# Translated tori in the characteristic varieties of complex hyperplane arrangements

## 1 Introduction

The characteristic varieties of a space $`X`$ are the jumping loci of the cohomology of $`X`$ with coefficients in rank $`1`$ local systems: $`V_d(X)=\{𝐭(^{})^{b_1(X)}dim_{}H^1(X,_𝐭)d\}.`$ If $`X`$ is the complement of a normal-crossing divisor in a compact Kähler manifold with vanishing first homology, then $`V_d(X)`$ is a finite union of torsion-translated subtori of the character torus, see . If $`𝒜`$ is an arrangement of hyperplanes in $`^{\mathrm{}}`$, with complement $`X=X(𝒜)`$, then the irreducible components of $`V_d(𝒜):=V_d(X)`$ which contain the origin can be determined combinatorially, from the intersection lattice of $`𝒜`$. This follows from the fact that the tangent cone to $`V_d(𝒜)`$ at $`\mathrm{𝟏}`$ coincides with the resonance variety, $`_d(𝒜)`$, of the Orlik-Solomon algebra (see  for a proof, and , ,  for other proofs and generalizations). The variety $`_d(𝒜)`$ in turn admits explicit combinatorial descriptions, see , .

It was first noted in  that there exists a hyperplane arrangement for which $`V_2`$ contains translated tori. These translated tori are isolated torsion points in $`V_2`$, lying at the intersection of several components of $`V_1`$ which do pass through the origin (see Example 4.4 in  and Example 3.2 below). Thus, the question arose whether the characteristic varieties of a complex hyperplane arrangement may have positive-dimensional translated components, see , Problem 5.1. In this note, we answer that question, as follows.

###### Theorem

There exist arrangements of complex hyperplanes for which the top characteristic variety, $`V_1`$, contains positive-dimensional irreducible components which do not pass through the origin.

The simplest such arrangement is the “deleted $`\mathrm{B}_3`$” arrangement, $`𝒟`$, discussed in Example 4.1. It is an arrangement of $`8`$ planes in $`^3`$, with defining forms $`xz`$, $`yz`$, $`x`$, $`y`$, $`xy+z`$, $`z`$, $`xyz`$, $`xy`$. The arrangement $`𝒟`$ is fiber-type, with exponents $`\{1,3,4\}`$. The variety $`V_1(𝒟)`$ has a component parametrized by $`\{(t,t^1,t^1,t,t^2,1,t^2,1)t^{}\}`$. This is a $`1`$-dimensional torus, translated by a second root of $`\mathrm{𝟏}`$. Figure 1 depicts the real part of a generic $`2`$-dimensional section of $`𝒟`$ (obtained by setting $`z=2x+3y+1`$), together with the local system corresponding to the point $`t^{}`$.

The deleted $`\mathrm{B}_3`$ arrangement can also be used to answer Conjecture 4.4 from , and Problems 5.2 and 5.3 from .

As noted in ,  (see also ), all the components of $`V_1`$ passing through the origin must have dimension at least $`2`$. On the other hand, all the positive-dimensional translated components that we find correspond to $`𝒟`$ sub-arrangements, and so have dimension $`1`$. We do not know whether translated components can have dimension greater than $`1`$, but we exhibit an arrangement where $`V_1`$ has $`0`$-dimensional components (Example 5.1).

The translated components in the characteristic varieties of an arrangement $`𝒜`$ are not detected by the tangent cone at the origin, and thus contain information which is not available from the Orlik-Solomon algebra of $`𝒜`$, at least not directly. We illustrate this phenomenon in Example 5.3, where we find a pair of arrangements for which the resonance varieties are (abstractly) isomorphic, but the characteristic varieties have a different number of components. These two arrangements have non-isomorphic lattices, though. Thus, it is still an open question whether the translated components of $`V_d(𝒜)`$ are combinatorially determined.

One of the main motivations for the study of characteristic varieties of a space $`X`$ is the very precise information they give about the homology of finite abelian covers of $`X`$, see , . From that point of view, the existence of translated components in $`V_1`$ has immediate repercussions on the Betti numbers of some finite covers of $`X`$ (those corresponding to torsion characters belonging to that component). But it also affects the torsion coefficients of some abelian covers of $`X`$, and the number of certain metabelian covers of $`X`$. These aspects are pursued in joint work with D. Matei, . The starting point of that paper was the discovery of $`2`$-torsion in the homology of certain $`3`$-fold covers of $`X(𝒟)`$. We were led to the translated component in $`V_1(𝒟)`$ by an effort to explain that unexpected torsion.

## 2 Characteristic varieties and hyperplane arrangements

We start by reviewing methods for computing the fundamental group, the characteristic varieties, and the resonance varieties of a complex hyperplane arrangement.

