manuscripta math.

107, 187–205 (2002)

c Springer-Verlag 2002

Aristides Kontogeorgis

Automorphisms of Fermat-like varieties

Received: 18 December 2000 / Revised version: 22 October 2001

Abstract. We study the automorphisms of some nice hypersurfaces and complete inter-
sections in projective space by reducing the problem to the determination of the linear
automorphisms of the ambient space that leave the algebraic set invariant.

1. Introduction

H. W. Leopoldt [12] (in characteristic p) and P. Tzermias [16] (in characteristic

zero) studied the automorphism group of the Fermat curves, given as the zero
locus of the homogeneous polynomial x0n + x1n + x2n = 0, where n > 3 and the
characteristic p does not divide n. The author [11] generalized the above result
by studying the group of automorphisms of a projective non-singular model of the
affine curves 1 + x1m + x2n = 0 for n = m.
The aim of this paper is to study the group of automorphisms of similar algebraic
sets in higher dimensions. By the group of automorphisms Aut(X) of the projective
variety X ⊂ Pr we mean the group of biregular transformations of X. All varieties
are defined over an algebraically closed field k of characteristic p ≥ 0.
For a complete intersection X in Pr of dimension ≥ 3, the study of the au-
tomorphism group is reduced to the study of the linear automorphisms Lin(X),
i.e., to automorphisms of the ambient space Pr that leave X invariant. This is a
known theorem based on the generalization of the Lefschetz theorem, due to A.
Grothendieck and P. Deligne.
Using this method, T. Shioda [15] was able to compute the group Aut(X) of
automorphisms for the Fermat hypersurfaces (also for the Fermat curves), given by
equations

x0n + x1n + · · · + xrn = 0,

where the characteristic p does not divide n, and n ≥ 3. It is clear that the group
of automorphisms of the above equations contains the semidirect product Zrn 
Sr+1 of the abelian group Zrn and the symmetric group Sr+1 . This is the whole
automorphism group if n − 1 is not a power of the characteristic. If n − 1 = ph is

A. Kontogeorgis: University of Crete, Department of Applied Mathematics, Heraklion,

Crete, Greece 71409. e-mail: kontogar@tem.uoc.gr
Mathematics Subject Classification (2000): 14H37, 14J50, 14N05
188 A. Kontogeorgis

a power of the characteristic then the automorphism group is the projective unitary
group PGU(r + 1, p 2h ).
In this paper we simplify the computations of Shioda and we generalize his
results by studying the automorphism group of a hypersurface defined as the zero
locus of a hermitian form

q
xκ aκλ xλ = 0,
κ,λ

where q is a power of the characteristic and (aij ) is an (r + 1) × (r + 1) matrix with

elements in k. We also study the case of different exponents, i.e., automorphisms
of the projective closure of affine hypersurfaces of the form
r


xini + 1 = 0.
i=1

Namely we prove the following:

Theorem 1.1. Let n = nt0 = ... = nt1 −1 > nt1 ≥ ... ≥ nr > 1 be a decreasing
sequence of integers, where 1 = t0 < t1 < · · · < ts such that ni is constant for
tk ≤ i < tk+1 , r > t1 −1 and the characteristic p does not divide ni for all i. (Notice
that in general r ≥ t1 − 1 and if r = t1 − 1 then the hypersurface is Fermat). Let X
be the projective hypersurface defined by the homogeneous irreducible polynomial
r


xini x0n−ni + x0n .
i=1

We have assumed that nr > 1 because otherwise the defining polynomial will have
as summand a linear polynomial, forcing the automorphism group to be infinite.
Denote by dk = tk+1 − tk . The group of automorphisms G of X is given by a direct
sum
s−1

G := Gk ,
k=0

where


 1 if dk =1

Z if dk =2
Gk ∼
=
nk

 Z nk  S dk if dk > 2 and nk − 1 is not a p − power

PGU(dk , p2hk ) if dk > 2 and nk − 1 = phk

We also study automorphisms of intersections of Fermat hypersurfaces and prove

the following theorems:

Theorem 1.2. Let n, m be integers not divisible by the characteristic p of the al-
gebraic closed field k and let
r > 4 or
n + m = 5 for r = 4. The variety X defined
by the homogeneous ideal  xim , xin  is reduced and irreducible. The group
Automorphisms of Fermat-like varieties 189

 of X is theintersection of the group of automorphisms

Aut(X) of automorphisms
of the hypersurfaces xim = 0 and xin = 0, i.e.,



Aut(X) = Aut(V ( xim )) ∩ Aut(V ( xin )).

Theorem 1.3. Let X be the algebraic set given as intersection of the weighted
Fermat hypersurfaces
q+1 q+1 q+1 q+1
X1 = V (x0 + ... + xr ), X2 = V (c0 x0 + ... + cr xr ),

where q is a power of the characteristic and ci = cj for i = j . X is reduced

and irreducible. Let G be the automorphism group of X and A := Zrq+1 be the
subgroup of G given by {xi → ζ ai xi } where ζ is an q + 1 root of unity and ai runs
over the set {0, ..., q}. The group A is a normal subgroup of G, and G is given as
an extension of groups

1 −→ A −→ G −→ H −→ 1.

The group H acts on the set {c0 , ..., cr } as a group of linear fractional transfor-
mations and is one of the following groups Zs , Ztp , Ztp11  Zn where s | r + 1
or s | r, pt = r, p1 t1 n | r + 1 or p1 t1 n | r. Moreover G is a subgroup of
Aut(X1 ) = PGU(r + 1, q 2 ).

