MA4A5 Algebraic geometry

[UAG] M. Reid, Undergraduate algebraic geometry, CUP. For other books see the references in the PYDC entry or below

Timetable for 2007-08:

Tue 2-3, MS.04
Wed 10-11, B3.01
Thu 3-4, MS.05

Arrangements for 2007-08:

I will lecture the first and last two weeks of the course, replacing some of the material of Sections~2 and 6-7 of the book with appropriate new stuff (see below). The core sections, corresponding to Sections 3-5 of the book, will be lectured together jointly with Sarah Davis <S.E.Davis@warwick.ac.uk>, or may be given in part as a self-help seminar if students volunteer.

Content

The course will consist of a core of theoretical material from the central Sections 3-5 of my book [UAG], Undergraduate algebraic geometry, as a first introduction to the categorical framework of algebraic geometry: the Nullstellensatz, the definition of affine and projective varieties, morphisms and rational maps between them. In addition, the course will cover new material directed towards areas of current research, including:

(1) Varieties in projective space such as quadrics, Grassmannians, Segre and Veronese embeddings and other homogeneous and quasi-homogeneous varieties.
(2) Some introductory material in toric geometry illustrating properties of affine and projective algebraic varieties.
(3) Group actions, their quotients and resolutions.
(4) The Riemann-Roch theorem for curves.

Students may also be interested in looking in on the Algebraic Geometry reading seminar (Wed from 2:00 this term) or the MSc seminar module MA505 Algebraic Geometry. Please give your name and e-mail to Sarah to be included on the mailing list.

Assignment sheets:

There will be approximately 8 compulsory assignments counting for 30\% of the credit; students may gain credit as an alternative by lecturing part of the material, or by producing lecture notes of sections containing new material. Some help with the assessed work will be given if required. If you want to be kept in touch, please write to Sarah to be included on the mailing list.

Last year's assessed work as pdf file.

Prerequisites and suitability for 3rd year MMathers

The course uses basic definitions from most 1st and 2nd year courses, including algebra, geometry, analysis. More than technical prerequisites, the main requirement is the sophistication to work simultaneously with ideas from several areas of mathematics: projective geometry, rings and fields, basic topology and analysis. I would expect the course to be harder than most for third year students, but not impossible for those who are well motivated and can rise to a challenge. The reward consists of access to 4th year and MSc/PhD courses and projects in algebraic geometry.

MA505 Algebraic geometry

The PYDC entry is here.   This is a first introduction to algebraic geometry at the MSc level. One of the central topics is the relation between the commutative algebra of graded rings and the geometry of projective varieties and singularities. The emphasis is on concrete examples of curves, surfaces, projective arieties and singularities, as illustrated in my Park City lecture notes [Chapters] and in the book in progress [More Chapters]. Technical foundational material, for example on commutative algebra and affine schemes, on sheaves and coherent cohomology, will be introduced as required, without detailed proofs. Students may wish to study more material in a parallel self-help seminar (I can try to arrange exam credit for this as necessary).

Prerequisites

This is a second course in Algebraic Geometry, and it assumes background knowledge at the level of the undergraduate course MA4A5 Algebraic Geometry or the material of [UAG] or the first two chapters of Shafarevich, Basic algebraic geometry.

Timetable for 2006-07, Term 2:

Tue 2-3, B3.01
Thu 10-11, B3.01
Fri 11-12, B3.01

Several beginning postgraduates and visiting students will be studying the subject at some level, and should take keep a look-out for seminars at Warwick and elsewhere. (e.g. the COW and Calf that meets in Warwick, Oxford, London, Bath, etc. Google "COW seminar").

Books:

M. Reid, Undergraduate commutative algebra, CUP
M. Reid, Chapters on algebraic surfaces, in Complex algebraic geometry (Park City, 1993), Amer. Math. Soc., Providence, RI, 1997, 3--159. The preprint version is available from my website + Surfaces
M. Reid, More chapters (book in preparation), see my website + Surfaces
J.-P. Serre, Faisceaux algébriques cohérents, Ann. of Math. 61 (1955)
A. Borel and J.-P. Serre, Le théorème de Riemann-Roch, Bull. Soc. Math. France 86 (1958) 97--136
I.R. Shafarevich, Basic algebraic geometry I, Springer, 1994
R. Hartshorne, Algebraic geometry, Springer Graduate Texts, 1977
H. Matsumura, Commutative ring theory, CUP

Assessment:

Three-hour written examination

Other material at the beginning graduate level

See the first chapters of Chapters on algebraic surfaces, Park City 1993 index and from More chapters (book in preparation):

Cyclic surface quotient singularities
Graded rings
See the Homework.
See also my Surface links

My front page      Google