### 2.1 Characteristic varieties

Let $`X`$ be a space having the homotopy type of a connected, finite CW-complex. For simplicity, we will assume throughout that $`H=H_1(X,)`$ is torsion free. Set $`n=b_1(X)`$, and fix a basis $`\{t_1,\mathrm{},t_n\}`$ for $`H^n`$. Let $`G=\pi _1(X)`$ be the fundamental group, and $`𝑎𝑏:GH`$ the abelianization homomorphism.

Let $`^{}`$ be the multiplicative group of units in $``$, and let $`𝐻𝑜𝑚(G,^{})`$ be the group of characters of $`G`$. Notice that $`𝐻𝑜𝑚(G,^{})`$ is isomorphic to the affine algebraic group $`𝐻𝑜𝑚(H,^{})(^{})^n`$, with coordinate ring $`H[t_1^{\pm 1},\mathrm{},t_n^{\pm 1}]`$. For each integer $`d0`$, set

$$V_d(X)=\{𝐭=(t_1,\mathrm{},t_n)(^{})^ndim_{}H^1(G,_𝐭)d\},$$

where $`_𝐭`$ is the $`G`$-module $``$ given by the representation .

Then $`V_d(X)`$ is an algebraic subvariety of the complex $`n`$-torus, called the $`d`$-th characteristic variety of $`X`$. The characteristic varieties form a descending tower, $`(^{})^n=V_0V_1\mathrm{}V_{n1}V_n`$, which depends only on the isomorphism type of $`G=\pi _1(X)`$, up to a monomial change of basis in $`(^{})^n`$, see .

As shown in , the characteristic varieties of $`X`$ may be interpreted as the determinantal varieties of the Alexander matrix of the group $`G=\pi _1(X)`$. Given a presentation $`G=x_1,\mathrm{},x_mr_1,\mathrm{},r_s`$, the Alexander matrix is the $`s\times m`$ matrix $`A=\left(\frac{r_i}{x_j}\right)^{𝑎𝑏}`$, with entries in $`[t_1^{\pm 1},\mathrm{},t_n^{\pm 1}]`$, obtained by abelianizing the Jacobian of Fox derivatives of the relations. Let $`A(𝐭)`$ be the evaluation of $`A`$ at $`𝐭(^{})^n`$. For $`0d<n`$, we have

$$V_d(X)=\{𝐭(^{})^n𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑘A(𝐭)<md\}.$$

Remarkably, the existence of certain analytic or geometric structures on a space puts strong qualitative restrictions on the nature of its characteristic varieties. There are several results along these lines, due to Green, Lazarfeld, Simpson, and Arapura. The result we need is the following:

###### Theorem  (Arapura )

Let $`X`$ be the complement of a normal-crossing divisor in a compact Kähler manifold with vanishing first homology. Then each characteristic variety $`V_d(X)`$ is a finite union of torsion-translated subtori of the algebraic torus $`(^{})^{b_1(X)}`$.

### 2.2 Fundamental groups of arrangements

Let $`𝒜=\{H_1,\mathrm{},H_n\}`$ be an arrangement of (affine) hyperplanes in $`^{\mathrm{}}`$, $`\mathrm{}2`$, with complement $`X(𝒜)=^{\mathrm{}}_{i=1}^nH_i`$. We review the procedure for finding the braid monodromy presentation of the fundamental group of the complement, $`G(𝒜)=\pi _1(X(𝒜))`$. This presentation is equivalent to the Randell-Arvola presentation (see ), and the $`2`$-complex modelled on it is homotopy-equivalent to $`X=X(𝒜)`$ (see ). Since we are only interested in $`G=G(𝒜)`$, the well-known Lefschetz-type theorem of Hamm and Lê allows us to assume that $`\mathrm{}=2`$, by replacing $`𝒜`$ with a generic $`2`$-dimensional slice, if necessary.

Let $`v_1,\mathrm{},v_s`$ be the intersection points of the lines of $`𝒜`$. The combinatorics of the arrangement is encoded in its intersection poset, $`L(𝒜)=\{L_1(𝒜),L_2(𝒜)\}`$, where $`L_1=𝐧:=\{1,\mathrm{},n\}`$ and $`L_2=\{I_1,\mathrm{},I_s\}`$, with $`I_k=\{i𝐧H_iv_k\mathrm{}\}`$. Choosing a generic linear projection $`p:^2`$, and a basepoint $`y_0`$ such that $`𝑅𝑒(y_0)>𝑅𝑒(p(v_1))>\mathrm{}>𝑅𝑒(p(v_s))`$ gives orderings of the lines and vertices, which we may assume coincide with the orderings specified above. Choosing also a path in $``$, starting at $`y_0`$, and passing successively through $`p(v_1),\mathrm{},p(v_s)`$ gives a “braided wiring diagram,” $`𝒲(𝒜)=\{I_1,\beta _1,I_2,\mathrm{},\beta _{s1},I_s\}`$, where $`\beta _k`$ are certain braids in the Artin braid group $`B_n`$.