2. Automorphisms of complete intersections

In this section we reduce the study of the automorphism group of a complete

intersection X ⊂ Pr to the study of linear automorphisms of X, i.e., automorphisms
of the ambient space Pr that leave X invariant. This theorem is proved in the
literature for hypersurfaces, using the Grothendieck-Deligne version of Lefschetz
theorem [2, par. 16]. For the sake of completeness we present a proof for the case
of complete intersections, which essentially follows the hypersurface proof.

→ Pr be a closed subvariety of the projective space Pr ,

Proposition 2.1. Let i : X −
i∗
such that the map H 0 (Pr , OPr (1)) −
→ H 0 (X, OX (1)) is an isomorphism. If φ is
an automorphism of X preserving OX (1) = i ∗ OPr (1), then φ can be extended to
an automorphism of Pr .

Proof. The homogeneous coordinate ring S of Pr is given as a direct sum [8, ex.
5.14a p.126]

S= H 0 (Pr , OPr (n)),
n≥0

and S is generated by H 0 (Pr , OPr (1)) as a k-algebra (The k-vector space

H 0 (Pr , OPr (n))

190 A. Kontogeorgis

can be identified with the vector space of homogeneous polynomials of degree n).
Every k linear automorphism of H 0 (Pr , OPr (1)) can be extended to an automor-
phism of S. Every automorphism φ of X that preserves OX (1) induces a linear map
acting on H 0 (X, OX (1)); since the map
i∗
H 0 (Pr , OPr (1)) −
→ H 0 (X, OX (1)),
is an isomorphism, φ acts on H 0 (Pr , OPr (1)) as well.
A complete intersection X in Pr is a projective algebraic variety, i.e., reduced
and irreducible, whose homogeneous ideal I is generated by c = codim(X, Pr )
polynomials.
Theorem 2.1. Let X be a complete intersection in Pr , of dimension ≥ 2. Then the
group Pic(X) is torsion free. If moreover dim(X) ≥ 3, then the group Pic(X) is the
free group generated by the class of OX (1).
Proof. [1, Th. II.1.8] and [7, Exp. XII Corollary 3.7].
Theorem 2.1 can also be expressed in the following form:
Corollary 2.1. Let X be a complete intersection in Pr of dimension ≥ 3. Every
Cartier divisor on X comes from an intersection of X by a hypersurface of Pr .
In particular, the semigroup of effective divisors on X is generated by the linear
systems of intersections by hyperplanes.
Proof. Let i : X → Pr denote the inclusion map. By definition OX (1) = i ∗ OPr (1).
Since Pic(X) is generated by OX (1) the result follows.
Corollary 2.2. Let X be a complete intersection of dimension X ≥ 3, or a non-
singular complete intersection of dimension 2, such that ωX is not the identity in
Pic(X). Then for every automorphism φ we have that φ ∗ (OX (1)) = OX (1). In
particular, if the surface X is non-singular, given by the intersection of two Fermat
hypersurfaces x0n + ... + x4n = 0 and x0m + ... + x4m = 0 such that n + m − 5 = 0,
then φ ∗ (OX (1)) = OX (1) for every automorphism of X.
Proof. If dim X ≥ 3 then by corollary 2.1, we have that the linear system L1
of intersections with hyperplanes of Pr is complete and is the unique base of the
additive semigroup of equivalent positive divisors. Therefore L1 is invariant under
the action of automorphisms. (See also [13].) In the second case, since X is a
nonsingular intersection in P4 , one can compute [8, Exer. 8.4 chap. II], that the
canonical invertible sheaf ωX := ∧dim X #X/k = OX (n + m − 5). The desired
result follows since φ ∗ preserves ωX and Pic(X) is torsion free.
We have thus proved the following:
Proposition 2.2. If the variety X given by the intersection of two Fermat hyper-
surfaces x0n + ... + xrn = 0 and x0m + ... + xrm = 0 is a complete intersection
and dim X ≥ 3 then Aut(X) = Lin(X). The same result holds for dim(X) = 2,
i.e., when r = 4, under the additional hypotheses that X is non-singular and that
n − m − 5 = 0.
Automorphisms of Fermat-like varieties 191

3. Linear automorphisms

Let X ⊆ Pr be a projective algebraic variety which is the zero locus of a homoge-

neous ideal I , such that there is a homogeneous basis {fa } of the ideal I consisting
of polynomials fa of degree prime to the characteristic p. In this section we will
study the linear automorphisms of X, i.e., automorphisms of the form


σ (xi ) = aij xj , (aij ) ∈ PGL(r + 1, k)
j

such that

∀f ∈ I, f (σ (x0 ), ..., σ (xr )) ∈ I.

Computing the automorphism group this way is in general quite difficult, but in
several cases can be carried out in a straightforward manner. For example T. Shioda
[15] uses this method to study the automorphism group  of Fermat hypersurfaces
given as the zero locus of polynomials of the form i xin .
In order to simplify the presentation we will assume that the ideal I is generated
by c = 1, 2 homogeneous polynomials. We have


σ (fν ) = gνµ (σ )fµ
µ

where gνµ (σ ) are homogeneous polynomials of degree n − nk and nk is the degree

of fk .

3.1. The case of hypersurfaces (c = 1)

In this case the ideal I is generated by a single homogeneous polynomial f of

degree n, prime to the characteristic p. For a linear automorphism σ , represented
by a matrix A, we have

σ (f ) = χ (σ )f, (3.1)

where χ is a character of the automorphism group.

