Let $f \colon E\to B$ be a dominant morphism, where $E$ and $B$ are smooth irreducible complex quasi-projective varieties, and let $F_b$ be the general fiber of $f$. We present conditions under which the homomorphism $\pi_1 (F_b)\to \pi_1 (E)$ induced by the inclusion is injective.

Let $\phi \colon X\to M$ be a morphism from a smooth irreducible complex quasi-projective variety $X$ to a Grassmannian variety $M$ such that the image is of dimension $\ge 2$. Let $D$ be a reduced hypersurface in $M$, and $\gamma$ a general linear automorphism of $M$. We show that, under a certain differential-geometric condition on $\phi(X)$ and $D$, the fundamental group $\pi_1 \bigl( (\gamma \circ \phi)^{-1} (M\setminus D) \bigr)$ is isomorphic to a central extension of $\pi_1 (M\setminus D) \times \pi_1 (X)$ by the cokernel of $\pi_2 (\phi) \colon \pi_2 (X) \to \pi_2 (M)$.

Let $X$ be a separated finite type scheme over a noetherian base ring $\mathbb{K}$. There is a complex $\widehat{\mathcal{C}}^{\cdot} (X)$ of topological $\mathcal{O}_X$-modules, called the complete Hochschild chain complex of $X$. To any $\mathcal{O}_X$-module $\mathcal{M}$---not necessarily quasi-coherent---we assign the complex $\mathcal{H}om^{\cont}_{\mathcal{O}_X} \bigl( \widehat{\mathcal{C}}^{\cdot} (X), \mathcal{M} \bigr)$ of continuous Hochschild cochains with values in $\mathcal{M}$. Our first main result is that when $X$ is smooth over $\mathbb{K}$ there is a functorial isomorphism $$ \mathcal{H}om^{\cont}_{\mathcal{O}_X} \bigl( \widehat{\mathcal{C}}^{\cdot} (X), \mathcal{M} \bigr) \cong \R \mathcal{H}om_{\mathcal{O}_{X^2}} (\mathcal{O}_X, \mathcal{M}) $$ in the derived category $\mathsf{D} (\Mod \mathcal{O}_{X^2})$, where $X^2 := X \times_{\mathbb{K}} X$. The second main result is that if $X$ is smooth of relative dimension $n$ and $n!$ is invertible in $\mathbb{K}$, then the standard maps $\pi \colon \widehat{\mathcal{C}}^{-q} (X) \to \Omega^q_{X/ \mathbb{K}}$ induce a quasi-isomorphism $$ \mathcal{H}om_{\mathcal{O}_X} \Bigl( \bigoplus_q \Omega^q_{X/ \mathbb{K}} [q], \mathcal{M} \Bigr) \to \mathcal{H}om^{\cont}_{\mathcal{O}_X} \bigl( \widehat{\mathcal{C}}^{\cdot} (X), \mathcal{M} \bigr). $$ When $\mathcal{M} = \mathcal{O}_X$ this is the quasi-isomorphism underlying the Kontsevich Formality Theorem. Combining the two results above we deduce a decomposition of the global Hochschild cohomology $$ \Ext^i_{\mathcal{O}_{X^2}} (\mathcal{O}_X, \mathcal{M}) \cong \bigoplus_q \H^{i-q} \Bigl( X, \bigl( \bigwedge^q_{\mathcal{O}_X} \mathcal{T}_{X/\mathbb{K}} \bigr) \otimes_{\mathcal{O}_X} \mathcal{M} \Bigr), $$ where $\mathcal{T}_{X/\mathbb{K}}$ is the relative tangent sheaf.