Let $`\{A_{i,j}\}_{1i<jn}`$ be the usual generating set for the pure braid group $`P_n`$, as specified in . More generally, for $`I𝐧`$, let $`A_IP_n`$ be the full twist on the strands indexed by $`I`$. The braid monodromy presentation of $`G=\pi _1(X)`$ is given by:

$$G=x_1,\mathrm{},x_n\alpha _k(x_i)=x_i\mathrm{for}iI_k\{\mathrm{max}I_k\}\mathrm{and}k𝐬,$$
(1)   
where each $`\alpha _k`$ is a pure braid of the form $`A_{I_k}^{\delta _k}=\delta _k^1A_{I_k}\delta _k`$, acting on $`𝔽_n=x_1,\mathrm{},x_n`$ by the Artin representation $`P_n𝐴𝑢𝑡(F_n)`$. The conjugating braids $`\delta _k`$ may be obtained from $`𝒲`$, as follows.

In the case where $`𝒜`$ is the complexification of a real arrangement, $`𝒲`$ may be realized as a (planar) wiring diagram (with all $`\beta _k=1`$), in the obvious way. Each vertex set $`I_k𝒲`$ gives rise to a partition $`𝐧=I_k^{}I_kI_k^{\prime \prime }`$ into lower, middle, and upper wires. Set $`J_k=\{iI_k^{\prime \prime }\mathrm{min}I_k<i<\mathrm{max}I_k\}`$. Then $`\delta _k`$ is the subword of $`A_𝐧=_{i=2}^n_{j=1}^{i1}A_{j,i}`$, given by $`\delta _k=_{iI_k}_{jJ_k}A_{j,i}`$, see  (and also ). In the general case, the braids $`\beta _1,\mathrm{},\beta _{k1}`$ must also be taken into account, see  for details.

### 2.3 Characteristic and resonance varieties of arrangements

For an arrangement $`𝒜`$, with complement $`X=X(𝒜)`$, let $`V_d(𝒜):=V_d(X)`$. In equations, $`V_d(𝒜)=\{𝐭(^{})^n𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑘A(𝐭)<nd\}`$, where $`A`$ is the Alexander matrix corresponding to the presentation (1) of $`G=\pi _1(X)`$. By Arapura’s Theorem, $`V_d(𝒜)`$ is a finite union of torsion-translated tori in $`(^{})^n`$. Denote by $`\stackrel{ˇ}{V}_d(𝒜)`$ the union of those tori that pass through $`\mathrm{𝟏}`$, and by $`𝒱_d(𝒜)`$ the tangent cone of $`\stackrel{ˇ}{V}_d(𝒜)`$ at $`\mathrm{𝟏}`$. Clearly, $`𝒱_d(𝒜)`$ is a central arrangement of subspaces in $`^n`$. The exponential map, $`\mathrm{exp}:\mathrm{T}_\mathrm{𝟏}((^{})^n)=^n(^{})^n`$, $`\lambda _ie^{2\pi i\lambda _i}=t_i`$, takes each subspace in $`𝒱_d(𝒜)`$ to the corresponding subtorus in $`\stackrel{ˇ}{V}_d(𝒜)`$. In equations, $`𝒱_d(𝒜)=\{\lambda ^n𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑘A^{(1)}(\lambda )<nd\}`$, where $`A^{(1)}`$ is the linearized Alexander matrix of $`G`$, see  (and also ). The variety $`𝒱_d(𝒜)`$ (and thus, $`\stackrel{ˇ}{V}_d(𝒜)`$, too) admits a completely combinatorial description, as follows.

The $`d^{\mathrm{th}}`$ resonance variety of a space $`X`$ is the set $`_d(X)`$ of cohomology classes $`\lambda H^1(X,)`$ for which there is a subspace $`WH^1(X,)`$, of dimension $`d+1`$, such that $`\lambda W=0`$ (see ). In other words,

$$_d(X)=\{\lambda dimH^1(H^{}(X,),\lambda )d\}.$$

The resonance varieties of an arrangement, $`_d(𝒜):=_d(X(𝒜))`$, were introduced and studied in . It turns out that $`𝒱_d(𝒜)=_d(𝒜)`$, see ,  for two different proofs, and ,  for recent generalizations.

As seen above, the top resonance variety is the union of a subspace arrangement: $`_1(𝒜)=C_1\mathrm{}C_r`$. It is also known that $`dimC_i2`$, $`C_iC_j=\{\mathrm{𝟎}\}`$ for $`ij`$, and $`_d(𝒜)=\{\mathrm{𝟎}\}_{dimC_id+1}C_i`$, see . For each $`IL_2(𝒜)`$ with $`\left|I\right|3`$, there is a local component, $`C_I=\{\lambda _i\lambda _i=0\mathrm{and}\lambda _i=0\mathrm{for}iI\}`$. Note that $`dimC_I=\left|I\right|1`$, and thus $`C_I_{\left|I\right|2}(𝒜)`$.