Assume for a moment that X is a nonsingular hypersurface. We consider the
dual variety X ∗ of the hypersurface. For nonsingular hypersurfaces, that are not hy-
perplanes, it is known that X ∗ is also a hypersurface [5, 7.2, p.58 Zak Theorem][9],
and every automorphism σ of X induces an automorphism σ ∗ of X ∗ . Since X ∗
is a hypersurface of the same dimension as X, σ ∗ is also linear. We will give a
direct proof for the following proposition, not based on projective duality, and by
not assuming that X is non singular.

Proposition 3.1. Let X be an irreducible projective hypersurface of dimension

≥ 3, which might be singular. Let f (x0 , ..., xr ) be the defining polynomial of X.
 of X induces a linear automorphism on Yi := ∂f/∂xi , i.e.
Every automorphism
∂f/∂xi (σ (P )) = ν λν ∂f/∂xi (P ).
192 A. Kontogeorgis

Proof. Denote by ∇f the vector (∂f/∂x0 , ..., ∂f/∂xr ). Let A = (aij ) be a matrix
representing the automorphism σ of Y. By differentiation of (3.1) we obtain

∇f |σ (P ) · A = ∇(f A)|P = χ (σ )∇f |P ,

for every P = (x0 : ...xr ). So

∇f |σ (P ) = ∇(f A)|P = χ (σ )∇f |P · A−1

and the action of σ on the partial derivatives is linear as well.

In order to compute the automorphism group of some interesting examples we will

need the following

Lemma 3.1. The binomial coefficient nk is not divisible by the characteristic p,
 
if and only if ki ≤ ni for all i, where n = ni p i , k = ki p i are the p-adic
expansions of n and m.

Proof. [4, p. 352]

Example 1. In this example we simplify Shioda’s [15]calculation of the group

of automorphisms of the Fermat hypersurfaces f := ri=0 xin , defined over an
algebraically closed field k, of characteristic p ≥ 0, p  n. The partial derivatives of
f are Yi := nxin−1 . If r ≥ 4, then every automorphism of the Fermat hypersurfaces
is linear. Let A = (aij ) ∈ PGL(r + 1, k) be such an automorphism.
For a point P = (x0 : ... : xr ) we compute the coefficients of Y (A(P )) :



Yi (A(P )) := n( aij xj )n−1 = n aijn−1 Yj (x0 , ..., xr )+
j j


n−1 ν νr ν0
+n a 0 · · · air x0 · · · xrνr . (3.2)
ν0 , ..., νr i0
ν0 + ... + νr = n − 1
νi < n − 1

By proposition 3.1 we have that modulo the defining polynomial f , which is of

degree n, the right hand side of (3.2) is linear in Yi , and since no polynomial of
degree n − 1 can be equal to a polynomial of degree ≥ n, we finally arrive at



( aij xj )n−1 = aijn−1 xjn−1 , (3.3)
j j

so if there are more than two aij = 0 in some column, then by lemma (3.1) n − 1
is a power of the characteristic. If A is the matrix (aij ), then by A(q) we denote the
q
matrix (aij ). Let q := n − 1 = ph then equation (3.3) implies A(q) At = Id, hence
the automorphism group is PGU(r + 1, p2h ).
If, on the other hand, there is only one non-zero element in every column of
(aij ), then after a permutation (aij ) is diagonal, so the automorphism group is
isomorphic to Zrn  Sr+1 .
Automorphisms of Fermat-like varieties 193

Example 2. Let A = (aij ) be an m × m matrix with elements in the algebraically

closed field k. We consider the hypersurface defined by the equation

q
Aq [X] := xκ aκλ xλ = 0, (3.4)
κ,λ

where q is a power of the characteristic. By the theory of Jordan forms, the matrix A
can be decomposed after a linear change of coordinates in block diagonal matrices
of the form:
 
A1 0 0
 
A ∼  0 ... 0  ,
0 0 As

where Ai are square matrices of the form Ai = diag(λ1 , ..., λt ) or

 
λ1 0 0
0 λ 1 0
 
Ai =  . . .
 .. . . 1 
00 0 λ

This proves that after a linear change of coordinates, the hypersurface defined in
equation (3.4) can be decomposed as a product of hypersurfaces defined by Fermat
polynomials (Ai diagonal), and polynomials of the form
r−1

q q+1
xk (λxκq + xκ+1 ) + λxr = 0. (3.5)
κ=0

Hence, Aut(V (Aq [X])) = ⊕i Aut(V (Ai,q [X])). The automorphism group of Fer-
mat hypersurfaces is studied in the previous example. We are
left with the
 study of
λ1 0 0
0 λ 1 0
 
non diagonal case. Let J be the non diagonal r × r matrix  . .  , and let
 .. . . 1 
00 0 λ
f be the polynomial defined by equation (3.5). The partial derivatives are given by
 q q
∂f λxi + xi+1 if i < r
= q .
∂xi λxi if i = r

We observe that after every linear change of coordinates given by an r × r matrix

B = (bij ), the partial derivatives change linearly. Moreover, B is an automorphism
of V (f ) if and only if :
∂f ∂f q q
(x0 , ...., xr )B t (B( ), ..., B( )) = (x0 , ..., xr )B t J B (q) (x0 , ..., xr )t = J,
∂x0 ∂xr
(3.6)
194 A. Kontogeorgis

q
where B (q) is the matrix (bij ). Let B ∗ be the matrix defined by B ∗ J = J B (q) , i.e.
B ∗ = J B (q) J −1 . By (3.6) the matrix B satisfies

B t B ∗ = B t J B (q) J −1 = I modZ,

where Z denotes the centre of GL(r + 1, k). Therefore Aut(V (f )) is the subgroup
of PGL(r + 1, k) consisting of matrices of the form

 −1 t
(q) −1
B= J B J .

