Free Download Geometry and Physics A Festschrift in Honour of Nigel Hitchin Volume Ii Andersen Full Chapter PDF

Geometry and Physics: A Festschrift in
Honour of Nigel Hitchin, Volume II

Andersen
Visit to download the full and correct content document:
https://ebookmass.com/product/geometry-and-physics-a-festschrift-in-honour-of-nigel
-hitchin-volume-ii-andersen/
geometry and physics
Geometry and Physics
A Festschrift in Honour of Nigel Hitchin
Edited by
JØRGEN ELLEG A A R D A NDER SEN
A N DR E W DA N CER
OSCA R G A RCÍA-PR A DA
VOLUME II
1
3
Great Clarendon Street, Oxford, OX2 6DP,
United Kingdom
Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford.
It furthers the University’s objective of excellence in research, scholarship,
and education by publishing worldwide. Oxford is a registered trade mark of
Oxford University Press in the UK and in certain other countries
© Oxford University Press 2018
The moral rights of the authors have been asserted
First Edition published in 2018
Impression: 1
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in
a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the
prior permission in writing of Oxford University Press, or as expressly permitted
by law, by licence or under terms agreed with the appropriate reprographics
rights organization. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside the scope of the
above should be sent to the Rights Department, Oxford University Press, at the
address above
You must not circulate this work in any other form
and you must impose this same condition on any acquirer
Published in the United States of America by Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, United States of America
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
Data available
Library of Congress Control Number: 2018940609
Two volume set ISBN 978–0–19–880200–6
Volume one ISBN 978–0–19–880201–3
Volume two ISBN 978–0–19–880202–0
DOI: 10.1093/oso/9780198802006.001.0001
Printed and bound by
CPI Group (UK) Ltd, Croydon, CR0 4YY
Links to third party websites are provided by Oxford in good faith and
for information only. Oxford disclaims any responsibility for the materials
contained in any third party website referenced in this work.
14
• • • • • • •
Brauer Group of Moduli of Higgs Bundles

and Connections
david baraglia1
indranil biswas2
laura p. schaposnik3
1 School of Mathematical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide SA 5005, Australia,
Email: david.baraglia@adelaide.edu.au
2 School of Mathematics, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Homi Bhabha Road, Bombay
400005, India, Email: indranil@math.tifr.res.in

3 Department of Mathematics, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL 60607, USA and Freie
Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany, Email: schapos@illinois.edu
Abstract. Given a compact Riemann surface X and a semi-simple affine algebraic group
G defined over C, there are moduli spaces of Higgs bundles and of connections associated
to (X, G). We compute the Brauer group of the smooth locus of these varieties.
To Nigel Hitchin, on the occasion of his seventieth

birthday.
1. Introduction
We dedicate this paper to the study of the Brauer group of the moduli spaces of certain
Higgs bundles and of holomorphic connections on a Riemann surface. Recall that, given a
complex quasiprojective variety Z, its Brauer group Br(Z) consists of the Morita equivalence
classes of Azumaya algebras over Z. This group coincides with the equivalence classes of
principal PGL-bundles over Z, where two principal PGL-bundles P and Q are identified
if there are vector bundles V and W over Z such that the two principal PGL-bundles
P ⊗ P(V) and Q ⊗ P(W) are isomorphic. The cohomological Brauer group Br (Z) of the
2000 Mathematics Subject Classification. 14F22, 14H60.

Key words and phrases. Brauer group. Higgs bundles, connections, character variety.
Baraglia, D., Biswas, I., Schaposnik, L. P., Brauer Group of Moduli of Higgs Bundles and Connections. In: Geometry and
Physics: A Festschrift in Honour of Nigel Hitchin, Jørgen Ellegaard Andersen, Andrew Dancer, Oscar García-Prada (Eds):
Oxford University Press (2018). © Oxford University Press. DOI: 10.1093/oso/9780198802006.003.0014
388 | brauer group of moduli of higgs bundles and connections
variety Z is the torsion part of the étale cohomology group H2 (Z, Gm ). There is a natural
injective homomorphism Br(Z) −→ Br (Z) which is in fact an isomorphism by a theorem
of Gabber [dJ], [Ho].
Consider now a compact connected Riemann surface X of genus g ≥ 3. Given a fixed base
point x0 and two integers r ≥ 2 and δ, we let MC denote the moduli space of all logarithmic
connections (E, D) on X, singular over x0 , satisfying the following four natural conditions:

I. E is a holomorphic vector bundle on X of rank r with r E = OX (δx0 ),

II. the logarithmic connection on r E = OX (δx0 ) induced by D coincides with the
connection on OX (δx0 ) defined by the de Rham differential,
III. the residue of D at x0 is − δr IdEx0 and
IV. there is no holomorphic subbundle F ⊂ E with 1 ≤ rank(F) < r such that D
preserves F.
This moduli space MC has a natural projective bundle once we fix a point of X,
PC −→ MC ,
through which in Section 2 we study the Brauer group Br(MC ):

Theorem 2.4 The Brauer group Br(MC ) is isomorphic to Z/τ Z, where τ = g.c.d.(r, δ). The
group Br(MC ) is generated by the class of PC .
Fixing the compact connected Riemann surface X and the invariant δ, one can also
compute the analytic Brauer group of the SL(r, C)–character variety R associated to the
pair (X, δ).
Theorem 2.5 The analytic cohomological Brauer group Bran (R) is isomorphic to a quotient of
the cyclic group Z/τ Z, where τ = g.c.d.(r, δ). The group Bran (R) is generated by the class of a
naturally associated projective bundle PR .
Over the compact connected Riemann surface X, one may also consider the moduli space
MH of stable Higgs bundles on X of the form (E, ), where
r
• E is a holomorphic vector bundle of rank r with E = OX (δx0 ) and
• is a Higgs field on X with trace() = 0.
The moduli space MH is a smooth quasiprojective variety which also has a natural projec-
tive bundle
PH −→ MH
once we fix a point of X. In Section 2.3, we study the Brauer group of MH and prove the
following:
Proposition 2.7. The group Br(MH ) is isomorphic to the cyclic group Z/τ Z, and it is
generated by the class of PH .
brauer group of some moduli spaces | 389
One should note that, as seen in Section 3, the results of Section 2 extend to the context
of principal bundles. We shall conclude this paper by looking at our results in the context of
Langlands duality in Section 4.
2. Brauer Group of Some Moduli Spaces

As in the introduction, we shall consider a compact connected Riemann surface X of genus
g ≥ 3 with a fixed base point x0 ∈ X, and denote by KX its canonical bundle.
2.1. Brauer Group of Moduli Spaces of Connections

A logarithmic connection on X singular over x0 is a pair of the form (E, D), where E is a
holomorphic vector bundle on X and
D : E −→ E ⊗ KX ⊗ OX (x0 )
is a holomorphic differential operator of order 1 satisfying the Leibniz identity

D(fs) = f · D(s) + s ⊗ (df ), (2.1)
for all locally defined holomorphic functions f on X and all locally defined holomorphic
sections s of E. Note that the fibre (KX ⊗ OX (x0 ))x0 is canonically identified with C by
sending any c ∈ C to the evaluation at x0 of the locally defined section c dzz of KX ⊗ OX (x0 ),
where z is any holomorphic function defined around x0 with z(x0 ) = 0 and (dz)(x0 ) = 0.
Moreover, the evaluation of dzz at x0 does not depend on the choice of the function z. Using
this identification of (KX ⊗ OX (x0 ))x0 with C, for any logarithmic connection D as above,
we have the linear endomorphism of the fibre Ex0 given by the composition
D
E −→ E ⊗ KX ⊗ OX (x0 ) −→ (E ⊗ KX ⊗ OX (x0 ))x0 = Ex0 .
This element of End(Ex0 ) = Ex0 ⊗ E∗x0 is called the residue of D (see [De, p. 53]), which we
shall denote by Res(D, x0 ). Then, from [Oh, pp. 16–17, Theorem 3], and [De], one has
degree(E) + trace(Res(D, x0 )) = 0. (2.2)
For notational convenience, we shall let K := KX ⊗ OX (x0 ).

Definition 2.1 A logarithmic connection (E, D) as above is called semi-stable (respectively,
stable) if, for every holomorphic subbundle 0 = F E with D(F) ⊂ F ⊗ K, the
following inequality holds:

degree(F) degree(E) degree(F) degree(E)
≤ respectively, < .
rank(F) rank(E) rank(F) rank(E)
As done in Section 1, fix two integers r ≥ 2 and δ and, if g = 3, then assume that r > 2.
The holomorphic line bundle OX (δx0 ) on X is equipped with the logarithmic connection
given by the de Rham differential d. This logarithmic connection on OX (δx0 ) will be
denoted by D0 . From (2.2) it follows that the residue of D0 is −δ.
In views of the notation introduced in Section 1, let MC denote the moduli space
of logarithmic connections (E, D) on X, singular over x0 , satisfying the following three
conditions:

I. E is a holomorphic vector bundle on X of rank r with r E = OX (δx0 ),
r
II. the logarithmic connection on E = OX (δx0 ) induced by D coincides with D0
defined above and
III. Res(D, x0 ) = − δr IdEx0.
Note that, from (2.2), the above condition on Res(D, x0 ) implies that (E, D) is auto-
matically semi-stable. Moreover, if δ is coprime to r, then (E, D) is, in fact, stable. Since
the residue Res(D, x0 ) is a constant multiple of IdEx0 , the logarithmic connection on the
projective bundle P(E) induced by D is actually regular at x0 .
The above defined moduli space MC is a quasiprojective irreducible normal variety,
defined over C, of dimension 2(r2 − 1)(g − 1). Let
MC ⊂ MC (2.3)
be the Zariski open subset parametrizing the stable logarithmic connections. We note that
MC is contained in the smooth locus of MC (in fact, MC is the smooth locus of the space
MC ). We shall denote by Br(MC ) the Brauer group of the smooth variety MC which, as
mentioned in Section 1, consists of the Morita equivalence classes of Azumaya algebras over
MC . The reader should refer to [Gr1], [Gr2], [Gr3], [Mi] for the definition as well as some
properties of the Brauer group.
For any (E, D) ∈ MC , consider any T ∈ H0 (X, End(E)) which is flat with respect to the
connection on End(E) induced by D or, equivalently, such that D ◦ T = (T ⊗ IdK ) ◦ D.
Then, for any c ∈ C, the kernel of T − c · IdE ∈ H0 (X, End(E)) is preserved by D. Since
kernel(T − c · IdE ) is either E or 0, it follows that either T = c · IdE or the endomorphism
T − c · IdE is invertible. Now, taking c to be an eigenvalue of T(x0 ), it follows that T = c ·
IdE . Consequently, there is a universal projective bundle

P −→ X × MC (2.4)
of relative dimension (r − 1) which is equipped with a relative holomorphic connection in

the direction of X.
Definition 2.2 Given a point x ∈ X, let
P :=
P|{x}×MC −→ MC (2.5)
be the projective bundle obtained by restricting

P, and denote its class by
β ∈ Br(MC ). (2.6)
In order to study the Brauer group Br(MC ), we shall first prove the following.
Lemma 2.3 Let Y be a simply connected smooth quasiprojective variety defined over the complex
numbers, W an algebraic vector bundle on Y and
q : W −→ Y
a torsor on Y for W. Then the pullback homomorphism
q∗ : Br(Y) −→ Br(W )
is an isomorphism.
Proof Let c ∈ H1 (Y, W) be the class of W . Consider the extension of OY by W,
ξ
−→ OY −→ 0,
0 −→ W −→ W (2.7)
associated to the cohomology class c. We shall denote by 1Y the image of the section of
OY defined by the constant function 1 on Y. Then, the inverse image ξ −1 (1Y ) ⊂ W
under the projection ξ in (2.7) is a torsor on Y for the vector bundle W. This W torsor
is isomorphic to the W torsor W .
Let
−→ Y and η : P(W) −→ Y
η : P(W)
and W,
be the projective bundles on Y parametrizing the lines in the fibres of W
and
respectively. Note that P(W) ⊂ P(W),
W = ξ −1 (1Y ) = P(W)
\ P(W) ,
generated by it. Now, from [Fo,

by sending any element of ξ −1 (1Y ) to the line in W
p. 365, Lemma 0.1] and [Fo, p. 367, Theorem 1.1], we conclude that there is an exact
sequence
−→ Br(W ) −→ H1 (P(W), Q/Z) −→ · · · .