The non-local components also admit a description purely in terms of $`L(𝒜)`$, see , . A partition $`𝖯=(𝗉_1|\mathrm{}|𝗉_q)`$ of $`𝐧`$ is called neighborly if, for all $`IL_2(𝒜)`$, the following holds: $`\left|𝗉_jI\right|\left|I\right|1I𝗉_j.`$ To a neighborly partition $`𝖯`$, there corresponds a subspace

$$C_𝖯=\{\lambda \underset{i}{}\lambda _i=0\}\underset{I}{}\{\lambda \underset{iI}{}\lambda _i=0\},$$

where $`I`$ ranges over all vertex sets not contained in a single block of $`𝖯`$. Results of  imply that, if $`dimC_𝖯2`$, then $`C_𝖯`$ is a component of $`_1(𝒜)`$. All the components of $`_1(𝒜)`$ arise in this fashion from neighborly partitions of sub-arrangements of $`𝒜`$.

This completes the combinatorial description of $`𝒱_d(𝒜)=_d(𝒜)`$, and thus, that of $`\stackrel{ˇ}{V}_d(𝒜)`$.

### 2.4 Decones and linearly fibered extensions

We conclude this section with two constructions which simplify in many instances the computation of the characteristic varieties of an arrangement.

The first construction associates to a central arrangement $`𝒜=\{H_1,\mathrm{},H_n\}`$ in $`^{\mathrm{}}`$, an affine arrangement, $`𝒜^{}`$, of $`n1`$ hyperplanes in $`^\mathrm{}1`$, called a decone of $`𝒜`$. Let $`Q`$ be a defining polynomial for $`𝒜`$. Choose coordinates $`(z_1,\mathrm{},z_{\mathrm{}})`$ in $`^{\mathrm{}}`$ so that $`H_n=\mathrm{ker}(z_{\mathrm{}})`$. Then, $`Q^{}=Q(z_1,\mathrm{},z_\mathrm{}1,1)`$ is a defining polynomial for $`𝒜^{}`$, and $`X(𝒜)X(𝒜^{})\times ^{}`$, see . It follows that:

$$V_d(𝒜)=\{𝐭(^{})^n(t_1,\mathrm{},t_{n1})V_d(𝒜^{})\mathrm{and}t_1\mathrm{}t_n=1\},$$

and so the computation of $`V_d(𝒜)`$ reduces to that of $`V_d(𝒜^{})`$, see .

The second construction associates to an affine arrangement, $`𝒜`$, in $`^2`$, a linearly fibered arrangement, $`\widehat{𝒜}`$, also in $`^2`$, called a big arrangement associated to $`𝒜`$. The construction depends on the choice of a linear projection $`\overline{p}:^2`$, for which no line of $`𝒜`$ coincides with $`\overline{p}^1(\mathrm{point})`$. Let $`H_1,\mathrm{},H_n`$ be the lines of $`𝒜`$, let $`v_1,\mathrm{},v_s`$ be their intersection points, and let $`\{w_1,\mathrm{},w_r\}=\overline{p}(\{v_1,\mathrm{},v_s\})`$. Then $`\widehat{𝒜}=𝒜\{H_{n+1},\mathrm{},H_{n+r}\}`$, where $`H_{n+j}=\overline{p}^1(w_j)`$. The restriction $`\overline{p}:\widehat{X}\{w_1,\mathrm{},w_r\}`$ is a (linear) fibration, with fiber $`\{n\mathrm{points}\}`$. The monodromy generators, $`\overline{\alpha }_1,\mathrm{},\overline{\alpha }_r`$ may be found using a slight modification of the algorithm from  (see also ). Deform $`\overline{p}`$ to a generic projection $`p:^2`$, and let $`\alpha _1,\mathrm{},\alpha _s`$ be the corresponding braid monodromy generators. Then, $`\overline{\alpha }_j=_{p(v_k)=w_j}\alpha _k`$. The fundamental group of $`\widehat{𝒜}`$ is the semidirect product $`\widehat{G}=𝔽_n_{\overline{\alpha }}𝔽_r`$, with presentation

$$\widehat{G}=x_1,\mathrm{},x_n,y_1,\mathrm{},y_rx_i^{y_j}=\overline{\alpha }_j(x_i).$$
(2)   
Given an arrangement $``$ so that $`=\widehat{𝒜}`$, the presentation (2) of $`\pi _1(X(\widehat{𝒜}))=\widehat{G}`$ is often simpler to use than the presentation (1), obtained from the general braid monodromy algorithm applied directly to $``$. In particular, if we pick $`\{t_1,\mathrm{},t_{n+r}\}=\{x_1,\mathrm{},x_n,y_1,\mathrm{},y_r\}^{𝑎𝑏}`$ as basis for $`H_1(\widehat{G})^{n+r}`$, the Alexander matrix of $`\widehat{G}`$ has the block form