We extend the basic theory of Lie algebras of affine algebraic groups to the case of pro-affine algebraic groups over an algebraically closed field $K$ of characteristic 0. However, some modifications are needed in some extensions. So we introduce the pro-discrete topology on the Lie algebra $\mathcal{L}(G)$ of the pro-affine algebraic group $G$ over $K$, which is discrete in the finite-dimensional case and linearly compact in general. As an example, if $L$ is any sub Lie algebra of $\mathcal{L}(G)$, we show that the closure of $[L,L]$ in $\mathcal{L}(G)$ is algebraic in $\mathcal{L}(G)$. We also discuss the Hopf algebra of representative functions $H(L)$ of a residually finite dimensional Lie algebra $L$. As an example, we show that if $L$ is a sub Lie algebra of $\mathcal{L}(G)$ and $G$ is connected, then the canonical Hopf algebra morphism from $K[G]$ into $H(L)$ is injective if and only if $L$ is algebraically dense in $\mathcal{L}(G)$.

We characterize embeddability of algebraic varieties into smooth toric varieties and prevarieties. Our embedding results hold also in an equivariant context and thus generalize a well-known embedding theorem of Sumihiro on quasiprojective $G$-varieties. The main idea is to reduce the embedding problem to the affine case. This is done by constructing equivariant affine conoids, a tool which extends the concept of an equivariant affine cone over a projective $G$-variety to a more general framework.

We study the cohomology of connected components of Shimura varieties $S_{K^p}$ coming from the group $\GSp_{2g}$, by an approach modeled on the stabilization of the twisted trace formula, due to Kottwitz and Shelstad. More precisely, for each character $\olomega$ on the group of connected components of $S_{K^p}$ we define an operator $L(\omega)$ on the cohomology groups with compact supports $H^i_c (S_{K^p}, \olbbQ_\ell)$, and then we prove that the virtual trace of the composition of $L(\omega)$ with a Hecke operator $f$ away from $p$ and a sufficiently high power of a geometric Frobenius $\Phi^r_p$, can be expressed as a sum of $\omega$-{\em weighted} (twisted) orbital integrals (where $\omega$-{\em weighted} means that the orbital integrals and twisted orbital integrals occuring here each have a weighting factor coming from the character $\olomega$). As the crucial step, we define and study a new invariant $\alpha_1 (\gamma_0; \gamma, \delta)$ which is a refinement of the invariant $\alpha (\gamma_0; \gamma, \delta)$ defined by Kottwitz. This is done by using a theorem of Reimann and Zink.

We verify a generalization of (3.3) from \cite{Le} proving that the homotopy type of the Milnor fiber of a reduced hypersurface singularity depends only on the embedded topological type of the singularity. In particular, using \cite{Za,Li1,Oh1,Gau} for irreducible quasi-ordinary germs, it depends only on the normalized distinguished pairs of the singularity. The main result of the paper provides an explicit formula for the Euler-characteristic of the Milnor fiber in the surface case.

A theorem of Donaldson on the existence of Hermitian-Einstein metrics on stable holomorphic bundles over a compact K\"ahler surface is extended to bundles which are parabolic along an effective divisor with normal crossings. Orbifold methods, together with a suitable approximation theorem, are used following an approach successful for the case of Riemann surfaces.

Let $\H$ be the Hilbert function of some set of distinct points in $\P^n$ and let $\alpha = \alpha (\H)$ be the least degree of a hypersurface of $\P^n$ containing these points. Write $\alpha = d_s + d_{s-1} + \cdots + d_1$ (where $d_i > 0$). We canonically decompose $\H$ into $s$ other Hilbert functions $\H \leftrightarrow (\H_s^\prime, \dots, \H_1^\prime)$ and show how to find sets of distinct points $\Y_s, \dots, \Y_1$, lying on reduced hypersurfaces of degrees $d_s, \dots, d_1$ (respectively) such that the Hilbert function of $\Y_i$ is $\H_i^\prime$ and the Hilbert function of $\Y = \bigcup_{i=1}^s \Y_i$ is $\H$. Some extremal properties of this canonical decomposition are also explored.