0 −→ Br(P(W)) (2.8)
Consider the long exact sequence of homotopy groups for the fibre bundle η.
The fibres of P(W) are projective spaces and hence are simply connected. Since Y
is also simply connected, from the homotopy exact sequence for η it follows that
P(W) is simply connected as well. Hence, H1 (P(W), Z) = 0, which implies that
H1 (P(W), Q/Z) = 0 (universal coefficient theorem for cohomology; see [Ha, p. 195,
Theorem 3.2]). Consequently, using (2.8), we conclude that
= Br(W ),
Br(P(W)) (2.9)

with the isomorphism being induced by the inclusion of W in P(W).
The homomorphism ∗
η : Br(Y) −→ Br(P(W) induced by η is an isomorphism
[Ga, p. 193, Theorem 2], and the lemma follows from (2.9). 2
Theorem 2.4 The Brauer group Br(MC ) is isomorphic to the cyclic group Z/τ Z, where τ =
g.c.d.(r, δ), and it is generated by the element β in (2.6).
ProofLet N denote the moduli space of stable vector bundles V on X of rank r such that
r
V = OX (δx0 ), which is a smooth quasiprojective irreducible complex variety of
dimension (r2 − 1)(g − 1). Moreover, let U ⊂ MC be the locus of all (E, D) such that
the underlying holomorphic vector bundle E is stable. Considering
p : U −→ N , (2.10)
the forgetful morphism that sends any (E, D) to E, from the openness of the stability
condition (see [Ma, p. 635, Theorem 2.8(B)]) it follows that U is a Zariski open subset
of MC . Note that p is surjective because from [NS] one has that any V ∈ N admits a
unique logarithmic connection DV singular at x0 such that
(a) the residue of DV at x0 is − δr IdVx0 and
(b) the monodromy of DV lies in SU(r).
Moreover, a pair (V, DV ) as above lies in U . In fact, if D is a logarithmic connection on
V
singular at x0 such that Res(D , x0 ) = − δr IdVx0 , and the logarithmic connection on
r
V = OX (δx0 ) induced by D coincides with D0 , then clearly (V, D ) ∈ U . The
space of all logarithmic connections D on V satisfying the conditions (a) and (b)
is an affine space for the vector space H0 (X, ad(V) ⊗ KX ), where ad(V) ⊂ End(V)
is the subbundle of co-rank 1 defined by the sheaf of endomorphisms of trace zero.
Furthermore, H0 (X, ad(V) ⊗ KX ) is the fibre of the cotangent bundle 1N over the
point V ∈ N . Therefore, the morphism p in (2.10) makes U a torsor over N for the
vector bundle 1N .
From [BM1, p. 301, Lemma 3.1] and [BM2, Lemma 3.1] the complement MC \
U ⊂ MC is of codimension at least 2 and thus the inclusion map ι : U → MC
produces an isomorphism of Brauer groups
∼
ι∗ : Br(MC ) −→ Br(U ) ; (2.11)
this follows from ‘Cohomological purity’ [Mi, p. 241, Theorem VI.5.1] (it also follows
from [Gr2, p. 292–293]). Since p in (2.10) is a torsor on U for a vector bundle, and U
is simply connected [BBGN, p. 266, Proposition 1.2(b)], from Lemma 2.3 it follows
that the map p induces an isomorphism
∼
p∗ : Br(N ) −→ Br(U ) .
Combining this with (2.11) we get an isomorphism

∼
(ι∗ )−1 ◦ p∗ : Br(N ) −→ Br(MC ) . (2.12)
We know that Br(N ) is cyclic of order τ = g.c.d.(r, δ) [BBGN, p. 267, Theorem

1.8]. Therefore, from (2.12) we conclude that Br(MC ) is isomorphic to Z/τ Z.
Finally, in order to find a generator of Br(MC ), let

P −→ X × N be the universal
projective bundle and
P :=
P|{x}×N −→ N
be the projective bundle obtained by restricting P, where x is the point of X in (2.5).

The Brauer group Br(N ) is generated by the class of P [BBGN, p. 267, Theorem
1.8]. The pulled back projective bundle (IdX × p)∗ P is identified with the restriction

P|X×U , where P is the projective bundle in (2.4). This implies that p∗ P is identified
with the restriction P|U . Since the class of P generates Br(N ), from the isomorphism
(ι∗ )−1 ◦ p∗ in (2.12) it follows that the class of P generates Br(MC ). 2
2.2. Analytic Brauer Group of Representation Spaces

g
Consider now the free group generated by 2g elements {ai , bi }i=1 , and let

g

g
γ := [ai , bi ] = (ai bi a−1 −1
i bi ) ∈ (2.13)
i=1 i=1
be the product of the commutators. Then, one may consider the space of all homomor-
phisms Hom( , SL(r, C)) from the group to SL(r, C). Let
Homδ ( , SL(r, C)) ⊂ Hom( , SL(r, C))
be all such homomorphisms ρ satisfying the condition that

√
ρ(γ ) = exp(2π −1δ/r) · Ir×r ,
where Ir×r is the r × r identity matrix. The conjugation action of SL(r, C) on itself produces
an action of SL(r, C) on the variety Hom( , SL(r, C)). Moreover, this action of SL(r, C) on
Hom( , SL(r, C)) preserves the above subvariety Homδ ( , SL(r, C)). We shall denote by
R the geometric invariant theoretic quotient
R := Homδ ( , SL(r, C))//SL(r, C),
which parametrizes all the closed orbits of SL(r, C) in Homδ ( , SL(r, C)).
The moduli space MC defined in Section 2.1 is biholomorphic to R. After fixing a
presentation of π1 (X \ {x0 }, x), we have a map MC −→ R that sends a flat connec-
tion to its monodromy representation, and which is a biholomorphism. Indeed, it is the
inverse of the map that associates a flat bundle on X \ {x0 } of rank r to a representation of
π1 (X \ {x0 }, x). Note that although both MC and R have natural algebraic structures, the
above biholomorphism between them is not an algebraic map.
A homomorphism ρ : −→ SL(r, C) is called reducible if ρ( ) is contained in some

proper parabolic subgroup of SL(r, C), equivalently, if ρ( ) preserves some proper non-
zero subspace of Cr under the standard action of SL(r, C). If ρ is not reducible, then it is
called irreducible.
We shall denote by
R⊂R
the locus of irreducible homomorphisms in R. It is easy to see that R is contained in the

smooth locus of R (in fact, R coincides with the smooth locus of R). From the defini-
∼
tions of MC and R, it follows immediately that the above biholomorphism MC −→ R
produces a biholomorphism
∼
MC −→ R . (2.14)
Let H ⊂ Homδ ( , SL(r, C)) be the inverse image of R; in other words, H is the locus of
all elements of Homδ ( , SL(r, C)) that are irreducible homomorphisms. The quotient map
H −→ H//SL(r, C) = R
makes H an algebraic principal PSL(r, C)-bundle over R. We shall denote by
PR := H ×PSL(r,C) CPr−1 −→ R (2.15)
the fibre bundle associated to the principal PSL(r, C)-bundle H −→ R for the standard
action of PSL(r, C) on CPr−1 .
The analytic Brauer group of R is defined to be the equivalence classes of holomorphic
principal PGL-bundles on R where two principal PGL-bundles P and Q are equivalent if
there are holomorphic vector bundles V and W on R such that the two principal PGL-
bundles P ⊗ P(V) and Q ⊗ P(W) are isomorphic. Moreover, the analytic cohomological
∗ ) (see [Sc]). Let Br (R) (respectively,
Brauer group of R is the torsion part of H2 (R, OR an

Bran (R)) denote the analytic Brauer group (respectively, analytic cohomological Brauer
group) of R. Then, from [Sc, p. 878] one has that
Bran (R) ⊂ Bran (R) .
Theorem 2.5 The analytic cohomological Brauer group Bran (R) is isomorphic to a quotient of
the cyclic group Z/τ Z, where τ = g.c.d.(r, δ). Moreover, the group Bran (R) is generated
by the class of the projective bundle PR in (2.15).
Proof From the biholomorphism in (2.14), the group Bran (R) coincides with the analytic
Brauer group Bran (MC ) of the stable moduli space MC . Moreover, the forgetful
map Br (MC ) −→ Bran (MC ) is surjective [Sc, p. 879, Proposition 1.3]. Then, since
Br (MC ) = Br(MC ), we conclude that Bran (R) is a quotient of Br (MC ). Therefore,
generalizations to principal bundles | 395
from the first part of Theorem 2.4, it follows that Bran (R) is a quotient of the cyclic
group Z/τ Z.
The isomorphism in (2.14) takes the projective bundle PR constructed in (2.15)
holomorphically to the projective bundle P of (2.5). Therefore, from the second part
of Theorem 2.4, it follows that Bran (R) is generated by the class of PR . 2
Note that while the natural homomorphism Bran (R) −→ Bran (R) is injective [Sc,
p. 878], Theorem 2.5 implies that this homomorphism is surjective and thus the following
corollary is proved.
Corollary 2.6 The analytic Brauer group Bran (R) coincides with Bran (R).
Regarding the above Corollary 2.6, it should be clarified that the analogue of Gabber’s
theorem, which would say that the Brauer group coincides with the cohomological Brauer
group, is not available in the analytic category.
2.3. Brauer Group of Moduli Spaces of Higgs Bundles

We shall now consider Higgs bundles on a compact Riemann surface. As in Section 2.1,
consider a compact connected Riemann surface X of genus g ≥ 3, and x0 ∈ X a base point.
bundles on X of the form (E, ), where E
Let MH denote the moduli space of stable Higgs
is a holomorphic vector bundle of rank r with r E = OX (δx0 ), and is a Higgs field on X
with Tr() = 0. The moduli space MH is an irreducible smooth complex quasiprojective
variety of dimension 2(r2 − 1)(g − 1).
Consider the moduli space N from (2.10), for which the total space of the algebraic
cotangent bundle T ∗ N is embedded in in MH as a Zariski open subset. The codimension
of the complement MH \ T ∗ N is at least two [Hi]. Therefore, by purity of cohomology,
and Lemma 2.3, one has that
Br(N ) = Br(T ∗ N ) = Br(MH ) ;
as before, we use that N is simply connected.