$$A=\left(\begin{array}{cccc}𝑖𝑑t_{n+1}\mathrm{\Theta }(\overline{\alpha }_1)& d_1& \mathrm{}& 0\\ \mathrm{}& & \mathrm{}& \\ 𝑖𝑑t_{n+r}\mathrm{\Theta }(\overline{\alpha }_r)& 0& \mathrm{}& d_1\end{array}\right),$$
(3)   
where $`\mathrm{\Theta }:P_n𝐺𝐿(n,[t_1^{\pm 1},\mathrm{},t_n^{\pm 1}])`$ is the Gassner representation, and $`d_1=\left(t_11\mathrm{}t_n1\right)^{}`$, see \[7, §3.9\].

## 3 Warm-up Examples

We continue with some relatively simple examples of hyperplane arrangements and their characteristic varieties. These examples, which illustrate the above discussion, will be useful in understanding subsequent, more complicated examples.

###### Example 3.1

Let $`𝒜_3`$ be the braid arrangement in $`^3`$, with defining polynomial $`Q=xyz(xy)(xz)(yz)`$. The decone $`𝒜_3^{}`$, obtained by setting $`z=1`$, is depicted in Figure 2(a). Note that $`𝒜_3^{}=\widehat{𝒜}`$, where $`𝒜`$ consists of the lines marked $`1,2,3`$. Thus, $`𝒜_3`$ is fiber-type, with exponents $`\{1,2,3\}`$, and $`G^{}=𝔽_3_{\overline{\alpha }}𝔽_2`$, where $`\overline{\alpha }_1=A_{12}`$, $`\overline{\alpha }_2=A_{13}`$ (of course, $`G=P_4G^{}\times `$).

The resonance and characteristic varieties of $`𝒜_3`$ were computed in , , . The variety $`V_1(𝒜_3)(^{})^6`$ has $`4`$ local components, corresponding to the triple points $`124,135,236,456`$, and one essential component, corresponding to the neighborly partition $`(16|25|34)`$:

$$\mathrm{\Pi }=\{(s,t,(st)^1,(st)^1,t,s)s,t^{}\},$$

see Figure 2(b). The components of $`V_1`$ meet only at $`\mathrm{𝟏}`$. Moreover, $`V_2=\mathrm{}=V_6=\{\mathrm{𝟏}\}`$. The intersection poset of the characteristic varieties of $`𝒜_3`$ is depicted in Figure 2(c). The poset is ranked by dimension (indicated by relative height), and filtered according to depth in the characteristic tower (indicated by color: $`V_1`$ in black, $`V_2`$ in white). 

###### Example 3.2

A realization of the non-Fano plane is the arrangement $`𝒩`$, with defining polynomial $`Q=xyz(xy)(xz)(yz)(x+yz)`$. A decone $`𝒩^{}`$ is depicted in Figure 3(a).

The characteristic varieties of $`𝒩`$ were computed in  (see also ). The variety $`V_1(^{})^7`$ has $`6`$ local components, corresponding to triple points, and $`3`$ non-local components, $`\mathrm{\Pi }_1=\mathrm{\Pi }(25|36|47)`$, $`\mathrm{\Pi }_2=\mathrm{\Pi }(17|26|35)`$, $`\mathrm{\Pi }_3=\mathrm{\Pi }(14|23|56)`$, corresponding to braid sub-arrangements. The local components meet only at $`\mathrm{𝟏}`$, but the non-local components also meet at the point $`\rho =(1,1,1,1,1,1,1)`$. The variety $`V_2=\{\mathrm{𝟏},\rho \}`$ is a discrete algebraic subgroup of $`(^{})^7`$, isomorphic to $`_2`$. The characteristic intersection poset of $`𝒩`$ is depicted in Figure 3(b). 

###### Example 3.3

Let $`_3`$ be the reflection arrangement of type $`\mathrm{B}_3`$, with defining polynomial $`Q=xyz(xy)(xz)(yz)(xyz)(xy+z)(x+yz)`$. A decone is shown in Figure 4(a). Note that $`_3^{}=\widehat{𝒜}`$, where $`𝒜`$ consists of the lines marked $`1,\mathrm{},5`$. Thus, $`_3`$ is fiber-type, with exponents $`\{1,3,5\}`$, and $`G^{}=𝔽_5_{\overline{\alpha }}𝔽_3`$, where $`\overline{\alpha }_1=A_{234}`$, $`\overline{\alpha }_2=A_{14}^{A_{24}A_{34}}A_{25}`$, $`\overline{\alpha }_3=A_{35}^{A_{23}A_{25}}`$.

