works in the case the infinite jet scheme as well. ∎

Let $`I(𝔤_n)_+`$ be the augmentation ideal of the graded ring $`I(𝔤_n)`$. By Proposition A.1, the ideal $`(I(𝔤_n)_+)`$ in $`k[𝔤_n]`$ generated by $`I(𝔤_n)_+`$ equals $`(P_1^{(m)},\mathrm{},P_{\mathrm{}}^{(m)})_{0mn}`$. Hence we obtain that the $`n`$th jet scheme $`𝒩_n`$ of the nilpotent cone $`𝒩`$ is $`\mathrm{Spec}k[𝔤_n]/(I(𝔤_n)_+)`$. Likewise, $`𝒩_{\mathrm{}}=`$ $`\mathrm{Spec}k[𝔤_{\mathrm{}}]/(I(𝔤_{\mathrm{}})_+)`$.

According to Kostant’s results \[Kos\] (see \[BL\], \[CG\] for a review), the nilpotent cone is a complete intersection, which is irreducible and reduced. Moreover, it is proved in \[He\] that it has rational (hence canonical) singularities. Therefore we obtain from Theorem 3.3 and Proposition 1.5:

Theorem A.2. $`𝒩_n`$ is irreducible, reduced and a complete intersection.

Corollary A.3. The natural map $`k[𝒩_n]k[𝒩_{n+1}]`$ is an embedding.

###### Proof.

Let $`Y`$ be the open dense $`G`$–orbit of regular elements in $`𝒩`$. By Theorem A.2, $`𝒩_n`$ is irreducible. Hence $`Y_n`$ is dense in $`𝒩_n`$. Since $`Y`$ is smooth, $`Y_{n+1}Y_n`$ is surjective. Therefore the map $`𝒩_{n+1}𝒩_n`$ is dominant. ∎

Now we can formulate an analogue of the Kostant freeness theorem.

Theorem A.4. (1) $`k[𝔤_n]`$ is free over $`I(𝔤_n)`$.

(2) $`k[𝔤_{\mathrm{}}]`$ is free over $`I(𝔤_{\mathrm{}})`$.

###### Proof.

Since $`𝒩_n`$ is a complete intersection, it is Cohen-Macaulay. Therefore $`k[𝔤_n]`$ is a flat module over $`I(𝔤_n)=k[P_1^{(m)},\mathrm{},P_{\mathrm{}}^{(m)}]_{0mn}`$. Since $`I(𝔤_n)`$ is $`_+`$–graded with finite-dimensional homogeneous components, flatness implies that $`k[𝔤_n]`$ is free over $`I(𝔤_n)`$ (see, e.g., Ex. 18.18 of \[Ei\]). This proves part (1).

Since $`k[𝔤_n]`$ is free over $`I(𝔤_n)`$, and both rings are $`_+`$–graded with finite-dimensional homogeneous components, we obtain that any graded lifting of a $`k`$–basis of $`k[𝒩_n]`$ to $`k[𝔤_n]`$ is an $`I(𝔤_n)`$–basis of $`k[𝔤_n]`$. Conversely, the image of any $`I(𝔤_n)`$–basis of $`k[𝔤_n]`$ in $`k[𝒩_n]`$ is a $`k`$–basis of $`k[𝒩_n]`$.

Now choose any graded basis $`S_n`$ of $`k[𝔤_n]`$ over $`I(𝔤_n)`$. Then the image $`S_n^{}`$ of $`S_n`$ in $`k[𝒩_n]`$ is a $`k`$–basis of $`k[𝒩_n]`$. According to Corollary A.3, the image of $`S_n^{}k[𝒩_n]`$ in $`k[𝒩_{n+1}]`$ can be extended to a $`k`$–basis of $`k[𝒩_{n+1}]`$. Hence the image of $`S_n`$ in $`k[𝔤_{n+1}]`$ (we denote it also by $`S_n`$) can be extended to an $`I(𝔤_{n+1})`$–basis $`S_{n+1}`$ of $`k[𝔤_{n+1}]`$.

Thus, we obtain a directed system $`S_n,n0`$, of sets of graded elements of $`k[𝔤_{\mathrm{}}]`$ and embeddings $`S_nS_m,mn`$. Let $`S`$ be the union of all of the sets $`S_n,n0`$. Note that by Proposition A.1, $`I(𝔤_{\mathrm{}})`$ is the inductive limit of the directed system $`I(𝔤_n),n0`$. We claim that $`S`$ is a basis of $`k[𝔤_{\mathrm{}}]`$ over $`I(𝔤_{\mathrm{}})`$.