Let $X$ be a nonsingular algebraic variety in characteristic zero. To an effective divisor on $X$ Kontsevich has associated a certain motivic integral, living in a completion of the Grothendieck ring of algebraic varieties. He used this invariant to show that birational (smooth, projective) Calabi-Yau varieties have the same Hodge numbers. Then Denef and Loeser introduced the invariant {\it motivic (Igusa) zeta function}, associated to a regular function on $X$, which specializes to both the classical $p$-adic Igusa zeta function and the topological zeta function, and also to Kontsevich's invariant. This paper treats a generalization to singular varieties. Batyrev already considered such a `Kontsevich invariant' for log terminal varieties (on the level of Hodge polynomials of varieties instead of in the Grothendieck ring), and previously we introduced a motivic zeta function on normal surface germs. Here on any $\bbQ$-Gorenstein variety $X$ we associate a motivic zeta function and a `Kontsevich invariant' to effective $\bbQ$-Cartier divisors on $X$ whose support contains the singular locus of~$X$.

The Russell-Koras contractible threefolds are the smooth affine threefolds having a hyperbolic $\mathbb{C}^*$-action with quotient isomorphic to the corresponding quotient of the linear action on the tangent space at the unique fixed point. Koras and Russell gave a concrete description of all such threefolds and determined many interesting properties they possess. We use this description and these properties to compute the equivariant Grothendieck groups of these threefolds. In addition, we give certain equivariant invariants of these rings.

In this paper, we investigate stratification theory in terms of the defining equations of strata and maps (without tube systems), offering a concrete approach to show that some given family is topologically trivial. In this approach, we consider a weighted version of $(w)$-regularity condition and Kuo's ratio test condition.

We describe the embedded resolution of an irreducible quasi-ordinary surface singularity $(V,p)$ which results from applying the canonical resolution of Bierstone-Milman to $(V,p)$. We show that this process depends solely on the characteristic pairs of $(V,p)$, as predicted by Lipman. We describe the process explicitly enough that a resolution graph for $f$ could in principle be obtained by computer using only the characteristic pairs.

There is a well-known correspondence (due to Mehta and Seshadri in the unitary case, and extended by Bhosle and Ramanathan to other groups), between the symplectic variety $M_h$ of representations of the fundamental group of a punctured Riemann surface into a compact connected Lie group~$G$, with fixed conjugacy classes $h$ at the punctures, and a complex variety ${\cal M}_h$ of holomorphic bundles on the unpunctured surface with a parabolic structure at the puncture points. For $G = \SU(2)$, we build a symplectic variety $P$ of pairs (representations of the fundamental group into $G$, ``weighted frame'' at the puncture points), and a corresponding complex variety ${\cal P}$ of moduli of ``framed parabolic bundles'', which encompass respectively all of the spaces $M_h$, ${\cal M}_h$, in the sense that one can obtain $M_h$ from $P$ by symplectic reduction, and ${\cal M}_h$ from ${\cal P}$ by a complex quotient. This allows us to explain certain features of the toric geometry of the $\SU(2)$ moduli spaces discussed by Jeffrey and Weitsman, by giving the actual toric variety associated with their integrable system.

Let $G$ be an algebraic group and let $X$ be a generically free $G$-variety. We show that $X$ can be transformed, by a sequence of blowups with smooth $G$-equivariant centers, into a $G$-variety $X'$ with the following property the stabilizer of every point of $X'$ is isomorphic to a semidirect product $U \sdp A$ of a unipotent group $U$ and a diagonalizable group $A$. As an application of this result, we prove new lower bounds on essential dimensions of some algebraic groups. We also show that certain polynomials in one variable cannot be simplified by a Tschirnhaus transformation.