A computation with Fox derivatives, using the techniques from §2, shows that the characteristic variety $`V_1(^{})^9`$ has $`19`$ components:

* $`7`$ local components, corresponding to $`4`$ triple points and $`3`$ quadruple points.
* $`11`$ components corresponding to braid sub-arrangements.
* $`1`$ essential, $`2`$-dimensional component, corresponding to the neighborly partition $`(156|248|379)`$, identified in , Example 4.6:

$$\mathrm{\Gamma }=\{(t,s,(st)^2,s,t,t^2,(st)^1,s^2,(st)^1)s,t^{}\}.$$

Three triples of braid components meet $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$ on $`V_2`$, at the points

$$\rho _1=(1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1),\rho _2=(1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1),$$

and $`\rho _1\rho _2`$. The variety $`V_2`$ consists of three $`3`$-dimensional tori (corresponding to quadruple points), together with the discrete subgroup $`_2^2=\{1,\rho _1,\rho _2,\rho _1\rho _2\}`$. The characteristic intersection poset of $`_3`$ is depicted in Figure 4(b). 

## 4 Positive-dimensional translated tori

We now come to our basic example of a complex hyperplane arrangement whose top characteristic variety contains a positive-dimensional translated component.

###### Example 4.1

Let $`𝒟`$ be the arrangement obtained from the $`\mathrm{B}_3`$ reflection arrangement by deleting the plane $`x+yz=0`$. A defining polynomial for $`𝒟`$ is $`Q=xyz(xy)(xz)(yz)(xyz)(xy+z)`$. The decone $`𝒟^{}`$, obtained by setting $`z=1`$, is depicted in Figure 5(a). Note that $`𝒟^{}=\widehat{𝒜}`$, where $`𝒜`$ consists of the lines marked $`1,\mathrm{},4`$. Thus, $`𝒟`$ is fiber-type, with exponents $`\{1,3,4\}`$, and $`G^{}=𝔽_4_{\overline{\alpha }}𝔽_3`$, where $`\overline{\alpha }_1=A_{23}`$, $`\overline{\alpha }_2=A_{13}^{A_{23}}A_{24}`$, $`\overline{\alpha }_3=A_{14}^{A_{24}}`$.

The Alexander matrix of $`G^{}`$, given by (3), is row-equivalent to 

$$A=\left(\begin{array}{ccccccc}1t_5& 0& 0& 0& t_11& 0& 0\\ 0& t_5\left(t_31\right)& 1t_2t_5& 0& t_31& 0& 0\\ 0& 1t_5& t_2\left(1t_5\right)& 0& t_2t_31& 0& 0\\ 0& 0& 0& 1t_5& t_41& 0& 0\\ t_6\left(t_31\right)& \left(t_31\right)\left(t_1t_61\right)& t_2\left(1t_1t_6\right)& 0& 0& t_31& 0\\ 1t_6& t_1\left(t_31\right)\left(t_61\right)& t_1t_2\left(1t_6\right)& 0& 0& t_1t_31& 0\\ 0& t_6\left(t_41\right)& 0& 1t_2t_6& 0& t_41& 0\\ 0& 1t_6& 0& t_2\left(1t_6\right)& 0& t_2t_41& 0\\ t_7\left(t_41\right)& \left(t_41\right)\left(t_1t_71\right)& 0& t_2\left(1t_1t_7\right)& 0& 0& t_41\\ 1t_7& t_1\left(1t_7\right)& 0& t_1t_2\left(1t_7\right)& 0& 0& t_1t_2t_41\\ 0& 1t_7& 0& 0& 0& 0& t_21\\ 0& 0& 1t_7& \left(t_31\right)\left(1t_7\right)& 0& 0& t_4\left(t_31\right)\end{array}\right).$$

Now recall that $`V_1(𝒟)=\{𝐭(^{})^8(t_1,\mathrm{},t_7)V_1(𝒟^{})\mathrm{and}t_1\mathrm{}t_8=1\}`$, where $`V_1(𝒟^{})`$ is the sub-variety of $`(^{})^7`$ defined by the ideal of $`6\times 6`$ minors of the matrix $`A`$. Computing the primary decomposition of that ideal reveals that the variety $`V_1(𝒟)`$ has $`13`$ components:

* $`7`$ local components, corresponding to $`6`$ triple points and one quadruple point.
* $`5`$ non-local components passing through $`\mathrm{𝟏}`$, corresponding to braid sub-arrangements: $`\mathrm{\Pi }_1=\mathrm{\Pi }(15|26|38)`$, $`\mathrm{\Pi }_2=\mathrm{\Pi }(28|36|45)`$, $`\mathrm{\Pi }_3=\mathrm{\Pi }(14|23|68)`$, $`\mathrm{\Pi }_4=\mathrm{\Pi }(16|27|48)`$, $`\mathrm{\Pi }_5=\mathrm{\Pi }(18|37|46)`$.
* $`1`$ essential component, which does not pass through $`\mathrm{𝟏}`$. This component is $`1`$-dimensional, and is parametrized by

$$C=\{(t,t^1,t^1,t,t^2,1,t^2,1)t^{}\}.$$

(Note that the translated torus $`C`$ is one of the two connected components of $`\mathrm{\Gamma }\{t_3=1\}`$.) The braid components of $`V_1(𝒟)`$ meet $`C`$ at the points

$$\begin{array}{cc}\rho _1\hfill & =\mathrm{\Pi }_1\mathrm{\Pi }_2\mathrm{\Pi }_3C=(1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1),\hfill \\ \rho _2\hfill & =\mathrm{\Pi }_3\mathrm{\Pi }_4\mathrm{\Pi }_5C=(1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1),\hfill \end{array}$$

both of which belong to $`V_2(𝒟)`$. The characteristic intersection poset of $`𝒟`$ is depicted in Figure 6. 

As noted in the Introduction, this example answers Problem 5.1 in . It also answers Problems 5.2 and 5.3 in . Indeed, let $`\lambda =(\frac{1}{4},\frac{1}{4},\frac{1}{4},\frac{1}{4},\frac{1}{2},\frac{1}{2},\frac{1}{2},\frac{1}{2})`$. Clearly, $`\lambda `$, and all its integral translates, do not belong to $`_1(𝒟)`$, because all components of $`_1(𝒟)`$ are non-essential. Hence, $`H^1(H^{}(X,),\lambda +N)=0`$, for all $`N^8`$. On the other hand, $`𝐭:=\mathrm{exp}(\lambda )=(i,i,i,i,1,1,1,1)`$ belongs to $`C`$, and thus $`dimH^1(X,_𝐭)=1`$.

Finally, this example also answers in the negative Conjecture 4.4 from , at least in its strong form. Indeed, there are infinitely many $`𝐭=\mathrm{exp}(\lambda )C`$ for which

$$1=dimH^1(X,_𝐭)\underset{N^8}{sup}dimH^1(H^{}(X,),\lambda +N)=0.$$

## 5 Further examples

In this section, we give a few more examples that illustrate the nature of translated components in the characteristic varieties of arrangements.

###### Example 5.1

Let $`𝒜=\mathrm{A}_2(10)`$ be the simplicial arrangement from the list in Grünbaum . A defining polynomial for $`𝒜`$ is $`Q=xyz(yx)(y+x)(2yz)(yxz)(yx+z)(y+x+z)(y+xz)`$. Figure 7 shows a decone $`𝒜^{}`$, together with the characteristic intersection poset of $`𝒜`$. The variety $`V_1(𝒜)`$ has $`33`$ components:

* $`10`$ local components, corresponding to $`7`$ triple and $`3`$ quadruple points.
* $`17`$ non-local components corresponding to braid sub-arrangements.
* $`1`$ non-local component, $`\mathrm{\Gamma }=\mathrm{\Gamma }(1510|248|379)`$, corresponding to a $`_3`$ sub-arrangement.
* $`3`$ components that do not pass through the origin, $`C_1=C(134568910)`$, $`C_2=C(234568910)`$, $`C_3=C(345678910)`$, corresponding to $`𝒟`$ sub-arrangements.
* $`2`$ isolated points of order $`6`$, $`\zeta =(\eta ^2,\eta ^2,\eta ,\eta ^2,\eta ^2,1,\eta ^2,\eta ,\eta ^2,\eta )`$ and $`\zeta ^1`$, where $`\eta =e^{\pi i/3}`$.

Note that all positive-dimensional components of $`V_1(𝒜)`$ are non-essential, whereas the two $`0`$-dimensional components are essential. The non-local components meet at $`7`$ isolated points of order $`2`$, belonging to $`V_2(𝒜)`$:

$$\begin{array}{ccc}\rho _1\hfill & =(1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1),\rho _2\hfill & =(1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1),\hfill \\ \rho _3\hfill & =(1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1),\rho _4\hfill & =(1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1),\hfill \end{array}$$

$`\rho _1\rho _2`$, $`\rho _3\rho _4`$, and $`\zeta ^3`$. 

###### Example 5.2

Consider the arrangements $`_1`$ and $`_2`$, with defining polynomials $`Q_1=(xyz)Q`$ and $`Q_2=(xy2z)Q`$, where $`Q=xyz(xy)(yz)(xz)(x2z)(x3z)`$. This pair of arrangements was introduced by Falk in . Their decones and characteristic varieties are depicted in Figure 8.