Example 3. We consider nowthe hypersurface X given as the zero locus of the

irreducible polynomial f := ri=1 xini x0n−ni + x0n , defined over an algebraically
closed field of characteristic p ≥ 0. We assume that ni form a decreasing sequence,
and we consider the set of indices {1 = t0 < t1 =: t < · · · < ts } , such that ni is
constant for tk ≤ i < tk+1 , i.e.

n = nt0 = ... = nt1 −1 > nt1 ≥ ... ≥ nts > 1.

We want f to be irreducible, so at least one ni is equal to n. Moreover, we assume

that p  ni for all i. For technical reasons we also assume that r > t. In order to
use proposition 3.1, we also assume r ≥ 4.
The partial derivatives Yi = ∂i f of f are:
r


Y0 = (n − ni )xini x0n−ni −1 + nx0n−1
i=t1


ni xini −1 if 0 < i < t1
Yi = ni −1 n−ni .
ni x i x0 if t1 ≤ i

The action of the automorphism σ = (aij ) is, by proposition, 3.1 linear on the
partial derivatives Yi . For 0 < i < t we compute:
 ni −1
r


σ (Yi ) = ni  aij xj  =
j =0

r




ni − 1 ν νr ν0
ni aijni −1 xjni −1 + ni a 0 · · · air x0 · · · xrνr
ν0 , ...., νr i0
j =1 ν0 + ... + νr = ni − 1
0 ≤ νi < ni − 1

= λi Yi modf.

As in the previous example, every summand of the above sum that does not fit in
a linear combination of Yi is zero, since no no-zero polynomial of degree n − 1
Automorphisms of Fermat-like varieties 195

belongs to the principal ideal generated by f. By comparing coefficients we have

aij = 0 for j ≥ t and 0 < i < t.
For t ≤ i we compute:
 ni −1  n−ni

r r


σ (Yi ) = ni  aij xj  a0k xk . (3.7)
j =0 k=0

The term ni aijni −1 a0k

n−ni ni −1 n−ni
x j xk that appears in the above equation can not be
canceled out by linear combinations of Yi , for k = j, k = 0, j = 0. This proves
that aij a0k = 0 for k = j, k = 0, j = 0. If there is a k = 0 such that a0k = 0, then
aij = 0 for t ≤ i and j = 0, k for i = 0. Therefore for all i ≥ t we have

σ (xi ) = ai0 x0 + aik xk . (3.8)

Assume that aik = 0 for all i ≥ t1 . Since r − t1 > 0 there are at least two xi1 , xi2
with i1 , i2 ≥ t1 such that

σ (xi1 ) = a · σ (xi2 ),

where a ∈ k. Taking the inverse of σ of both hand sides we arrive at xi1 =

a · xi2 , a contradiction. So there is an i ≥ t1 such that aik = 0. The term
n−ni ni −1 ni −1 n−ni
a00 aik xk x0 appears in (3.7), therefore a00 = 0 or k ≥ t. In the first
case, i.e. when a00 = 0, σ (Yi ) in (3.7) could not be linear sum of Yi , unless
r = t − 1, i.e. we are studying the case of a Fermat hypersurface. Hence, k ≥ t. On
ni −1 n−ni n−1
the other hand, ni aik a0k xk is also a term in σ (Yi ), and since k ≥ t1 , it can-
not be canceled out by a linear sum of Yi . This proves that the original assumption
a0k = 0, for some k = 0 is false.
We have proved so far that

σ (x0 ) = a00 x0 .

Equation (3.7) is now transformed to

 ni −1

r
n−ni n−ni
σ (Yi ) = ni  aij xj  a00 x0 ,
j =0

and by comparing coefficients, we arrive at aij = 0, for i ≥ t1 , j < t1 . Let

us write the polynomial f as a sum of two polynomials f = f1 + f2 , where
t1 −1 n n−nt1 t2 −1 nt1 r ni nt1 −ni nt
f1 := i=1 xi and f2 := x0 i=t1 xi + i=t2 xi x0 + x0 1 . For
the arbitrary automorphism σ we have

σ (f ) = χ (σ )f ⇒ σ (f1 ) − χ (σ )f1 = χ (σ )f2 − σ (f2 ). (3.9)

Since aij = 0 for i < t1 and j ≥ t1 the polynomial

σ (f1 ) − χ (σ )f1 ∈ k[x1 , ..., xt1 −1 ].

196 A. Kontogeorgis

Moreover, since aij = 0 for i ≥ t1 , j < t1 and σ (x0 ) = a00 x0 , we have that
χ (σ )f2 − σ (f2 ) ∈ k[x0 , xt1 , ..., xr ], and finally we arrive at

σ (f1 ) = χ (σ )f1 and σ (f2 ) = χ (σ )f2 .

n−nt
The polynomial f2 /x0 1 is of the same form as the original polynomial f1 , so
proceeding inductively we have that the matrix representation (aij ) of σ is a block
diagonal matrix of the form:
 
a00 0 · · · 0
 0 A1 0 
 
 .. ,
 . Ai 
 
..
0 .

where Ak are (tk+1 − tk ) × (tk+1 − tk ) square invertible matrices. Moreover, the

study of automorphisms of Fermat hypersurfaces, gives us that if in a column of the
block matrix Ak there are more than one non zero elements, then nk − 1 is a power
of the characteristic. Let dk := tk+1 − tk . There is a direct sum decomposition of
the group of automorphisms of X :
s−1