Let $Y$ be an infinite covering space of a projective manifold $M$ in $\P^N$ of dimension $n\geq 2$. Let $C$ be the intersection with $M$ of at most $n-1$ generic hypersurfaces of degree $d$ in $\mathbb{P}^N$. The preimage $X$ of $C$ in $Y$ is a connected submanifold. Let $\phi$ be the smoothed distance from a fixed point in $Y$ in a metric pulled up from $M$. Let $\O_\phi(X)$ be the Hilbert space of holomorphic functions $f$ on $X$ such that $f^2 e^{-\phi}$ is integrable on $X$, and define $\O_\phi(Y)$ similarly. Our main result is that (under more general hypotheses than described here) the restriction $\O_\phi(Y) \to \O_\phi(X)$ is an isomorphism for $d$ large enough. This yields new examples of Riemann surfaces and domains of holomorphy in $\C^n$ with corona. We consider the important special case when $Y$ is the unit ball $\B$ in $\C^n$, and show that for $d$ large enough, every bounded holomorphic function on $X$ extends to a unique function in the intersection of all the nontrivial weighted Bergman spaces on $\B$. Finally, assuming that the covering group is arithmetic, we establish three dichotomies concerning the extension of bounded holomorphic and harmonic functions from $X$ to $\B$.

We study $K$-orbits in $G/P$ where $G$ is a complex connected reductive group, $P \subseteq G$ is a parabolic subgroup, and $K \subseteq G$ is the fixed point subgroup of an involutive automorphism $\theta$. Generalizing work of Springer, we parametrize the (finite) orbit set $K \setminus G \slash P$ and we determine the isotropy groups. As a consequence, we describe the closed (resp. affine) orbits in terms of $\theta$-stable (resp. $\theta$-split) parabolic subgroups. We also describe the decomposition of any $(K,P)$-double coset in $G$ into $(K,B)$-double cosets, where $B \subseteq P$ is a Borel subgroup. Finally, for certain $K$-orbit closures $X \subseteq G/B$, and for any homogeneous line bundle $\mathcal{L}$ on $G/B$ having nonzero global sections, we show that the restriction map $\res_X \colon H^0 (G/B, \mathcal{L}) \to H^0 (X, \mathcal{L})$ is surjective and that $H^i (X, \mathcal{L}) = 0$ for $i \geq 1$. Moreover, we describe the $K$-module $H^0 (X, \mathcal{L})$. This gives information on the restriction to $K$ of the simple $G$-module $H^0 (G/B, \mathcal{L})$. Our construction is a geometric analogue of Vogan and Sepanski's approach to extremal $K$-types.

Nous \'etudions les polyn\^omes $F \in \C \{S_\tau\} [Y] $ \`a coefficients dans l'anneau de germes de fonctions holomorphes au point sp\'ecial d'une vari\'et\'e torique affine. Nous g\'en\'eralisons \`a ce cas la param\'etrisation classique des singularit\'es quasi-ordinaires. Cela fait intervenir d'une part une g\'en\'eralization de l'algorithme de Newton-Puiseux, et d'autre part une relation entre le poly\`edre de Newton du discriminant de $F$ par rapport \`a $Y$ et celui de $F$ au moyen du polytope-fibre de Billera et Sturmfels~\cite{Sturmfels}. Cela nous permet enfin de calculer, sous des hypoth\`eses de non d\'eg\'en\'erescence, les sommets du poly\`edre de Newton du discriminant a partir de celui de $F$, et les coefficients correspondants \`a partir des coefficients des exposants de $F$ qui sont dans les ar\^etes de son poly\`edre de Newton.

Let $F$ be a divisor on the blow-up $X$ of $\pr^2$ at $r$ general points $p_1, \dots, p_r$ and let $L$ be the total transform of a line on $\pr^2$. An approach is presented for reducing the computation of the dimension of the cokernel of the natural map $\mu_F \colon \Gamma \bigl( \CO_X(F) \bigr) \otimes \Gamma \bigl( \CO_X(L) \bigr) \to \Gamma \bigl( \CO_X(F) \otimes \CO_X(L) \bigr)$ to the case that $F$ is ample. As an application, a formula for the dimension of the cokernel of $\mu_F$ is obtained when $r = 7$, completely solving the problem of determining the modules in minimal free resolutions of fat point subschemes\break $m_1 p_1 + \cdots + m_7 p_7 \subset \pr^2$. All results hold for an arbitrary algebraically closed ground field~$k$.