Indeed, consider the multiplication map $`m:\mathrm{span}(S)I(𝔤_{\mathrm{}})k[𝔤_{\mathrm{}}]`$. This map is surjective: take any homogeneous element $`A`$ of $`𝔤_{\mathrm{}}`$ of degree $`a`$. Then it already belongs to $`k[𝔤_a]`$. Hence by construction $`A`$ lies in the image of $`m`$. The map $`m`$ is also injective. Indeed, suppose there is an element $`B`$ in the kernel of $`m`$. Without loss of generality we can assume that $`B`$ is homogeneous of degree $`b`$. But then $`B`$ belongs to the kernel of the map $`\mathrm{span}(S_b)I(𝔤_b)k[𝔤_b]`$, and so $`B=0`$ by construction. This completes the proof. ∎

Remark A.5. Part (1) of Theorem A.4 has been previously proved by Geoffriau \[Ge\] in the case when $`n=1`$ (for arbitrary $`𝔤`$) and in the case when $`𝔤=𝔰𝔩_2`$ (for arbitrary $`n`$). We thank M. Duflo for bringing the paper \[Ge\] to our attention.

Remark A.6. Bernstein and Lunts \[BL\] have given an alternative proof of the original Kostant freeness theorem, using the isomorphism $`I(𝔤)k[𝔥]^W`$, and the Chevalley theorem which states that $`k[𝔥]`$ is a free over $`k[𝔥]^W`$ (here $`𝔥`$ denotes the Cartan subalgebra of $`𝔤`$, and $`W`$ denotes the Weyl group of $`𝔤`$). In our case this approach cannot be applied: although there is a natural embedding of $`I(𝔤_n)`$ to $`k[𝔥_n]`$, the ring $`k[𝔥_n]`$ is not free over the image of $`I(𝔤_n)`$. In fact, the latter equals $`k[(𝔥/W)_n]`$, which is strictly smaller than $`k[𝔥_n]^W`$.

Theorem A.2 also implies the following result:

Proposition A.7. The space of $`G_n`$–invariants (resp., $`G_{\mathrm{}}`$–invariants) of $`k[𝒩_n]`$ (resp., $`k[𝒩_{\mathrm{}}]`$) consists of constants.

###### Proof.

The jet scheme $`Y_n`$ (resp, $`Y_{\mathrm{}}`$) of the open dense $`G`$–orbit $`Y`$ of $`𝒩`$ is an orbit of the group $`G_n`$ (resp., $`G_{\mathrm{}}`$) in $`𝒩_n`$ (resp., $`𝒩_{\mathrm{}}`$). Therefore any invariant function on it is a constant. But according to the proof of Corollary A.3, it is a dense subvariety in $`𝒩_n`$ (resp., $`𝒩_{\mathrm{}}`$). Hence any invariant function on $`𝒩_n`$ (resp., $`𝒩_{\mathrm{}}`$) is a constant. ∎

Remark A.8. According to Theorem A.4, the natural morphisms $`𝔤_{\mathrm{}}\mathrm{Spec}I(𝔤_{\mathrm{}})`$ and $`𝔤_n\mathrm{Spec}I(𝔤_n)`$ are flat. Drinfeld has suggested that these morphisms may be viewed as local counterparts of the Hitchin morphism. More precisely, let $`X`$ be a smooth projective curve over $``$, and $`\mathrm{Bun}_G`$ the moduli stack of $`G`$–bundles on $`X`$. The cotangent space $`T_{}^{}\mathrm{Bun}_G`$ to $`\mathrm{Bun}_G`$ at $`\mathrm{Bun}_G`$ is isomorphic to $`H^0(X,𝔤_{}\mathrm{\Omega })`$. Here $`𝔤_{}=\underset{𝐺}{\times }𝔤`$, and we identify $`𝔤𝔤^{}`$ using the invariant inner product on $`𝔤`$. The Hitchin morphism

$$T^{}\mathrm{Bun}_G=_{i=1}^{\mathrm{}}H^0(X,\mathrm{\Omega }^{d_i})$$

sends $`(,\omega H^0(X,𝔤_{}\mathrm{\Omega }))`$ to $`(P_1(\omega ),\mathrm{},P_{\mathrm{}}(\omega ))`$.

Let $`x`$ be a point of $`X`$, and $`\widehat{𝒪}_x`$ the completion of the local ring at $`x`$. Denote by $`D_x`$ the formal disc at $`x`$, $`D_x=\mathrm{Spec}\widehat{𝒪}_x`$. For each $`\mathrm{Bun}_G`$ we have a local analogue of the Hitchin map,

$$h_x^{}:H^0(D_x,𝔤_{}\mathrm{\Omega })_x=_{i=1}^{\mathrm{}}H^0(D_x,\mathrm{\Omega }^{d_i}).$$

If we trivialize $`|_{D_x}`$ and choose a formal coordinate $`t`$ at $`x`$, the map $`h_x^{}`$ becomes our map $`𝔤_{\mathrm{}}\mathrm{Spec}I(𝔤_{\mathrm{}})`$. Actually, for varying $``$ and $`xX`$, the spaces $`H^0(D_x,𝔤_{}\mathrm{\Omega })`$ and $`_x`$ can be glued together into schemes over $`X\times \mathrm{Bun}_G`$ equipped with a flat connection along $`X`$, and the maps $`h_x^{}`$ can be glued into a morphism between these schemes preserving connections. The Hitchin morphism then appears as the corresponding map of the schemes of horizontal sections.