Aut(X) := Gk ,
k=0

where


 1 if dk =1

Z if dk =2
Gk ∼
=
nk

 Z nk  S dk if dk > 2 and nk − 1 is not a p − power

PGU(dk , p2hk ) if dk > 2 and nk − 1 = phk

Remark 3.1. Let X be a variety in Pn+1 , let X sm be the smooth locus of X and let
∗
Pn+1 be the dual projective space. The conormal variety CX of X is defined as the
∗ ∗
closure of CX sm ⊂ Pn+1 × Pn+1 , where CX sm is the set (P , H ) ∈ Pn+1 × Pn+1
∗
for all P ∈ Xsm , and H ∈ Pn+1 , with TP X ⊂ H . The dual variety X ∗ is the image
∗
of CX in Pn+1 . If X = V (f ) is a hypersurface, then the Gauss map γ , is defined as
the map sending every point P in the smooth locus of X, to the tangent hyperplane
∗
TP X ∈ Pn+1 , i.e., in terms of the defining equation f of the hypersurface, the
Gauss map is given by
∂f ∂f
XP →( (P ), ..., (P )) ∈ X∗ .
∂x0 ∂xn
Let CX∗ be the conormal variety of the dual variety. It is natural to expect that
CX = CX∗ and as a matter of fact this is true in characteristic zero. In positive
characteristic the Monge-Segre-Wallace criterion [10] asserts that CX = CX ∗ if
and only if the extension of function fields, that is induced by the map CX → X ∗ ,
is separable.
Automorphisms of Fermat-like varieties 197

In our examples, it is nice to point out that there are extra automorphisms in char-
acteristic p exactly when CX = CX ∗ . For example when X is the Fermat hyper-
surface, then the Gauss map is the Frobenius map and the extension k(CX)/k(X ∗ )
is purely inseparable. For more information about projective duality we refer to the
literature [6],[9],[10].

3.2. The case c = 2

Let X ⊆ Pr be a complete intersection corresponding to the ideal I, which is gener-

ated by two homogeneous polynomials f1 and f2 of degrees m and n respectively.
Every linear automorphism σ defines polynomials gij (σ ) of degrees degfi −degfj ,
such that


2
σ (fi ) = gij (σ )fj
j =1

(by assumption polynomials of negative degree are zero). Let PGL(2, k[x]) be the
group of invertible matrices modulo diagonal matrices with coefficients in k. There
is a group morphism
ρ : Aut(X) −→ PGL(2, k[x])

σ −→ gij (σ ) .
The automorphism σ can be extended to an automorphism of the hypersurfaces
V (f1 ) and V (f2 ) if and only if (gij (σ )) is a diagonal matrix. In case n = m, the
morphism ρ defines a representation of Aut(X) in PGL(2, k), and if n > m then
ρ(σ ) is a lower triangular matrix of the form


g11 (σ ) 0
ρ(σ ) = , (3.10)
g21 (σ ) g22 (σ )
where gii (σ ) ∈ k and g21 (σ ) is a polynomial of degree n − m. Moreover, in this
case every automorphism can be extended to an automorphism of the hypersurface
V (f1 ).
As in the case of hypersurfaces, the automorphism σ preserves the normal
bundle NP X = TP Pr /TP X, and acts on the base of NP X = ∇f1 |P , ∇f2 |P k as
follows:
∇f2 |σ (P ) · σ = ∇g21 (σ )f1 (P ) + g22 (σ )∇f2 (P ) + g21 (σ )∇f1 (P ). (3.11)

Remark 3.2. In case n > m every automorphism of X is the restriction of an

automorphism of V (f1 ). We consider X as a divisor of V (f1 ) so Aut(X) can be
interpreted as the decomposition group of X, in the cover
V (f1 ) −→ V (f1 )Aut(V (f1 )) .
Hence, Aut(X) is the identity, unless X is ramified in the above cover.
198 A. Kontogeorgis

Remark 3.3. If degf1 = degf2 , then there is a base f1 , f2 generating the ideal I
such that

Aut(X) = Aut(V (f1 )) ∩ Aut(V (f2 )),

if and only if the representation

ρ : Aut(X) −→ PGL(2, k)

can be decomposed as a direct sum of one dimensional characters.

3.2.1. Complete Intersections of Fermat hypersurfaces Denote by f1 = x0m +

... + xrm , f2 = x0n + ... + xrn two Fermat polynomials, p  n, m, and n = m. We
will prove that the ideal I = f1 , f2  is prime of codimension two. Then I defines
a complete intersection X, which is a variety (i.e. reduced and irreducible).
For this we observe first that {f1 , f2 } form a regular sequence in the polynomial
ring k[x0 , ..., xr ]. Indeed, f1 , f2 are irreducible so if f1 is a zero divisor in the
quotient ring k[x0 , ..., xr ]/f2  then f1 ∈ f2 , a contradiction, since the degree of
f1 in x0 is strictly less than the degree of f2 in x0 . Since k[x0 , ..., xr ] is Cohen-
Macaulay, the codimension of I is two.

Proposition 3.2. The ideal I is prime.

Proof: Since {f1 , f2 } is a regular sequence in the Cohen-Macaulay ring k[x0 , ..., xr ],
proposition 18.13 in [4] implies that R/I is a Cohen-Macaulay ring. We will use
now the following

Theorem 3.1. Let R = k[x0 , ..., xr ]/I where I = (f1 , ..., fs ) is a homogeneous
ideal of codimension c. Let J ⊂ R be the ideal generated by the c × c minors
of the Jacobian matrix J = (∂fi /∂xj ), taken modulo I. Suppose also that R is
Cohen-Macaulay.
– R is reduced if and only if J has codimension ≥ 1 in R.
– R is a direct product of normal domains if and only if J has codimension ≥ 2
in R.
Notice that since R is a graded ring, if it is a direct product of normal domains, R
is a domain, therefore I is prime.