Both arrangements are fiber-type, with exponents $`\{1,4,4\}`$. Thus, by the LCS formula of Falk and Randell (see ), the ranks, $`\varphi _k(G):=𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑘𝑔𝑟_k(G)`$, of the lower central series quotients of the two groups are the same. As noted in , though, the ranks, $`\theta _k(G):=𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑘𝑔𝑟_k(G/G^{\prime \prime })`$, of the Chen groups are different: $`\theta _k(G(_1))=\frac{1}{2}(k1)(k^2+3k+24)`$ and $`\theta _k(G(_2))=\frac{1}{2}(k1)(k^2+3k+22)`$, for $`k4`$. Moreover, as noted in , the resonance varieties of the two arrangements are not isomorphic, even as abstract varieties: $`_1(_1)`$ has $`12`$ components, whereas $`_1(_2)`$ has $`11`$ components. An even more pronounced difference shows up in the characteristic varieties: $`V_1(_1)`$ has a $`13^{\mathrm{th}}`$ component (corresponding to a sub-arrangement isomorphic to $`𝒟`$), which does not pass through the origin. 

###### Example 5.3

Consider the arrangements $`𝒵_1`$ and $`𝒵_2`$, with defining polynomials $`Q_1=(xy2z)Q`$ and $`Q_2=(xy3z)Q`$, where $`Q=xyz(xy)(yz)(xz)(x2z)(x3z)(x4z)(x5z)(xyz)(xy4z)`$. This pair of arrangements was introduced by Ziegler . Their decones and characteristic varieties are depicted in Figures 9 and 10.

Both arrangements are fiber-type, with exponents $`\{1,6,6\}`$; thus, $`\varphi _k(G(𝒵_1))=\varphi _k(G(𝒵_2))`$. Even more, the ranks of the Chen groups are the same: $`\theta _1=13`$, $`\theta _2=30`$, $`\theta _3=140`$, and $`\theta _k=\frac{1}{24}(k1)(k^4+10k^3+47k^2+86k+696)`$, for $`k4`$. Moreover, $`_1(𝒵_1)_1(𝒵_2)`$ (as varieties), although one may show, by a rather long calculation of the respective polymatroids, that there is no linear isomorphism $`^{13}^{13}`$ taking $`_1(𝒵_1)`$ to $`_1(𝒵_2)`$.

On the other hand, the two groups can be distinguished numerically by their characteristic varieties: $`V_1(𝒵_1)`$ has $`32`$ components, whereas $`V_1(𝒵_2)`$ has $`31`$ components. Both varieties have $`11`$ local components (corresponding to $`9`$ triple points, $`1`$ quintuple point, and $`1`$ septuple point), and $`18`$ components corresponding to braid sub-arrangements. In addition, both varieties have components which do not pass through $`\mathrm{𝟏}`$, corresponding to $`𝒟`$ sub-arrangements: $`V_1(𝒵_1)`$ has $`3`$ such components, $`V_1(𝒵_2)`$ has only $`2`$. 

## 6 Concluding remarks

We conclude with a few questions raised by the above examples.

Let $`𝒜`$ be an arrangement of $`n`$ complex hyperplanes, and let $`V_d(𝒜)(^{})^n`$ ($`1dn`$) be its characteristic varieties.

###### Question 6.1

Are the translated components of $`V_d(𝒜)`$ combinatorially determined?

This problem was posed in  and , before the existence of translated components in $`V_1(𝒜)`$ was known. Recall that $`\stackrel{ˇ}{V}_d(𝒜)`$—the union of the components of $`V_d(𝒜)`$ passing through the identity of the torus $`(^{})^n`$is combinatorially determined. If $`\stackrel{ˇ}{V}_d(𝒜)V_d(𝒜)`$ (as in the examples from §§45), the question is whether $`V_d(𝒜)\stackrel{ˇ}{V}_d(𝒜)`$ is also determined by the intersection lattice of $`𝒜`$.

###### Question 6.2

What are the possible dimensions of the translated components of $`V_d(𝒜)`$?

The (positive-dimensional) components passing through the origin must have dimension at least $`2`$, and all dimensions between $`2`$ and $`n1`$ can be realized. On the other hand, at least in the examples we gave here, the components not passing through $`\mathrm{𝟏}`$ have dimension either $`0`$ or $`1`$. The question is whether $`V_d(𝒜)\stackrel{ˇ}{V}_d(𝒜)`$ can have higher-dimensional components.

###### Question 6.3

What are the possible orders of translation of the components of $`V_d(𝒜)`$?

In our examples, the components not passing through the origin are translated by characters of order $`2`$ or $`6`$. The question is whether other orders of translation can occur. Furthermore, one may ask (as a weak form of Question 6.1) whether the orders of translation are combinatorially determined. We know of a combinatorial upper bound on the lowest common multiple of these orders, but do not know when this bound is attained.

I wish to thank D. Cohen and D. Matei for useful discussions. The computations for this work were done primarily with Macaulay 2 () and Mathematica 4.0. Additional computations were done with GAP 4.1 ().