The flatness of the Hitchin morphism has been proved by Hitchin \[Hit\] and Faltings \[Fa\]. Drinfeld has derived the flatness of the morphism $`𝔤_n\mathrm{Spec}I(𝔤_n)`$ from the flatness of the Hitchin morphism (private communication). He asked whether one can find a purely “local” argument proving this fact. The above proof answers this question.

Author Addresses:

David Eisenbud

Department of Mathematics, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720; eisenbud@math.berkeley.edu

Edward Frenkel

Department of Mathematics, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720; frenkel@math.berkeley.edu

Mircea Mustaţǎ

Department of Mathematics, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720 and Institute of Mathematics of the Romanian Academy; mustata@math.berkeley.edu


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# Spin Observables in 𝑝̄𝑝→Λ̄Λ with a Transverse Initial State Polarization

##

The demonstration shown in Eqs. (5-11) of the existence of a unique solution for Eqs. (4) is not applicable for the special case of $`b=c`$. With this condition, Eqs. (8,9) and (10,11) reduce to only 1 complex equation each, which is not sufficient to solve for $`\{a,e,d,g\}`$. However, even in the case of $`b=c`$ preciselyThis is the condition for the singlet fraction, $`S_F=1C_{mm00}C_{nn00}C_{ll00}=|bc|^2`$, to be zero . Previous measurements of $`\overline{p}p\overline{\mathrm{\Lambda }}\mathrm{\Lambda }`$ indicate that $`S_F`$ is very small or zero for $`\theta <90\mathrm{deg}`$ and incident $`\overline{p}`$ momentum in the lab frame of less than 1800 MeV/c ., a unique solution can still be found. Explicitly taking $`b=c`$, with $`b`$ chosen to be positive real and known from Eqn. (5), $`\{a,g\}`$ can be determined from the set of 8 linear equations with 8 unknowns:

$$\begin{array}{ccc}\hfill Re(e)Im(g)& =& F_1\hfill \\ \hfill Im(e)+Re(g)& =& F_2\hfill \\ \hfill Re(d)+Re(a)& =& F_3\hfill \\ \hfill Im(d)+Im(a)& =& F_4\hfill \\ \hfill F_1Re(g)+F_2Im(g)F_4Re(a)+F_3Im(a)& =& C_{ml0n}\hfill \\ \hfill F_4Re(g)+F_3Im(g)F_1Re(a)F_2Im(a)& =& C_{mm0n}F_1F_3F_2F_4\hfill \\ \hfill F_4Re(g)+F_3Im(g)+F_1Re(a)+F_2Im(a)& =& A_{000n}\hfill \\ \hfill F_2Re(g)+F_1Im(g)+F_3Re(a)+F_4Im(a)& =& \begin{array}{c}\hfill \frac{1}{2}(D_{0n0n}+K_{n00n}F_1^2\\ \hfill F_2^2+F_3^2+F_4^2)\end{array}\hfill \end{array}$$
(12)
with

$$F_1=\frac{C_{mn0m}}{b},F_2=\frac{D_{0l0m}}{b},F_3=\frac{D_{0m0m}}{b},F_4=\frac{C_{ln0m}}{b}$$
(13)
This implies sensitivity to the full set of the scattering matrix parameters, even in the case that $`b`$ and $`c`$ are equivalent. This solution is limited only by the requirement that $`b0`$. In the very special case of $`b=c=0`$, most of the observables in Eqs. (4) would be constrained to be zero and it would not be possible to uniquely determine the full set of parameters using only a polarized target. In fact, with $`b=c=0`$, an experiment involving polarizations of both particles in the initial state would be necessary in order to be sensitive to the entire parameter space.

An indication of this condition can be found by measuring $`C_{nn00}`$. The relation

$$1C_{nn00}=|b|^2+|c|^2$$
(14)
shows that as $`C_{nn00}1`$, both $`b`$ and $`c`$ must approach zero . If $`C_{nn00}1`$, then one or both of $`b`$ or $`c`$ must be non-zero. Thus a preliminary study of this observable can be used to warn of potential difficulties in performing a global fit to the full parameter set.

It should be noted that $`C_{nn00}`$ has been previously measured for $`\overline{p}p\overline{\mathrm{\Lambda }}\mathrm{\Lambda }`$ near threshold and that it tends toward the value +1 for only a narrow range of production angle $`\theta `$ . This indicates that, with the possible exception of that narrow angular range, determination of the transition matrix parameters should, in principle, be possible with data of the type collected by PS185/3.