Proof. [4, Th. 18.15]

Remark 3.4. In geometric terms the above theorem ensures that if the codimension
of the singular locus is big enough, then I is prime. In particular, if the algebraic
set corresponding to I is non singular, then codim(J ) = dim X and the theorem
holds, provided that dim X ≥ 2.

The Jacobian matrix in our case is

m−1 
mx0 mx1m−1 · · · mxrm−1
J = ,
nx0n−1 nx1n−1 · · · nxrn−1
Automorphisms of Fermat-like varieties 199

and the 2 × 2 minors are of the form:


mnxim−1 xjm−1 (xi − ζ xj ),

where ζ runs over the n − m roots of one. Since the characteristic p does not divide
m, n the singular locus X\Xsm of X is contained in the intersection of a finite union
of lines Lν with X, where ν runs over a finite index set. For example one such line
is given by xi = ζ xj for all i, j , where ζ is a n − m root of one. In general we
will have all the combinations for different values of zeta, and also for some i, j
the equation xi − ζ xj might be replaced by xi = 0.
In the algebraic setting,


J +I
rad = I (X sm ) ⊃ I (∪i (Li ∩ X)) = ∩Ii ,
I
where Ii := I (Li ∩ X). Therefore,


J +I
codim(rad ) ≥ codim(∩Ii ) = mini (codim(Ii )) ≥ dim X − 1.
I

Since the ring k[x0 , ..., xr ]/I is Cohen-Macaulay, we have that codim J +I =
 J +I  J +I  J +I I
depth I , and by [4, Corollary 17.8] depth(rad I ) = depth I . Hence,
if dim X ≥ 2, X is reduced, and if dim X ≥ 3, then X is also irreducible. ✷
According to proposition 2.2 every automorphism of X is linear, i.e. it is induced
by a matrix A = (aij ) ∈ PGL(r + 1, k), such that for every f ∈ I, f A ∈ I.
We apply this to f1 = x0m + ... + xrm , first. The polynomial
 m

r
r
f1 A =  aij xj 
i=0 j =0

is an element of the ideal I, i.e.

f1 A = g11 (A)f1 + g12 (A)f2 ,

for two suitable polynomials g11 (A), g12 (A). Since the degree of f1 A is m, we have
that g12 (A) = 0 and g11 is a character of Aut(X). This proves that the group Lin(X),
of linear automorphisms of X, is a subgroup, of the group of automorphisms of the
Fermat hypersurface given by x0m + ... + xrm = 0.
If m is not a power of the characteristic, then the automorphism group G of the
Fermat hypersurface x0m + · · · + xrm = 0 is Zrm  Sr+1 , and the group Aut(X) is the
subgroup of G, consisting of elements that keep f2 in I , and a simple calculation
shows that

Aut(X) = Aut(V (f1 )) ∩ Aut(V (f2 )) = Zr(n,m)  Sr+1 .

We assume now that m − 1 = q hence Aut(V (f1 )) = PGU(r + 1, q 2 ). Let A be an

automorphism of X represented by the matrix (aij ). If the ideal I1 := f2 , f2 A is
prime then g21 f1 ∈ I1 , hence either g21 or f1 is in I1 , and since deg(f1 ), deg(g21 ) <
200 A. Kontogeorgis

n, the polynomial g21 is zero, equivalently A can be extended to an automorphism

of V (f2 ).
Assume now that the automorphism A cannot be extended to an automorphism
of V (f2 ), and the ideal I1 is not prime. Therefore, the polynomial f2 A is not in the
ideal generated by f2 , so {f2 , f2 A} is a regular sequence.
We will use the following generalization of the division algorithm in polyno-
mials rings
Lemma 3.2. Let > be a fixed monomial order on Zn≥0 , and g1 , g2 be an ordered
pair of polynomials in k[x0 , ..., xr ]. Every f in k[x0 , ..., xr ] can be written as

f = a1 g1 + a2 g2 + r,

where ai , r ∈ k[x0 , ..., xr ] and either r = 0, or r is a k-linear combination of mono-

mials, none of which is divisible by any of the leading terms of g1 , g2 . Furthermore,
if ai gi = 0, then multideg(f) ≥ multideg(ai gi ).

Proof. [3, Thm. 3 p.63]

Since we have assumed that the ideal I1 = f2 , f2 A is not prime, 3.1 implies that
the codimension of the ideal J generated by the 2 × 2 minors of the Jacobian matrix
is zero or one. The 2 × 2 minors of the Jacobian matrix are computed as follows
 r r n−1 
nxin−1 ν=0 aνi1 s=0 asi1 xs
Di1 ,i2 = 1
r r n−1 .
nxin−1
2 ν=0 aνi2 s=0 asi2 xs

Assume first that the codimension of J is zero. Then all the 2 × 2-minors are zero
divisors, i.e. there are polynomials hi1 ,i2 , ui1 ,i2 , vi1 ,i2 such that

hi1 ,i2 Di1 ,i2 = ui1 ,i2 f2 + vi1 ,i2 f2 A. (3.12)

By dividing hi1 ,i2 by f2 , f2 A, according to lemma 3.2 we can assume that

degxj hi1 ,i2 < degxj f2 A, where j = i1 , i2 (3.13)

For a polynomial w ∈ k[x0 , ..., xr ] we denote by spi1 ,i2 (w), the polynomial de-
fined by spi1 ,i2 (w) = w|xi1 =xi2 =0 . Similarly, we will denote by spi1 ,i2 ,i3 (w) the
polynomial defined by spi1 ,i2 ,i3 (w) = w|xi1 =xi2 =xi3 =0 .
We specialize equation (3.12) for (i1 , i2 ) = (1, 2).