Hence, we have the following:
Proposition 2.7 The Brauer group Br(MH ) is the cyclic group of order g.c.d.(r, δ). Further-
more, Br(MH ) is generated by the class of the projective bundle on MH obtained by
restricting to {x} × MH the universal projective bundle on X × MH .
3. Generalizations to Principal Bundles

Let G be a semi-simple simply connected affine algebraic group defined over C. The
topological types of principal G-bundles on X are parametrized by π1 (G), which is a finite
abelian group. Let MC (G) denote the moduli space of pairs of the form (EG , D), where
EG is a topologically trivial holomorphic principal G-bundle on X, and D is a holomorphic
connection on EG . Following the notation from the previous sections, let
MC (G) ⊂ MC (G)
be the smooth locus of MC (G).

The centre of G will be denoted by Z(G). A stable principal G-bundle is called regu-
larly stable if its automorphism group coincides with Z(G). We shall denote by NG the
moduli space of regularly stable principal G-bundles on X that are topologically trivial.
Recall from [BHol] that the Brauer group Br(NG ) can be identified with the dual group
Z(G)∨ = Hom(Z(G), C∗ ), and Br(NG ) is generated by the tautological Z(G)-gerbe on
NG defined by the moduli stack of regularly stable topologically trivial principal G-bundles
on X. Note that, given any homomorphism Z(G)∨ −→ Gm , using extension of the struc-
ture group, the above Z(G)-gerbe produces a Gm -gerbe on NG .
Proposition 3.1 The Brauer group Br(MC (G)) is isomorphic to the dual group Z(G)∨ and is
generated by the tautological Z(G)-gerbe on MC (G).
Proof A straightforward generalization of the proof of Theorem 2.4 proves the proposition.
We note that NG is simply connected [BLR, p. 416, Theorem 1.1]; hence, Lemma 2.3
is applicable. 2
Similarly, the (analytic) Brauer group computations in Theorem 2.5 and Section 2.3
extend to G.
4. Langlands Duality and Brauer Groups

As previously, suppose that G is simply connected and let L G denote the Langlands dual
group. There is a canonical isomorphism π1 (L G) ∼ = Z(G)∨ , which can be seen from
the root-theoretic construction of the Langlands dual. We shall denote by MH (G) and
MH (L G) the moduli spaces of Higgs bundles for the groups G and L G, respectively.
It is known that the connected components of MH (L G) correspond to π1 (L G), by
taking the topological class of the underlying principal bundle. Recall that the moduli
spaces MH (G) and MH (L G) satisfy SYZ mirror symmetry, that is, they are dual special
Lagrangian torus fibrations over a common base [DoPa]. Under this duality, the choice
of a connected component of MH (L G) corresponds to fixing a C∗ -gerbe on MH (G).
Namely, given a class in π1 (L G) ∼
= Z(G)∨ , we obtain from the universal G/Z(G)-bundle
on MH (G) the corresponding C∗ -gerbe. Our computations show that every class in
Br(MH (G)) is accounted for by this correspondence.
Acknowledgements
We are very grateful to T. J. Ford for a helpful correspondence. We thank the Institute
for Mathematical Sciences in the National University of Singapore for hospitality while
this work was being completed. IB acknowledges support of a J. C. Bose Fellowship. This
research was completed with support from US National Science Foundation grants DMS
langlands duality and brauer groups | 397
1107452, 1107263, 1107367 RNMS: GEometric structures And Representation varieties

(the GEAR Network). The work of LPS is partially supported by NSF DMS-1509693 and
NSF CAREER DMS 1749013.
....................................................................................................
references
[BBGN] V. Balaji, I. Biswas, O. Gabber and D. S. Nagaraj, Brauer obstruction for a universal vector
bundle, Comp. Ren. Math. Acad. Sci. Paris 345 (2007), 265–8.
[BM1] I. Biswas and V. Muñoz, The Torelli theorem for the moduli spaces of connections on a
Riemann surface, Topology 46 (2007), 295–317.
[BM2] I. Biswas and V. Muñoz, Torelli theorem for moduli spaces of SL(r, C)-connections on a
compact Riemann surface, Commun. Contemp. Math. 11 (2009), 1–26.
[BHof] I. Biswas and N. Hoffmann, A Torelli theorem for moduli spaces of principal bundles over a
curve, Ann. Inst. Fourier 62 (2012), 87–106.
[BHol] I. Biswas and Y. I. Holla, Brauer group of moduli of principal bundles over a curve, Jour. Reine
Angew. Math. 677 (2013), 225–49.
[BLR] I. Biswas, S. Lawton and D. Ramras, Fundamental groups of character varieties: surfaces and
tori, Math. Zeit. 281 (2015), 415–25.
[dJ] A. J. de Jong, A result of Gabber, http://www.math.columbia.edu/∼dejong/papers/2-
gabber.pdf (accessed 15 May 2015).
[De] P. Deligne, Equations différentielles à points singuliers réguliers, Lecture Notes in Mathematics,
Vol. 163, Springer-Verlag, Berlin-New York, 1970.
[DoPa] R. Donagi and T. Pantev, Langlands duality for Hitchin systems, Invent. Math. 189 (2012),
653–735.
[Fo] T. J. Ford, On the Brauer group of a localization, Jour. Alg. 147 (1992), 365–78.
[Ga] O. Gabber, Some theorems on Azumaya algebras, in M. Kervaire and M. Ojanguren (eds)
The Brauer group (Sem., Les Plans-sur-Bex, 1980), pp. 129–209, Lecture Notes in Mathe-
matics, Vol. 844, Springer, Berlin-New York, 1981.
[Gr1] A. Grothendieck, Le groupe de Brauer, I, in J. Giraud, A. Grothendieck, S. L. Kleiman,
et al. (eds) Dix exposés sur la cohomologie des schémas, pp. 46–66, Advanced Studies in Pure
Mathematics, 3, North-Holland, Amsterdam, 1968.
[Gr2] A. Grothendieck, Le groupe de Brauer, II, in J. Giraud, A. Grothendieck, S. L. Kleiman,
Mathematics, Vol. 3, North-Holland, Amsterdam, 1968.
[Gr3] A. Grothendieck, Le groupe de Brauer, III, in J. Giraud, A. Grothendieck, S. L. Kleiman,
Mathematics, Vol. 3, North-Holland, Amsterdam, 1968.
[Ha] A. Hatcher, Algebraic topology, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2002.
[Hi] N. J. Hitchin, Stable bundles and integrable systems, Duke Math. Jour. 54 (1987), 91–114.
[Ho] R. T. Hoobler, When is Br(X) = Br (X)?, in F. van Oystaeyen and A. Verschoren, eds,
Brauer groups in ring theory and algebraic geometry, pp. 231–44, Lecture Notes in Mathemat-
ics, Vol. 917, Springer, Berlin-New York, 1982.
[Ma] M. Maruyama, Openness of a family of torsion free sheaves, Jour. Math. Kyoto Univ. 16
(1976), 627–37.
[Mi] J. S. Milne, Étale cohomology, Princeton Mathematical Series, Vol. 33, Princeton University
Press, 1980.
[NS] M. S. Narasimhan and C. S. Seshadri, Stable and unitary vector bundles on a compact
Riemann surface, Ann. of Math. 82 (1965), 540–67.
[Oh] M. Ohtsuki, A residue formula for Chern classes associated with logarithmic connections,
Tokyo Jour. Math. 5 (1982), 13–21.
[Sc] S. Schröer, Topological methods for complex-analytic Brauer groups, Topology 44 (2005),
875–94.
15
• • • • • • •
Classification of Boundary Lefschetz

Fibrations over the Disc
stefan behrens1
gil r. cavalcanti2
ralph l. klaasse3
1 Stefan Behrens. Faculty of Mathematics, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstraße 25,
33615 Bielefeld, Germany, E-mail address: sbehrens@math.uni-bielefeld.de

2 Gil R. Cavalcanti. Department of Mathematics, Utrecht University, 3508 TA Utrecht,
The Netherlands, E-mail address: g.r.cavalcanti@uu.nl

3 Ralph L. Klaasse. Départment de Mathématique, Université Libre de Bruxelles, CP 218,
Boulevard du Triomphe B-1050 Bruxelles, Belgique, E-mail address: rklaasse@ulb.ac.be
Dedicated to Professor Nigel Hitchin on the occasion of

his seventieth birthday
Abstract. Stable generalized complex structures can be constructed out of boundary