The semi-affine Coxeter-Dynkin graph is introduced, generalizing both the affine and the finite types.

Let $G$ be a finite group generated by (pseudo-) reflections in a complex vector space and let $g$ be any linear transformation which normalises $G$. In an earlier paper, the authors showed how to associate with any maximal eigenspace of an element of the coset $gG$, a subquotient of $G$ which acts as a reflection group on the eigenspace. In this work, we address the questions of irreducibility and the coexponents of this subquotient, as well as centralisers in $G$ of certain elements of the coset. A criterion is also given in terms of the invariant degrees of $G$ for an integer to be regular for $G$. A key tool is the investigation of extensions of invariant vector fields on the eigenspace, which leads to some results and questions concerning the geometry of intersections of invariant hypersurfaces.

We consider germs of mappings of a line to contact space and classify the first simple singularities up to the action of contactomorphisms in the target space and diffeomorphisms of the line. Even in these first cases there arises a new interesting interaction of local commutative algebra with contact structure.

Let $E$ be an elliptic curve over $\q$, and let $r$ be an integer. According to the Lang-Trotter conjecture, the number of primes $p$ such that $a_p(E) = r$ is either finite, or is asymptotic to $C_{E,r} {\sqrt{x}} / {\log{x}}$ where $C_{E,r}$ is a non-zero constant. A typical example of the former is the case of rational $\ell$-torsion, where $a_p(E) = r$ is impossible if $r \equiv 1 \pmod{\ell}$. We prove in this paper that, when $E$ has a rational $\ell$-isogeny and $\ell \neq 11$, the number of primes $p$ such that $a_p(E) \equiv r \pmod{\ell}$ is finite (for some $r$ modulo $\ell$) if and only if $E$ has rational $\ell$-torsion over the cyclotomic field $\q(\zeta_\ell)$. The case $\ell=11$ is special, and is also treated in the paper. We also classify all those occurences.

The characteristic numbers of smooth plane quartics are computed using intersection theory on a component of the moduli space of stable maps. This completes the verification of Zeuthen's prediction of characteristic numbers of smooth plane curves. A short sketch of a computation of the characteristic numbers of plane cubics is also given as an illustration.

This paper starts by introducing a bi-periodic summation formula for automorphic forms on a group $G(E)$, with periods by a subgroup $G(F)$, where $E/F$ is a quadratic extension of number fields. The split case, where $E = F \oplus F$, is that of the standard trace formula. Then it introduces a notion of stable bi-conjugacy, and stabilizes the geometric side of the bi-period summation formula. Thus weighted sums in the stable bi-conjugacy class are expressed in terms of stable bi-orbital integrals. These stable integrals are on the same endoscopic groups $H$ which occur in the case of standard conjugacy. The spectral side of the bi-period summation formula involves periods, namely integrals over the group of $F$-adele points of $G$, of cusp forms on the group of $E$-adele points on the group $G$. Our stabilization suggests that such cusp forms---with non vanishing periods---and the resulting bi-period distributions associated to ``periodic'' automorphic forms, are related to analogous bi-period distributions associated to ``periodic'' automorphic forms on the endoscopic symmetric spaces $H(E)/H(F)$. This offers a sharpening of the theory of liftings, where periods play a key role. The stabilization depends on the ``fundamental lemma'', which conjectures that the unit elements of the Hecke algebras on $G$ and $H$ have matching orbital integrals. Even in stating this conjecture, one needs to introduce a ``transfer factor''. A generalization of the standard transfer factor to the bi-periodic case is introduced. The generalization depends on a new definition of the factors even in the standard case. Finally, the fundamental lemma is verified for $\SL(2)$.