0 = sp1,2 (u1,2 )sp1,2 (f2 ) + sp1,2 (v)sp1,2 f2 A.

The polynomial sp1,2 (f2 ) is irreducible, hence either sp1,2 (v1,2 ) or sp1,2 (f2 A) are
multiples of sp1,2 (f2 ). But if sp1,2 (v1,2 ) ∈ sp1,2 (f2 ) then (3.13) implies that

multideg(u1,2 f2 A) > multideg(h1,2 D1,2 ),

with respect to the lexicographic order, a contradiction. Hence, sp1,2 (f2 A) =

sp1,2 (f2 ), equivalently

f2 A = f2 + d1,2 ,
Automorphisms of Fermat-like varieties 201

where d1,2 is a polynomial, such that d1,2 |x1 =x2 =0 = 0. We arrive at the same
conclusion for all 2 × 2 minors, so

f2 A = f2 + a,

where a is a polynomial such that spi1 ,i2 (a) = 0. Assume that for a fixed j0 there
are more than one elements aij0 , with aij0 = 0, say ai1 ,j0 and ai2 ,j0 . By comparing
µ n−1−µ
coefficients of the terms xi1 xi2 in f2 A = g22 f1 + g21 f2 , we obtain

 r
n − 1
µ n−1−µ
aνi aνj = δij ,
µ
ν=0

for all µ = 1, ..., n − 1, and this gives that n − 1, is a power of the characteristic
and A is an automorphism of f2 , a contradiction to our assumption A is not an
automorphism of f2 .
Therefore not all minor determinants are zero divisors in k[x0 , · · · , xr ]/I1
and without restriction of generality, assume that D0,1 is not a zero divisor. Then
the polynomials {D0,1 , f2 , f2 A} form a regular sequence, and if the codimension
of J is 1 then all other minors Di1 ,i2 , for {i1 , i2 } = {0, 1} are zero divisors on
D0,1 , f2 , f2 A, i.e. there are polynomials hi1 ,i2 , ui1 ,i2 , vi1 ,i2 , wi1 ,i2 such that

hi1 ,i2 Di1 ,i2 = wi1 ,i2 D0,1 + ui1 ,i2 f2 + vi1 ,i2 f2 A.

We consider the above equation for i1 = 0, and i2 = 0, 1, and evaluate at x0 =

x1 = xi2 = 0. By a similar argument we obtain that

f2 A = f2 + a,

where sp0,1,i2 (a) = 0. Again this proves that no monomial term of the form xiν xjn−ν
 r µ n−1−µ
can appear as summand of a, provided r ≥ 4, i.e. n−1µ i=0 aik ais = δks , and
the automorphism A can be extended to an automorphism of V (f2 ), a contradiction.

3.3. Intersection of Fermat hypersurfaces of the same degree

 q+1
The Fermat polynomials xi over a field of characteristic p, behave like the
 2
quadratic forms xi . Indeed, we can define the bilinear form

q
x, y = xi aij yi ,
i.j

where x = (x0 , ..., xr ), y = (y0 , ..., yr ) and (aij ) is a nonzero matrix. Let F : x →
x q be the Frobenius involution in the finite field Fq 2 . If F (aij ) = (aij ) then ·, ·
is a hermitian inner product with respect to the Frobenius involution i.e.

x, y = F (y, x).
202 A. Kontogeorgis

Moreover, we observe that with respect to the theory of projective duality, the
quadratic and the Fermat hypersurfaces as above are the only nonsingular hyper-
surfaces such that the dual variety is nonsingular.[14]
Since the field of definition k is assumed to be algebraically closed, the inter-
section of two hypersurfaces of the form

q

q
xi aij xj = 0, and xi bij xj
i,j i.j

can be normalized, after a (not-necessary linear) change of coordinates, to the

intersection of the hypersurfaces
r

r


q+1 q+1
xi = 0 and ci x i =0
i=0 i=0

for suitable ci ∈ k.
Remark 3.5. It is known that the intersection of two quadratic surfaces is an ellip-
tic curve with infinitely many automorphisms. It seems to be interesting to study
automorphism groups, of intersections of two Fermat hypersurfaces of the form:

q+1
q+1
xi and ci xi .

Using the Jacobian criterion 3.1 we can prove the following

Lemma 3.3. The intersection of the Fermat hypersurfaces

q+1
q+1
V( xi ) and V ( ci x i )

is a complete nonsingular intersection if and only if ci = cj for i = j.

Let X(c0 , ..., cr ) be the projective variety corresponding to the ideal

q+1
q+1
I = xi , ci xi ,

ci = cj for i = j.
The normal space of X(c0 , ..., cr ) at a point P = (x0 : ... : xr ) is generated
q q q q
by the vectors Y := (x0 : ... : xr ), Z := (c0 x0 : ... : cr xr ). Let σ be a linear
automorphism of X represented by a matrix (aij ). By comparison of coefficients
in (3.11) we obtain

q
aik aiν = (b11 + b12 ck )δkν
i

q
aik aiν ci = (b21 + b22 ck )δkν (3.14)
i

Denote by ek = (aik )i=0,...,r and ek = (ci aik )i=0,...,r . By (3.14) we have
ek , eν  = (b11 + b12 ck )δkν (3.15)
Automorphisms of Fermat-like varieties 203

ek , eν  = (b21 + b22 ck )δkν .