Lefschetz fibrations. On 4-manifolds, these are essentially genus one Lefschetz fibrations
over surfaces, except that generic fibres can collapse to circles over a codimension 1 sub-
manifold, which is often the boundary of the surface. We show that a 4-manifold admits
a boundary Lefschetz fibration over the disc degenerating over its boundary if and only
if it is diffeomorphic to S1 × S3 #nCP2 , #mCP2 #nCP2 or #m(S2 × S2 ). We conclude that
the 4-manifolds S1 × S3 #nCP2 , #(2m + 1)CP2 #nCP2 and #(2m + 1)S2 × S2 admit stable
generalized complex structures whose type change locus has a single component.
1. Introduction
Generalized complex structures, introduced by Hitchin [14] and Gualtieri [11] in 2003, are
geometric structures which generalize simultaneously complex and symplectic structures
S.B. was supported by VICI grant number 639.033.312, and G.C. and R.K. were supported by VIDI grant number
639.032.221 from NWO, the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research.
Behrens, S., Cavalcanti, G. R., Klaasse, R. L., Classification of Boundary Lefschetz Fibrations over the Disc. In: Geometry and
Physics: A Festschrift in Honour of Nigel Hitchin, Jørgen Ellegaard Andersen, Andrew Dancer, Oscar García-Prada
(Eds): Oxford University Press (2018). © Oxford University Press. DOI: 10.1093/oso/9780198802006.003.0015
400 | classification of boundary lefschetz fibrations
while at the same time providing the mathematical background for string theory. One
feature of generalized complex geometry is that the structure is not homogenous. In fact,
a single connected generalized complex manifold may have complex and symplectic points.
This lack of homogeneity is governed by the type of the structure, an integer-valued upper
semicontinuous function on the given manifold which tells ‘how many complex directions’
the structure has at the given point. In particular, on a 2n-dimensional manifold, points of
type 0 are symplectic points, while points of type n are complex.
Among all type-changing generalized complex structures, one kind seems to deserve
special attention: stable generalized complex structures. These are the structures whose
canonical section of the anticanonical bundle vanishes transversally along a codimension 2
submanifold, D, endowing it with the structure of an elliptic divisor in the language of [8].
Consequently, the type of such a structure is 0 on X \ D, while on D it is equal to 2.
Many examples of stable generalized complex structures were produced in dimension 4
[7, 10, 15, 16] and a careful study was carried out in [8]. One of the outcomes of that study
was that it related stable generalized complex structures to symplectic structures on a certain
Lie algebroid.
Theorem ([8, Theorem 3.7]) Let D be a co-orientable elliptic divisor on X. Then there is a
correspondence between gauge equivalence classes of stable generalized complex structures
on X which induce the divisor D, and zero-residue symplectic structures on (X, D).
This result paves the way for the use of symplectic techniques to study stable structures.
One result, due to the last named authors [5], that exemplifies that use is the following
relation between stable generalized complex structures and boundary Lefschetz fibrations
in dimension 4. The latter are essentially genus one Lefschetz fibrations over surfaces whose
generic fibres can collapse to circles over a codimension 1 submanifold, which is often
the boundary of the surface (see Section 2 for details).
Theorem ([5, Theorem 7.1]) Let X 4 be a closed connected and orientable 4-manifold and
let be a compact connected and orientable 2-manifold with boundary Z = ∂. Let
f : X 4 → 2 be a boundary Lefschetz fibration for which D = f −1 (∂) is a co-orientable
submanifold of X, and with 0 = [f −1 (p)] ∈ H2 (X \ D; R), where p ∈ is a regular value
of f . Then X admits a stable generalized complex structure whose degeneracy locus is D.
This result is reminiscent of Gompf ’s original one [9], showing that Lefschetz fibrations
give rise to symplectic structures. It is also is similar in content to a number of other results
relating structures which are close to being symplectic to maps which are close to being
Lefschetz fibrations. These include the relations between near-symplectic structures and
broken Lefschetz fibrations [1], and between folded symplectic structures and real log-
symplectic structures and achiral Lefschetz fibrations [2, 4, 6].
The upshot of these results is that they at the same time furnish (at least theoretically)
a large number of examples of manifolds admitting the desired geometric structure, and
provide us with a better grip on those structures. With this in mind, our aim here is to classify
all 4-manifolds which admit boundary Lefschetz fibrations over the disc degenerating over
its boundary. Our main result is the following (Theorem 3.13).
boundary lefschetz fibrations | 401
Theorem Let f : X 4 → D2 be a relatively minimal boundary Lefschetz fibration and

D = f −1 (∂D2 ). Then X is diffeomorphic to one of the following manifolds:
(1) S1 × S3 ;
(2) #m(S2 × S2 ), including S4 for m = 0;
(3) #mCP2 #nCP2 with m > n ≥ 0.
In all cases, the generic fibre is non-trivial in H2 (X \ D; R). In case (1), D is co-orientable
while, in cases (2) and (3), D is co-orientable if and only if m is odd.
These last two theorems equip the manifolds S1 × S3 #nCP2 , #(2m + 1)CP2 #nCP2 and
#(2m + 1)S2 × S2 with a stable generalized complex structure whose type change locus
has a single component. Further, they provide a complete list of 4-manifolds whose stable
generalized complex structures are obtained from boundary Lefschetz fibrations over the
disc degenerating over its boundary. Note that the previous theorem does not address cases
where D has multiple components.
We use essentially the same methods that were used by the first author in [3] and
Hayano in [12, 13]. We translate the problem into combinatorics in the mapping class
group of the torus, and then translate combinatorial results back into geometry using handle
decompositions and Kirby calculus. Hayano’s work turns out to be particularly relevant.
In his classification of so-called genus one simplified broken Lefschetz fibrations, he was led
to study monodromy factorizations of Lefschetz fibrations over the disc whose monodromy
around the boundary is a signed power of a Dehn twist. It turns out that the same problem
appears for boundary Lefschetz fibrations.
Organization of the paper

This paper is organised as follows. In Section 2 we introduce boundary fibrations and
boundary Lefschetz fibrations, and summarize their basic properties. In Section 3 we start
by studying boundary Lefschetz fibrations over (D2 , ∂D2 ) with few Lefschetz singularities.
We then prove the main theorem using induction, by showing how to reduce the number
of Lefschetz singularities.
2. Boundary Lefschetz Fibrations

In view of our interest in stable generalized complex structures and the results mentioned
in the introduction, the basic object with which we will be dealing in this paper are boundary
(Lefschetz) fibrations. In this section, we review the relevant definitions and basic results
regarding them. We will use the following language. A pair (X, D) consists of a manifold X
and a submanifold D ⊆ X. A map of pairs f : (X, D) → (, Z) is a map f : X → for which
f (D) ⊆ Z. A strong map of pairs is a map of pairs f : (X, D) → (, Z) for which f −1 (Z) = D.
Definition 2.1 (Boundary Lefschetz fibrations) Let f : (X 2n , D2n−2 ) → ( 2 , Z1 ) be a
strong map of pairs which is proper and for which D and Z are compact.
• The map f is a boundary map if the normal Hessian of f along D is definite.

• The map f is a boundary fibration if it is a boundary map and the following two maps
are submersions:
(a) f |X\D : X \ D → \ Z, and
(b) f : D → Z.
The condition that f is a boundary fibration (in a neighbourhood of D) is equivalent
to the condition that, for every x ∈ D, there are coordinates (x1 , . . . , x2n ) centred at
x, and (y1 , y2 ) centred at f (x), such that f takes the form
f (x1 , . . . , x2n ) = (x21 + x22 , x3 ), (2.1)
where D corresponds to the locus {x1 = x2 = 0} and Z to the locus {y1 = 0};
• The map f is a boundary Lefschetz fibration if X and are oriented, f is a boundary
fibration from a neighbourhood of D to a neighbourhood of Z and f |X 2n \D : X \
D → \ Z is a proper Lefschetz fibration, that is, for each critical point x ∈ X \ D
and corresponding singular value y ∈ \ Z, there are complex coordinates centred
at x and y compatible with the orientations for which f acquires the form
f (z1 , . . . , zn ) = z21 + · · · + z2n . (2.2)
Example 2.2 (S1 × S3 ) In this example we provide X = S1 × S3 with the structure

of a boundary fibration over the disc, as described in [5, Example 8.3]. The map
f : S1 × S3 → D2 is a composition of maps, namely
S1 × S3 → S3 → D2 ,
where the first map is a projection onto the second factor and the last is the projection
from C2 to C, (z1 , z2 ) → z1 , restricted to the sphere. In Theorem 3.1 we will see that
this is, in fact, the only example of a boundary fibration over (D2 , ∂D2 ).
A few relevant facts about boundary Lefschetz fibrations were established in [5]. Beyond
the local normal form (2.1) for the map f around points in D, there is also a semi-global
form for f in a neighbourhood of D:
Theorem 2.3 ([5, Proposition 5.15]) Let f : (X 2n , D2n−2 ) → ( 2 , Z1 ) be a boundary map
which is a boundary fibration on neighbourhoods of D and Z and for which Z is co-orientable.
Then there are
• neighbourhoods U of D and V of Z and diffeomorphisms between these sets and neigh-
bourhoods of the zero sections of the corresponding normal bundles, D : U → ND and
Z : V → R × Z, and
• a bundle metric g on ND ,
such that the following diagram commutes, where π : ND → D is the bundle projection:
f
U /V
D Z
(·2g , f |D ◦π)
ND / R × Z.
The most obvious consequence of this theorem is that, in the description above, the
image of f lies on one side of Z, namely in R+ × Z. At this stage, this is a local statement but,
if Z is separating (i.e. represents the trivial homology class), this becomes a global statement:
the image of f lies in closure of one component of \ Z and hence we can equally deal with f
as a map between X and a manifold with boundary, , whose boundary is Z. In this paper, we
will be concerned with the case when is the two-dimensional disc and Z is its boundary.
Corollary 2.4 Let f : (X 4 , D2 ) → ( 2 , Z1 ) be a boundary fibration with connected fibres,
where Z is co-orientable and X is connected and orientable. Then its generic fibres are tori.
Proof From Theorem 2.3 we see that the level set f −1 ◦ −1 Z (ε, y) with ε > 0 is a
surface which fibres over the level set of f −1 ◦ −1 Z (0, y), which is a circle; hence,
f −1 ◦ −1
Z (ε, y) must be a torus or a Klein bottle. If X is orientable, ND \ D is also ori-
entable and, due to Theorem 2.3, Z ◦ f ◦ −1 D : U ⊂ N D \ D → R × Z \ {0} × Z is
a fibration, where U is a neighbourhood of D; hence, the fibres must be orientable. 2
Remark 2.5 In the case when X is connected, is a surface with boundary Z = ∂, and
f : X → is surjective, we can lift f to a cover of so that the fibres of the boundary
Lefschetz fibration become connected. That is, this particular hypothesis is not really a
restriction on the fibration (see [5, Proposition 5.23]). In what follows, we will always
assume this is the case.
Remark 2.6 As shown in [5, Proposition 6.8], a boundary Lefschetz fibration
f : (X 4 , D2 ) → (D2 , ∂D2 ) satisfies χ(X) = μ, where μ is the number of Lefschetz
singular fibres.
2.1. Vanishing Cycles and Monodromy

