Bigraded Lie algebras and nilpotent fundamental groups of smooth complex algebraic varieties
Taito Shimoji
TL;DR
The paper investigates torsion-free nilpotent fundamental groups of smooth complex varieties through the lens of bigraded mixed Hodge structures on nilpotent Lie algebras. By establishing Morgan-type bigradings and tracing their cohomological consequences, it derives sharp constraints on allowable fundamental groups when $b_1(X)\le3$ or $rk(\pi_1(X,x))\le7$, showing abelian or 2-step nilpotent behavior in these regimes. The work also provides a concrete $8$-dimensional 3-step nilpotent example that can occur as a lattice in a nilpotent Lie group, highlighting both the power and limits of the method. An algebraic remark clarifies that bigradings yield stricter obstructions than gradings, underscoring the relevance of mixed Hodge-theoretic structure in realizing lattices as fundamental groups of smooth complex algebraic varieties.
Abstract
Let $X$ be a smooth complex algebraic variety. Assume that the fundamental group $π_1(X,x)$ is torsion-free nilpotent. We show that if the betti number $b_1(X)$ is less than or equal to $3$, then $π_1(X,x)$ is isomorphic to $\mathbb{Z}$, $\mathbb{Z}^2$, $\mathbb{Z}^3$, a lattice in the Heisenberg group $H_3(\mathbb{R})$ or $\mathbb{R}\times H_3(\mathbb{R})$. Moreover we show that $π_1(X,x)$ is abelian or $2$-step nilpotent if the rank of $π_1(X,x)$ is less than or equal to seven. We prove the main theorems by using the bigraded structures of mixed Hodge structures on nilpotent Lie algebras. In particular, if the rank of $π_1(X,x)$ is less than or equal to six, then we show that $π_1(X,x)$ is a lattice in an abelian Lie group $\mathbb{R}^n$ or a $(2k+1)$-dimensional Heisenberg group $H_{2k+1}(\mathbb{R})$ or a product group $\mathbb{R}^m\times H_{2l+1}(\mathbb{R})$ or $H_3(\mathbb{R})\times H_3(\mathbb{R})$ for some $n=1,2,3,4,5,6$, $k=1,2$ or $(m,l)=(1,3),(2,3),(3,3),(1,5)$. Our main result supports a conjecture of nilpotent (quasi-) Kähler group provided by Aguilar and Campana.