On the other hand ek = i λi ei , and (3.15) implies

ek , ei  = λi (b11 + b12 ck )δki ,

hence λi = bb21 +b22 ck

11 +b12 ck
δki (notice that if b11 + b12 ck = 0 then b21 + b22 ck = 0 hence
the 2 × 2 matrix (bij ) is singular, a contradiction). The above expression for λi
allows us to write
b21 + b22 ck
ek = ek ,
b11 + b12 ck
therefore for all i, k
b21 + b22 ck
ci aik = aik . (3.16)
b11 + b12 ck
If, for a fixed k, there are more than one (say i1 , i2 ) such that ai1 k = 0, ai2 k = 0,
then (3.16) implies that ci1 = ci2 , a contradiction. This proves that

aij = δi,τ (j ) µi ,

where τ is an element of the symmetric group Sr+1 and µi ∈ k. Equation (3.14)

implies now that

q

q q q+1
aik aiν = δi,τ (k) δi,τ (ν) µi µi ⇒ µi = (b11 + b21 ck ).
i i

We have proved so far that H := Imρ is a subgroup of Sr+1 acting on ci by a linear

fractional transformations, and that kerρ = Zrq+1 .
Let (xij ), (yij ) be the images of two elements (aij ), (bij ) ∈ G under ρ. We
write

aij = µi δi,σ (j ) , bij = λi δi,τ (j ) .

Consider the product

cij := aiν bνj = µi λν δi,σ (ν) δν,τ (j ) = µk λk δσ −1 (i)τ (j ) .
ν ν

Let k := σ −1 (i) = τ (j ) for suitable i, j. We have

q+1
µk = x11 + x12 ck (3.17)

and
q+1
λk = y11 + y12 ck (3.18)

By computing (µk λk )q+1 in two ways ( by multiplying the matrices (xij ) with (yij )
and by multiplying equations (3.17),(3.18)) we obtain:

−x12 y12 ck2 + (x12 y11 − x12 y22 )ck + x12 y21 = 0. (3.19)
204 A. Kontogeorgis

For every k there are i, j such that σ −1 (i) = τ (j ) = k and (3.19) holds for all ck ,
hence the corresponding quadratic polynomial is identically zero. This implies that

x12 y12 = 0 and x12 (y11 − y22 ) = 0 and x12 y21 = 0,

so x12 = 0 or (y12 = y21 = 0 and y11 = y22 ) so (yij ) is the identity. Therefore,
q+1 q+1
Aut(X) is a subgroup of Aut(V (x0 + ... + xr )) = PGU(r + 1, q 2 ).
Moreover, Imρ is a finite subgroup of PGL(2, k). The finite subgroups of
PGL(2, k) in positive characteristic are classified in ([17]), and there are the follow-
ing possibilities: A5 , A4 , S4 , Zn , Ztp , Ztp  Zn , PSL(2, pi ), PGL(2, pi ). We have
proved that all automorphisms in Imρ are upper triangular, hence

Imρ ∈ {Ztp , Zs , Ztp11  Zn }. (3.20)

Moreover, the fixed points of Imρ are {∞}, {0, ∞}, {0, ∞}respectively. The set of
r + 1 points {(1, c0 ), ..., (1, cr )} acted by Imρ is divided in orbits. This proves that
s | r + 1 or s | r, pt = r, p1 t1 n | r + 1 or p1 t1 n | r. The proof of theorem 1.3 is
now complete.

Remark 3.6. As in the the theory of intersections of quadratic forms, the set of iso-
morphism classes of X(c0 , ..., cr ) are in one to one correspondence with elements
((1 : c0 ), ..., (1 : cr )) of the configuration space

X{2, r + 1} := GL(2, k)\M∗ (2, r + 1)/Hr+1 /Sr+1

where M∗ (2, r +1) is the space of 2×r +1 matrices, for which no 2-minor vanishes,
and Hn ∼ = (k ∗ )r+1 is the subgroup of GL(r + 1, k) consisted of diagonal matrices.
If the r + 1 points of P1 are in orbits of one group mentioned in (3.20), then Imρ
is not the identity.

Example 3.1. Automorphisms of the curves X(c0 , c1 , c2 , c3 ). The set of such curves
corresponds to the configuration space X{2, 4}, which is isomorphic to the affine
line, and the isomorphism is given in terms of the J invariant defined as
 3
D(12)2 D(34)2 + D(13)2 D(24)2 + D(14)2 D(23)2
J := ,
D(12)2 D(34)2 D(13)2 D(24)2 D(14)2 D(23)2
where D(ij ) = cj − ci . By theorem (1.3) the only possibilities for Imρ are given
in the following table:

Imρ (c0 , c1 , c2 , c3 ) J
Z3 (0, c, ωc, ω2 c) 0 ω2 + ω + 1 = 0, chark = 3
91ζ 2 +37
Z4 (c, ζ c, ζ 2 c, ζ 3 c) 2 ζ 2 −1
ζ 3 + ζ 2 + ζ + 1 = 0, chark = 2
Z2 × Z2 (c, c + 1, d, d + 1) 0 chark = 2
Automorphisms of Fermat-like varieties 205

Acknowledgements. I would like to thank Professor Allan Adler, and the referee for the
valuable remarks and suggestions they made for the improvement of my manuscript. I
would also like to thank Dr. D.Pliakis for the useful discussions on the subject of the
paper. This main part of this paper was done while the author was doing a military service
at Polyxnitos, Lesbos.

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