Lefschetz fibrations on 4-manifolds can be described combinatorially in terms of their
monodromy representations and vanishing cycles. We now extend this approach to bound-
ary Lefschetz fibrations. For simplicity, we focus on fibrations over the disc (degenerating
over its boundary) and assume they are injective on their Lefschetz singularities. The latter
condition can always be achieved by a small perturbation, and the generalization to general
base surfaces is similar to the Lefschetz case.
Definition 2.7 (Hurwitz systems) Let f : (X 4 , D2 ) → (D2 , ∂D2 ) be a boundary Lefschetz
fibration with Lefschetz singularities, and let y ∈ D2 be a regular value. A Hurwitz
system for f based at y is a collection of embedded arcs η0 , η1 , . . . , η ⊂ D2 such that
(1) η0 connects y to ∂D2 and is transverse to ∂D2 ,
(2) ηi connects y to a critical value yi ,
(3) the arcs intersect pairwise transversely in y and are otherwise disjoint, and
(4) the order of the arcs is counterclockwise around y.
Given a Hurwitz system, we obtain a collection of simple closed curves in the regular fibre
Fy = f −1 (y) as follows. For i > 0, we have the classical construction of Lefschetz vanishing
cycles: as we move from y along ηi towards yi , a curve λi ⊂ Fy shrinks and eventually collapses
into Lefschetz singularity over yi , leading to a nodal singularity in Fyi . For later reference,
we also recall that the monodromy along a counterclockwise loop around yi contained in
a neighbourhood of ηi is given by a right-handed Dehn twist about λi . Along η0 we see a
slightly different degeneration: the boundary of a solid torus degenerates the core circle.
Indeed, using the local model for f near D and the transversality of η0 to ∂D2 we can
find a diffeomorphism f −1 (η0 ) ∼ = D2 × S1 and a parametrization of η0 that takes f into
the function D × S → R × Z given by (x1 , x2 , θ) → (x21 + x22 , z0 ), where z0 = η0 (1).
2 1
To summarize, f −1 (η0 ) is a solid torus whose boundary is Fy . Further Fy contains a well-

defined isotopy class of meridional circles, represented in the model by ∂D2 × {θ} for
arbitrary θ ∈ S1 . We will henceforth refer to this isotopy class as the boundary vanishing cycle
associated to η0 and denote it by δ.
To make things even more concrete, we can fix an identification of the reference fibre Fy
with T 2 and consider the vanishing cycles in the standard torus. To make a notational
distinction, we denote the images in T 2 by (a; b1 , . . . , b ).
Definition 2.8 (Cycle systems) A collection of curves (a; b1 , . . . , b ) in T 2 associated to f
by a choices of a Hurwitz system together with an identification of the reference fibre
with T 2 is called a cycle system for f .
It is well known that the Lefschetz part of f can be recovered from the Lefschetz vanishing
cycles. In the next section, we will explain how this statement extends to boundary Lefschetz
fibrations. Just as in the Lefschetz case, the cycle system is not unique but the ambiguities
are easy to understand and provide some flexibility to find particularly nice cycle systems
representing a given boundary Lefschetz fibration. The following is a straightforward gen-
eralization of the analogous statement for Lefschetz fibrations (see also Figure 1).
Proposition 2.9 Let f : (X 4 , D2 ) → (D2 , ∂D2 ) be a boundary Lefschetz fibration with
Lefschetz singularities. Any two cycle systems for f are related by a finite sequence of the
following modifications:

a; b1 , . . . , b , ∼ a; b2 , B2 (b1 ), b3 , . . . , b ,

∼ a; B−1
1 (b2 ), b1 , b3 , . . . , b ,

∼ B1 (a); b2 , . . . , b , b1 ,

∼ B−1
(a); b , b1 , . . . , b−1 ,

∼ h(a); h(b1 ), . . . , h(b ) .
Here Bi = τbi is a right-handed Dehn twist about bi and h is any diffeomorphism of T 2 .

Definition 2.10 (Hurwitz equivalence) If two cycle systems are related by the modifica-
tions listed in Theorem 2.9, we say that they are (Hurwitz) equivalent.
b2 b1 b2
B−1
1 (b2)
γ
…
γ
a a
bl bl
b2 b1
…
γ
B−1
1 (a)
bl
Figure
1 The origin of Hurwitz equivalence: −1 here we illustrate how the equivalences
a; b1 , . . . , b ∼ (a; B−1
1 (b2 ), b1 , b3 , . . . , b ∼ B (a); b , b1 , . . . , b−1 arise.
It turns out that the curves in a cycle system are not completely arbitrary. Let S1r ⊂ D2
be the circle of radius r < 1 such that all the Lefschetz singularities of f map to the interior
of D2r . Fix a reference point let y ∈ S1r and let
μ(f ) ∈ M(Fy ) = π0 Diff + (Fy )
be the counterclockwise monodromy of f around S1r as measured in the mapping class

group of Fy . Then, for any cycle system for f derived from a Hurwitz system based at y, the
anticlockwise monodromy of f around S1r measured in Fy is given by the product of Dehn
twists about the Lefschetz vanishing cycles λi ⊂ Fy ,
μ(f ) = τλ ◦ · · · ◦ τλ1 ∈ M(Fy ) = π0 Diff + (Fy ). (2.3)
On the other hand, we can also describe the monodromy using the boundary part of the
fibration. Recall that f −1 (S1r ) is the boundary of a tubular neighbourhood N D of D and
that the fibration structure over S1r essentially factors through the projection N D → D.
This exhibits f −1 (S1r ) as a circle bundle over D, which is itself a circle bundle over S1 .
It follows that the monodromy of f around S1r must fix the circle fibres of f −1 (S1r ) → D, and
the circle fibre contained in Fy is precisely the boundary vanishing cycle δ of the Hurwitz
system. To conclude, μ(f ) fixes δ as a set, but not necessarily pointwise. Indeed, it can (and
does) happen that μ(f ) reverses the orientation of δ.
Remark 2.11 At this point, it is worthwhile to point out some perks of working on a torus.
First, there is the fact that any diffeomorphism of T 2 is determined up to isotopy
by its action on H1 (T 2 ). Given any pair of oriented simple closed curves a, b ⊂ T 2
with (algebraic) intersection number a, b = 1—called dual pairs from now on—
we get an identification M(T 2 ) ∼ = SL(2, Z). Moreover, the right-handed Dehn
twists A, B ∈ M(T 2 ) about a and b are the generators in a finite presentation with
relations ABA = BAB and (AB)6 = 1. In particular, we have that (AB)3 maps to
−1 ∈ SL(2, Z), which we will also denote by writing −1 = (AB)3 ∈ M(T 2 ). Second,
in a similar fashion, simple closed curves up to ambient isotopies are uniquely
determined by their (integral) homology classes. Note that this involves a choice of ori-
entation, since simple closed curves are a priori unoriented objects. However, it is true
that essential simple closed curves in T 2 correspond bijectively with primitive elements
of H1 (T 2 ) up to sign. In what follows, we adopt the common bad habit of identifying
simple closed curves with elements of H1 (T 2 ) without explicitly mentioning
orientation. In particular, we will freely use the homological expression for a Dehn
twist, i.e. write
τc (d) = d + c, d c ∈ H1 (T 2 ). (2.4)
We record two facts that are important for our purposes:

(1) If h ∈ M(T 2 ) satisfies h(a) = a for some essential curve a, then h = ±τak for
some k with a negative sign if and only if h is orientation reversing on a.
(2) If oriented curves a, b, c ⊂ T 2 satisfy a, b = a, c = 1, then c = τak (b) = b + ka
for some k.
Returning to the discussion of the monodromy μ(f ), we can conclude that the vanishing
cycles have to satisfy the condition
μ(f ) = τλ ◦ · · · ◦ τλ1 = ±τδk ∈ M(Fy ), k ∈ Z.
It is easy to see from the above discussion that a negative sign appears if and only if D fails to
be co-orientable. Moreover, the integer k is precisely the Euler number of the normal bundle
of D in X. Here we remark that a vector bundle E → M with M compact has a well-defined
integer Euler number if the total space of E is orientable, even if M is not orientable itself.
For practical purposes, it is more convenient to work with cycle systems in the model T 2 .
Here is the upshot of the above discussion:
Proposition 2.12 Let f : (X 4 , D2 ) → (D2 , ∂D2 ) be a boundary Lefschetz fibration. If
(a; b1 , . . . , b ) is any cycle system for f , then
B ◦ · · · ◦ B1 = ±Ak ∈ M(T 2 ) (2.5)
for some k ∈ Z, where the sign is positive if and only if D is co-orientable. The integer k agrees
with the Euler number of the normal bundle of D in X.
This motivates an abstract definition without reference to boundary Lefschetz fibrations.
Definition 2.13 (Abstract cycle systems) An ordered collection of curves (a; b1 , . . . , b )
in T 2 is called an abstract cycle system if it satisfies the condition in (2.5). Hurwitz
equivalence is defined exactly as in Theorem 2.10.
2.2. Handle Decompositions and Kirby Diagrams

Next, we discuss how one can recover boundary Lefschetz fibrations from their cycle
systems. Along the way, we exhibit useful handle decompositions of total spaces of
boundary Lefschetz fibrations.
Proposition 2.14 Any abstract cycle system (a; b1 , . . . , b ) is the cycle system of some boundary
Lefschetz fibration over the disc.
Proof We will build a 4-manifold obtained by attaching a handle to T 2 × D2 . We choose
points θ0 , . . . , θ ∈ ∂D2 which appear in anticlockwise order and consider a copy
of a in T 2 × {θ0 } and of bi in T 2 × {θi } for i > 0. Note that, for all these curves,
there is a natural choice of framing determined by parallel push-offs inside the fibres
of T 2 × S1 → S1 . We first attach a 2-handle along the copies of bi for i > 0 with
respect to the fibre framing −1 and call the resulting manifold Z. It is well known that
the projection T 2 × D2 extends to a Lefschetz fibration on Z over a slightly larger disc,
which we immediately rescale to D2 , such that the Lefschetz vanishing cycles along
the straight line from θi to zero is bi . By construction, the boundary fibres over S1
and the anticlockwise monodromy measured in T 2 × {θ0 } is B ◦ · · · ◦ B1 = ±Ak .
In particular, ∂Z is diffeomorphic as an oriented manifold to the circle bundle with
±
Euler number k over the torus or the Klein bottle. Let N−k be the corresponding disc
±
bundle with Euler number −k. Then ∂N−k is diffeomorphic to ∂Z with the orientation
±
reversed so that we can form a closed manifold X by glueing Z and N−k together, and
±
the orientation of Z extends. Moreover, it was shown in [5] that N−k admits a boundary
fibration over the annulus which can be used to extend the Lefschetz fibration on Z to
a boundary Lefschetz fibration on X, again over a larger disc which we rescale to D2 ,
in such a way that the boundary vanishing cycle along the straight line from θ0 to
zero is a.
Thus we have found a boundary Lefschetz fibration together with a Hurwitz system
which produces the desired cycle system. 2
±
Remark 2.15 (Construction of the Kirby diagram) Observe that the glueing of N−k also
±
has an interpretation in terms of handles. It is well known that N−k has a handle
decomposition with one 0-handle, two 1-handles, and a single 2-handle. Turning this
± ∼
decomposition upside down gives a relative handle decomposition on −∂N−k = ∂Z
with a single 2-handle, two 3-handles, and a 4-handle. Moreover, the 2-handle can be
±
chosen such that its core disc is a fibre. In particular, since the glueing of N−k to Z
±
preserves the circle fibration, we can arrange that the 2-handle of N−k is attached along
the copy of a in the fibre of ∂Z over θ0 . However, in contrast to the Lefschetz handles,
this time the framing is actually the fibre framing.
To summarize, the closed 4-manifold X is obtained from T 2 × D2 by attaching,
in order, a 2-handle along the boundary vanishing cycle with the fibre framing, and
then 2-handles along the Lefschetz vanishing cycles bi ⊂ T 2 × {θi } with fibre fram-
ing −1. The two 3-handles as well as the 4-handle attach uniquely, as explained in
[9, Section 4.4].
∪ two 3-handles ∪ two 3-handles

0 one 4-handle 0 one 4-handle
−1
−1 0
−1
(a) (b)
Figure 2 Kirby diagrams corresponding to the abstract cycle systems (a; a) (Panel (a)) and
(a; b + 2a, b) (Panel (b)). The numbers indicate the blackboard framing of the corresponding
2-handles.
As an illustration of this procedure, Figure 2 shows the Kirby diagrams correspond-

ing to the abstract cycle systems (a; a) and (a; b + 2a, b), where {a, b} is a dual pair of
curves.
Next we show that the topology of the total space of a boundary Lefschetz fibration can
be recovered from the cycle system.
Proposition 2.16 If two boundary Lefschetz fibrations over (D2 , ∂D2 ) have equivalent cycle
systems, then their total spaces are diffeomorphic.
Proof Elaborating on the proof of Theorem 2.14, one can show that, if a Hurwitz system and
identification of the reference fibre with T 2 for a given boundary Lefschetz fibration
produces the cycle system (a; b1 , . . . , b ), then its total space is diffeomorphic to the
manifold constructed by attaching handles to T 2 × D2 , as explained above. Similarly,
one can then argue that the manifolds constructed from equivalent cycle systems are
diffeomorphic. The details are somewhat tedious but straightforward and we leave
them to the inclined reader. 2
As a consequence, in order to classify closed 4-manifolds admitting boundary Lefschetz

fibrations over (D2 , ∂D2 ), it is enough to identify all 4-manifolds obtained from abstract
cycle systems as in the proof of Theorem 2.14. Moreover, as we argued in Theorem 2.15,
this problem is naturally accessible to the methods of Kirby calculus via the handle decom-
positions. For the relevant background about Kirby calculus, we refer to [9] (Chapter 8, in
particular).
3. Boundary Lefschetz Fibrations over (D2 , ∂D2 )

As a warm-up for our main theorem, it is worth considering the following more basic
question: Which oriented 4-manifolds are boundary fibrations over (D2 , ∂D2 )? The answer
is simple:
Lemma 3.1 Let X be a compact, orientable manifold and let f : (X 4 , D2 ) → (D2 , ∂D2 ) be a
boundary fibration. Then X is diffeomorphic to S1 × S3 , and D is co-orientable.
boundary lefschetz fibrations over (D2 , ∂ D2 ) | 409
Proof Note that a boundary fibration is a boundary Lefschetz fibration without Lefschetz
singularities. As such, its cycle systems consist of a single curve a ⊂ T 2 corresponding
to the boundary vanishing cycle. Thus, a is essential and we can therefore assume
that a = {1} × S1 . According to the discussion in Subsection 2.2, X is obtained from
glueing T 2 × D2 together with a suitable disc bundle over a torus or Klein bottle, such
that the boundary of a disc fibre is identified with a. Obviously, the only possibility is
N0+ = D2 × T 2 , the trivial disc bundle over the torus, and the glueing can be arranged
such that ∂D2 × {(1, 1)} ⊂ N0+ is identified with a × {1} ⊂ T 2 × D2 . Since this is
achieved by the diffeomorphism of T 3 which flips the first two factors, we see that
X∼
= S1 × S1 × D2 ∪ϕ D2 × S1 × S1
∼
= S1 × S1 × D2 ∪id S1 × D2 × S1

∼
= S1 × S1 × D2 ∪id D2 × S1 ∼ = S1 × S3 ,
where the last diffeomorphism comes from the standard decomposition of S3 consid-
ered as sitting in C2 and split into two solid tori by S1 × S1 ⊂ C2 . 2
Now we move on to study honest boundary Lefschetz fibrations over the disc and
eventually prove our classification theorem, Theorem 3.13. The proof of the theorem
itself is done by induction on the number of singular fibres. So, in order to achieve our aim,
we need to study the base cases, i.e. boundary Lefschetz fibrations with only a few singular
fibres, and explain how to systematically reduce the number of singular fibres to bring us
back to the base cases. It turns out that there is a step that appears frequently, namely, the
blow-down of certain (−1)-spheres, which is interesting on its own as it gives the notion of a
relatively minimal boundary Lefschetz fibration. In the rest of this section, we will first study
blow-downs and relatively minimal fibrations. We then move on to study the cases with one
and two singular fibres and finally prove Theorem 3.13.
3.1. The Blow-Down Process and Relative Minimality

Given a usual Lefschetz fibration f : X 4 → 2 , we can perform the blow-up in a regular
point x ∈ X with respect to a local complex structure compatible with the orientation of X.
The result is a manifold X together with a blow-down map σ : X → X and it turns out that
the composition f = f ◦σ :
X → is a Lefschetz fibration with one more critical point
than f in the fibre over y = f (x). Moreover, the exceptional divisor sits inside the (singular)
fibre f −1 (y) as a sphere with self-intersection −1. Conversely, given any (−1)-sphere in a
singular fibre of a Lefschetz fibration, this process can be reversed: the (−1)-sphere can be
blown down, producing a Lefschetz fibration with one critical point less. For that reason,
it is enough to study relatively minimal Lefschetz fibrations: fibrations whose fibres do not
contain any (−1)-spheres. Equivalently, a Lefschetz fibration is relatively minimal if no
vanishing cycle bounds a disc in the reference fibre; and, on the level of cycle systems, the
blow-up and blow-down procedures simply amount to adding or removing null-homotopic
vanishing cycles.
For a boundary Lefschetz fibration f : (X 4 , D2 ) → ( 2 , Z1 ), there is another way a
(−1)-sphere can occur in relation to the fibration. These spheres arise if there is a simple
path connecting a Lefschetz singular value of f to a component of Z with the property that
the Lefschetz vanishing cycle in one end of the path agrees with the boundary vanishing
cycle. In this case, we can form the corresponding Lefschetz thimble from the Lefschetz
singularity which then closes up at the other end of the path to give rise to a (−1)-sphere, E,
which intersects the divisor D at one point, as observed in [7]. Note that, in the case where
(, Z) = (D2 , ∂D2 ), this is equivalent to a cycle system (a; b1 , . . . , b ) such that some bi
agrees with a. From this description, it is clear that we can blow E down to obtain a new
manifold, X . What is not immediately clear is that X admits the structure of a boundary
Lefschetz fibration.
Proposition 3.2 Let f : (X 4 , D2 ) → (D2 , ∂D2 ) be a boundary Lefschetz fibration which has
a cycle system (a; b1 , . . . , b ) such that bi = a for some i. Then there exists a boundary
Lefschetz fibration f : (X , D ) → (D2 , ∂D2 ) with the cycle system
(a; A(b1 ), . . . , A(bi−1 ), bi+1 , . . . , b ).
∼
Moreover, we have X = X #CP2 , and D has the same co-orientability as D.

Proof This is our first exercise in Kirby calculus. Using Hurwitz moves, we have the
equivalence of cycle systems:

a; b1 , . . . , bi−1 , a, bi+1 , . . . , b ∼
= a; a, A(b1 ), . . . , A(bi−1 ), bi+1 , . . . , b ,
so we may assume without loss of generality that b1 = a. Further, we can take a to
be the first cycle of a dual pair {a, b}, that is, we may assume that a = S1 × {1} ⊂ T 2 .
We now compare the Kirby diagrams obtained from the cycle systems (a; a, b2 , . . . , b )
and (a; b2 , . . . , b ).
As we mentioned in Theorem 2.15, to draw a Kirby diagram for a boundary Lef-
schetz fibration corresponding to a cycle system, we start with the Kirby diagram of
D2 × T 2 and add cells corresponding to the boundary vanishing cycle followed by
the Lefschetz vanishing cycles ordered anticlockwise. Therefore, the Kirby diagram
for (a; a, b2 , . . . , b ) is the Kirby diagram for (a; a) with a number of 2-handles on top
of it representing the cycles b2 , . . . , b . The Kirby move we use next does not interact
with these last (l − 1) 2-handles; therefore, we will not represent them in the diagram.
With this in mind, the relevant part of the Kirby diagram of (a; a, b2 , . . . , b ) is the
Kirby diagram of (a; a) as drawn in Figure 2(a). Sliding the −1-framed 2-handle corre-
sponding to the first Lefschetz singularity over the 0-framed 2-handle corresponding
to the boundary vanishing cycle produces a −1-framed unknot which is unlinked from
the rest (see Figure 3). The remaining Kirby diagram is precisely that corresponding
to the cycle system (a; b2 , . . . , b ). Since an isolated −1-framed unknot represents a
connected sum with CP2 , the result follows. 2
The previous proof is prototypical for much of what follows from now on. In light of
Theorem 3.2, we make the following definition.
Definition 3.3 (Relative minimality) Let f : (X 4 , D2 ) → (D2 , ∂D2 ) be a boundary Lef-
schetz fibration. Then f is called relatively minimal if it does not have any cycle system
(a; b1 , . . . , b ) in which some Lefschetz vanishing cycle bi is either null-homotopic or
isotopic to a.
Another random document with
no related content on Scribd:
conviction, painted a new and another Jacob. She was aware that the whole
world set sternly against him and, misreading the attempted murder,
suspected that, perhaps, even Adam Winter might not have forgiven him.
Surely it must have been some fiery word from Adam that prompted
Samuel to his attempt. Yet there she hesitated and, on second thoughts,
remembered Adam better. Doubtless he had pardoned long ago; but mad
Samuel none the less echoed the people, and she knew, from what her father
had told her, that the country side was more interested in Jacob's disaster
than regretful of it. Their sole regret went out for the brother and the aunt of
the man responsible.
Now, despondent and bewildered, Margery found some comfort in

talking openly to her brother and his wife.
She took tea with them on a Sunday and was unguarded and indifferent
as to what they might say, or think, of her opinion. They perceived the
change in her and set it down to Jacob's situation; but though that had
largely served to stimulate Margery and offer a point for argument with her
parents, it did not account for the radical and growing operations of her
soul. The inevitable had happened, and with all its sorrows and trials, she
yet wanted back her life as it was, sanctified to her by custom. She yearned
for the home that she had made and her spirit could rise to no other. She
was changed, weakened a little mentally, as well as much physically, by her
experiences, more frightened of life and less desirous to face it. Now she
longed only for quiet—to be secluded and hidden away, forgotten and left
alone. She did not dread solitude, silence, peace any more. She desired
them before all things and wearied inexpressibly of the noise of the street,
the bustle of business and the din of activity round about her. Among the
many facts learned with increasing certainty, was the assurance that she
would soon sicken and die, cooped here under the eyes of her parents—an
object of pity for her father, of triumph for Judith.
These convictions she voiced to Jane, and whimsically lamented that

situation which all just persons supposed she was most thankful to have
escaped for ever.
"Time blots out the bad and leaves the good still to remind you," she
said. "You may not believe it, but it is so. I always remember the happy
things and slip the unhappy. It's not only things that happen, but people that
made them happen. Get far enough away from people, and you find the
parts in them you hate grow dimmer and the parts you like grow brighter.
That's why the natural feeling is to speak kindly of the dead. We generally
feel kindly to them. At least I do."
"It's true," declared Jane. "When anybody's dead, part of 'em always
rises up again on people's tongues, and we don't speak well of them who are
dead only because they are dead and can't defend themselves, but because
time, as you say, Margery, keeps the good and lets the bad go. I can say it to
you and Jeremy, though I wouldn't to anybody else. Take your own mother.
I always feel ever so much kinder to her when I escape from hearing her, or
seeing her for a week or so."
"You oughtn't to say that, Jane," declared her husband. "It's a very
doubtful speech."
"Not it," she answered. "No use pretending. You don't see your mother
like the rest of the world, because she don't see you like the rest of the
world. And Margery's right. If she don't know, who should?"
"Ask yourself, Jane. You're married and have got plenty of sense to see
things. Suppose Jeremy and you was parted for some great, terrible deed
done by him: a bee in Jeremy's bonnet, for which he was sorry enough. And
suppose, with time, you hadn't only forgiven him, as a Christian, but really
and truly, as a wife and a woman. And suppose everything—everything that
had made your life, and that you'd made of your life, was taken away, and
you were left stranded. What would it be to you?"
"Hell," said Jane frankly. "There's no other word for it."
"And what would you do, Jeremy, if that had happened to you?"
continued his sister. "Would you feel that, for her soul's sake, Jane must
never come back to you?"
"I'm glad to say no such thing could happen to me, and it's idle worrying
to think what you'd do if a thing happened that can't happen," answered the
man. "And now you're here, it will be good for you to get away from your
own vexations for a bit and lend a hand with mine. And first I may tell you
that I've seen your husband that was."
"Seen him? Oh, Jeremy!"
"Keep it dark. I didn't seek him. He cornered me and would talk. Don't
think I yielded about it. Not at all. I was firm as a rock with him, because,
of course, mother's dead right in that matter; but there it is. Jacob Bullstone
was very wishful indeed to get into touch with you, and seemed to think he
had a right. But I hit out from the shoulder fearlessly, and he heard my
honest opinion of him and so on. However, I'm a man of the world
notwithstanding, and nobody knows how difficult the world is better than I
do. So up to a certain point and, well within my conscience, I may do as I'm
done by in the matter."
Margery regarded him with parted lips.
"He wants to see me?"
"I was the last to have speech with him before he was smashed, and
there's no doubt he had a near squeak of his life. I remember Amelia Winter
telling me years ago, when I was a huckster, that in the case of Samuel
Winter, as a young child, it was a great question whether he'd turn out
amazingly clever, or weak in his head. Unfortunately he proved one of the
Lord's own, and now, since this business, Adam feels it a difficult question
whether Sammy didn't ought to be put away. Why I tell you this is because
I'm coming to the point, and that is our mother's fine rule of life that nothing
happens by chance."
"Go on," said Margery.
"Well, granted nothing happens by chance, then we've got the

satisfaction of knowing we are doing Heaven's will from morning till night.
Therefore, if you help me in a vital matter and I help you in a vital matter,
we're both doing Heaven's will; and whatever came of it, mother would be
the first to confess it was so."
"Lord, Jeremy!" cried Jane. "D'you mean to say——"

"I mustn't come into it," explained Jeremy. "I don't say I'll lift a hand;
but I do say that, if it was established that Jane and I go to the post-office
when the old people retire, I should feel a great deal clearer in my mind and
kinder to the world at large. It is high time I had a bit of light on that
subject, and I'm a good deal puzzled the light hasn't shone. I've been hoping
a long time to hear we was to go in, and so I feel that you might find good
and useful work ready to your hand in that matter, Margery. And—and one
good turn deserves another. That's well within a clear conscience."
"A 'good' turn—yes," declared Jane doubtfully.
"It would be a good turn if I decide to help Margery, because we must

all do as the Lord intends, and therefore it couldn't be a bad one," explained
the casuist. "In a word, if Margery impressed upon mother that the right and
proper thing was to trust the business and the post-office to us, that might
determine the point. As a matter of fact I'm uneasy. Father's been into
Plymouth more than once of late and, of course, they're looking ahead.
They always do."
"They are," answered Margery, "and I'll tell you something. Mother
wants you and Jane to take over the business—under father. And father,
seeing you've never stuck to nothing in your life, feels very doubtful if
you're the man. They differ."
"Just as I thought," murmured Jeremy, "and some people might be

vexed with their fathers; but that's only to waste time. So there it is. You're
all powerful with father—eh, Margery?—and surely to God you know Jane
and me well enough to know mother is right."
Margery perceived the nature of the bargain. She believed with Jeremy
that their father was to be won. Indeed he sometimes came near yielding to
Judith's steadfast conviction. She might very possibly settle the point in her
brother's favour; but what could he do for her? Nothing with her parents.
The problems that had looked vague and, indeed, had never been
considered in her mind before, now rose and began to take a definite shape,
Until now nothing but a dim, undefined desire for something that must not
be—for something her parents held unthinkable—had stolen through her
mind and settled over it, like a sad fog. She had accepted the situation and
supposed that the craving for some return to vanished conditions was at best
weakness, at worst evil. Yet now she had moved beyond that point to an
acute nostalgia. Jacob's tribulation was augmented by the startling news that
he desired to see her. She found comfort in Jeremy's sophistries, but knew,
even while he uttered them in his mother's words, that they echoed anything
but his mother's spirit. Jeremy was a humbug, as charming people are so apt
to be; but the fact still remained: nothing happened but what Providence
planned.
She began to think of details and they made her giddy. To move from
secret wishes to open words was enough for one day. She had never dared
to be so explicit, and her confession in the ear of sympathetic Jane
comforted her. But her constitutional timidity, developed much of late, now
drew her in.
What could Jeremy do? Deeds were not in Jeremy's line. Time must
pass. Jacob must get well again—then, perhaps—she would see how she
felt then. He might change his mind. Possibly he only wanted to mention
some trifle. Margery doubted whether her present emotions were healthy or
dangerous; then she fell back on her brother's affairs.
"You've given me something to think about; and I will think of it," she
said.
"And Jeremy shall think of what you've told us," promised Jane, "for I'll
remind him to do so."
"The thing is the greatest good to the greatest number," declared Jeremy.
"That's always been my rule and always will be. And clearly the greatest
good to me and my wife and children lies at the post-office. Others see it
beside us. As for your greatest good, Margery—that's a very difficult
question."
"I know it. I hope I haven't said too much; but you'll forgive me if I
have. I feel—I feel, somehow, that I ought to see my husband, if he still
wishes it."
"You would," answered Jane, "and so would any nice woman feel the
same."
"That's the point," argued Jeremy. "You may be right, or you may be
wrong. But the general opinion is that you show what a fine creature you
are by keeping away from him. Why don't you put it to mother?"
"Put it to a man," advised Jane. "Ax parson. It's a free country and
though we're all Chosen Fews, that don't prevent parson from being a very
sensible chap. Or, if you don't like the thought of him, try somebody else."
But Margery gave no promise. She went home vaguely heartened and
determined at least to work for Jeremy. She felt, indeed, that what he
desired would be sure to happen presently without any word from her; still
to work for him was good. She had nobody to work for now.
Next morning she went to chapel with Mrs. Huxam and, finding herself
brave afterwards, actually followed Jeremy's suggestion and gave Judith a
shock of unexpected pain.
"Mother," she said. "I've got great thoughts and you should hear them.
We can't think anything we're not meant to think, and now my thoughts
have taken a turn. You know how it was with me. After our trouble I didn't
want to live; I'd have been glad to shut my eyes and sleep and never wake
up. Then I got better and braver. And then I grew to miss the life of my
home terribly, because, whatever the cause, to be wrenched out of the little
holding of your days must hurt. And so I got worse again—body and mind.
And now I've looked on and asked myself about it."
"Better you looked still farther on and put away all that joins you to the
past. That I've told you more than once, Margery."
"You have; but I can't do it. You can't forget your whole married life and
your motherhood and the father of your children. If you do, there's nothing
left for a woman. And I've come to see this very clearly. I'm Jacob's wife."
"No longer in the Lord's sight."

"Let me speak. I'm Jacob's wife; and what I'm sure now is that Jacob is
a very different man from what he was. God Almighty has changed Jacob,
and the poison that did these dreadful things is poured out, and he's left, like
the man from whom the devil was drawn by Jesus Christ. Mother, when
first I even thought about Red House, I felt shame and dursn't tell you, for I
feared the longing to see it again came from the devil. Now I don't feel
shame, and I know the longing don't come from the devil. There's duty to be
done there yet."
"Thank God you've told me this," answered Judith, "for we've got to do
some fierce fighting, I fear. Not the devil? Why, I see his claws, Margery!
"'Tis his last and deadliest stroke, to make his temptation look like duty
and come before you clothed like an angel of light. An old trick that's
snapped many a soul. Never, never do you hide your thoughts from me,
Margery, after this."
"But wait. Suppose, by forgiving in act as well as heart, I went back

presently. Then I might save Jacob himself."
"Oh, the cunning of the Enemy—the craft—the sleepless cleverness!

No, you can't save Jacob Bullstone; but you can lose yourself. There's
always the chance of losing yourself while breath is in your body, and
Lucifer knows it, and he'll often win at the last gasp on a man's deathbed.
He's proud, remember, and his pride leads him to try the difficult things.
Can't you see? How is it so few can see the net he weaves, while the lotion
of the Gospel's at everybody's hand to wash their eyes clear if they would?
He's vain as a peacock and likes to do the difficult things and catch the
souls in sight of Heaven's gates. I know; I read him; not many women have
conned over his ways like I have. And now he's saying 'Jacob Bullstone is
mine—a gift from his youth up—and there's no cleverness in keeping your
own; but the woman he's cast down is not mine.' And your soul would be
worth the winning. And what's cleverer than to make you think you can
save your doomed husband's soul when, to try, would be to lose your own?
You'd best to pray on your knees about this and call loudly on your Saviour.
I'm a lot put about to hear of such dreadful thoughts. They've crept in
through the chinks in the armour of salvation, Margery, and you must look
to it this instant moment."
"There's a human side, mother. The man has been called to face death.
He lies there in hospital and——"
"And where did he fling you to lie? Where was hospital for the ills you
have suffered and the death you have died? There is a human side, and to
return good for evil is our duty; but there's a higher duty than that. Don't
argue. I know all about the human side; but humanity was never yet called
upon to risk its immortality and hope of salvation. I'll hear no more
touching this at all, Margery. I'm suffering for you a good bit. I've failed to
make the truth clear seemingly."
"No, no, you haven't failed. I know how you view it."
"Set your trust where only trust can be set," said Mrs. Huxam, "and trust
your God, like a little child, to show you, in His good time, how your future
life's got to go. And first He wills for you to get up your health of mind and
body. Your mind before everything. Your body's nought; but your mind's
sick—far, far sicker than I thought—and we must see to it. There's fighting
to be done and we'll fight. I thought all that was over; but the devil smells a
sick soul, like a cat smells fish, and I might have known there was danger
lurking."
They returned home, to find that somebody had called upon Margery's
mother. Old William Marydrew awaited them in his Sunday black.
Margery he welcomed kindly, though she responded in doubt; but Mrs.

Huxam, who knew the ancient man for her son-in-law's friend, showed
open suspicion and seemed little inclined to grant the speech he begged.
"I've no quarrel with you," she said, "and I very well remember your
godly daughter, for Mercy Marydrew had the light; but——"
"The better the day the better the deed," ventured Billy. "Don't stand
against me till you've heard me. I don't come from Mr. Bullstone. I'm here
on my own—for a friendly tell—and I hope you'll respect my age and give
ear to what I'd like to say."
Mr. Huxam, who had been talking to William until his wife's return,
supported the proposition.
"Hear him, Judy," he said. "Nobody's ever heard nothing from William
that he shouldn't hear, but on the contrary, much that was well worth
hearing. Wisdom like his, when it's mellow and not turned sour, as wisdom
will with some old folk, be all to the good. We'll go into the kitchen and see
after dinner and leave you to it."
He departed with Margery, and Mrs. Huxam took off her black thread
gloves and blew her nose.
"Speak then," she said, "and take the easy-chair. I'm not one to deny
respect and attention to any religious-minded man; but I warn you that there
are some things don't admit of dragging up. You understand."
William plunged at once into the great matter of his visit.
"Single-handed I come," he said, "and I wish I was cleverer and better

skilled to bend speech to my purpose; but you must allow for that. In a
word, there's a general feeling in a good few minds that Jacob Bullstone is
indecent and blameworthy to want his wife to go back to him; while,
against that, in a good few other, well-meaning minds—women as well as
men—there's a feeling it might be a very decent thing to happen, and
wouldn't hasten the end of the world anyway. And I, for one, incline to
think the same."
"The end of the world's not our business," said Judith, "but the souls of
ourselves and our children and grand-children are our business. You strike
in on ground where I've just been treading, and I'm very sorry to hear you
can say what you have said. Whether it's indecent and blameworthy for
Jacob Bullstone to want his wife don't matter at all. What those doomed to
eternal death want, or don't want, is nought. But we've got to think of the
living, and we've got to save the souls that are still open to be saved."
"Certainly; and who, under God, has the right to damn woman, or child,
or man, or mouse, my dear? I saw Bullstone in hospital yesterday, and
seeing and hearing him, it came over me like a flame of fire to have a word
with you, because well I know you are the turning point—the angel of life,
or death I might say—to these two. Everything depends upon you
seemingly—or so he reckons. You hold their future lives in your hand.
That's a lot to say, but not too much. And I should much like to hear your
point of view on this high subject. Bullstone, I must tell you, have suffered
a very great deal, and his eyes are opened to his lunatic act. He was just as
mad every bit as Sammy Winter, who set the bull on him to mangle him.
Just as mad, my dear; but with a far worse sort of madness; and yet a
madness that can be cured, which Sammy's can't in this world. And afore
the God we both obey, I tell you that Jacob is cured. His sufferings have
been all you could wish, and his broken thigh, and so on, was nothing in
comparison. He's gone through tortures that make his broken bones no
worse than a cut finger; and I want you to understand that he's long ways
different from what he was, Mrs. Huxam, and an object for good Christian
forgiveness all round. And now you tell me what you think about it?"
Judith looked, almost with pity, at the ancient prattler. It seemed to her
that such people as Mr. Marydrew could hardly have more souls to save, or
lose, than a bird on a bough. They were apparently innocent and went
through the world, like unconscious creatures, doing neither harm nor good.
But Billy suddenly appeared in harmful guise. It was as though an amiable,
domestic animal had showed its teeth, threatened attack and became a
danger.
"You're touching subjects a thought too deep for your intellects, Mr.
Marydrew, if you'll excuse me for saying so," she began.
"Don't say that. I venture to think——"
"You think, but I know. I know that no man or woman can interfere
between Jacob Bullstone and his Maker, or undo what's done. For once
even the doubtful sense of the world at large sees it. A child could see it.
My daughter has come to the gate of salvation by a bitter road, like many
do. She's faced great sufferings and escaped awful perils; but she's through
the gate; it's fast home behind her, and she ain't going to open it again to her
death—be sure of that. He dares to want to see her, and you say he's
changed. But, after you've done some things, it's too late to change. He's
lost. Why? Because, like a lot of this generation, he's listened to false
teachers and thought the Powers of Evil were growing weak. To hear some
people, you'd think the devil was no more than a scarecrow set up to
frighten the world into the paths of goodness."
"True," admitted Billy. "It was so with me. Looking back I can plainly
see, as a lad, the fear of Old Nick had a lot more to do with my keeping
straight than love of God. God was above my highest imaginings. I only
knew He was wishful to get me into Heaven some day, if I gave Him half a
chance. But the devil seemed much nearer and much more of a live person.
Somehow you find that bad folk always are nearer and more alive than
good ones—don't you?"
"Because we all know bad people and have every chance to see them
misbehaving," said Mrs. Huxam, "but good people are rare, and always will
be."
"I wouldn't say that. I'm so hopeful that I rather share the growing
opinion against hell. I believe the next generation will knock the bottom out
of hell, my dear, because they'll find something better. There's a lot of
things far better than in my youth, and new love be better than ancient fear.
Grant that and you can't say Jacob's down and out. He's a very penitent
man, and he's turned to God most steadfast of late, and it would be a great
triumph for the mercy of God, his Maker, if he came through, and a great
sign of the Almighty's power in human hearts."
She regarded Billy with mild interest, but hardly concealed her
contempt.
"And you in sight of your grave and your judgment, and so wrong in
opinions," she said. "'A sign?' Yes. This generation seeks after a sign no
doubt; and that's an impious thing to do at any time. And I dare say the day
is not very far off when it will get the sign it deserves. D'you know what
you're doing, you perilous old man? You're trying to hold back the mills of
God—you, that know so little of the truth, that you can say the bottom's
going to be knocked out of hell! I didn't ought to listen, I reckon, for from
your own mouth you've told me you are with the fallen ones, and I never
thought the father of Mercy Marydrew had missed salvation. But 'tis a very
true thing that most of us are judged out of our mouths. No devil! Poor
soul! Poor, lost soul! But, such is the will of God, that I see clearer and
clearer how only them that have escaped Satan know him for what he is.
The world lies in his keeping, and the people don't know no more what has
caught them than the fish in a net. But I know. I see his ways and his awful
art. I see him as he is—black—black—and you can smell the smeech of
him when some people are talking. And not the swearers and lewd ones
only, but many, as think, like you, they are doing God's work. That's the last
and awfulest trick of him, William Marydrew—to make his work look like
God's."
Billy was amused and distracted from the object of his visit.
"My!" he said. "Blessed if I thought there was anybody in Brent knew

such a lot about Old Nick as you do, Mrs. Huxam. A proper witch doctor
you be! But even the saved make mistakes. 'Tis on the cards you may be
wrong, and I hope you are. You'm terrible high-minded, but them that want
to be high-minded must be single-minded, and the clever ones often come
to grief. You know a lot too much about the Black Man, and I'd like to hear
who told you. But be that as it may, there's a very fine thing called mercy—
come now."
"There is," said Mrs. Huxam, "or the bolt would fall a lot oftener than it
does. Mercy belongs to God, else heaven would be empty when the Trump
sounds; but there's also such a thing as justice, and justice is man's business.
He can leave mercy where it belongs and not dare to think of such a thing
when a sinner falls. For that's to know better than Him that made the sinner.
Justice is what we understand, because our Maker willed that we should.
Our first parents had their taste of justice, and justice is within our reach. To
talk of showing mercy to the wicked as you do, is to say a vain thing and
range yourself against justice. Only through justice can come hope for any
of us, William Marydrew. Our business is to do justly and not pander with
evil, or try to touch the thing with merciful hands."
"And that's what life have taught you," murmured Billy. "And you
thrive and keep pretty well on it. I've always heard you was a wonder, my
dear, but how wonderful I never did guess. Now tell me, is Adam Winter,
who be of the Chosen Few, in the right to forgive the man that did him so
much harm, or in the wrong?"
They talked for an hour, then, weary and conscious that Mrs. Huxam
was not made of material familiar to him, William rose and went his way.
"No offence given where none is taken, I hope. I'm sorry you can't see it
might be a vitty thing for husband and wife to come together in fulness of
time; because if you can't see it, it won't happen perhaps. But turn over the
thought, like the good woman you are, and if the Lord should say that
mercy ain't beyond human power, after all—well, listen."
"You needn't tell me to listen, Mr. Marydrew. I'm sorry for your
blindness and I'm sorry for your deafness, but I see clear and I hear clear
still."
"Good day then. No doubt it takes all sorts to make a world."
"Yes," answered she, "but only one sort to make a heaven."
He laughed genially.
"Then I hope they won't knock the bottom out of hell, after all, else
where should us of the common staple go? Must spend eternity
somewhere."
"Scratch a sinner and the devil always peeps out," thought Mrs. Huxam
as William departed.
CHAPTER VII
AT JACOB'S BEDSIDE
A week later William visited Jacob in hospital. He was nearing

recovery, but now knew that he might be lame for the rest of his life. The
sufferer felt indifferent; but he cherished minor grievances and grumbled to
his friend.
"Only Auna ever comes to see me. Would you believe that? Not once
has John Henry visited me, and only once, Avis—and her marriage, that I've
agreed to, and the farm that I've given her and all!" he said.
"Young lovers be selfish toads," explained William; "think nothing of it.

I believe Avis will prove a better daughter after marriage than before. She's
the sort will get sweeter with ripeness. For John Henry there's no excuse. I'll
talk to him some day and open his eyes. But the great truth is that their
amazing grandmother be more to your children than their own parents. A
mystery, Jacob; but the ways of blood are always a mystery. The dead will
come to live in their havage[1] and pass on the good and bad qualities alike.
'Tis a pity Providence don't look to it that only the good be handed down;
because then the breed of men and women would be a lot better by now
than they are; but all qualities are part and parcel, and even goodness often
takes narrowness and coldness of heart along with it."
[1] Havage—offspring.
"Margery's heart was never cold."
"But her mother's—her mother's, Jacob! I may tell you now that I
carried out a little plot in that quarter and went to see Mrs. Huxam on a
Sabbath. I had in my mind that at my great age and with my well-known
good character, I might influence her; because in a few other directions I've
talked round high-minded people and showed 'em that, as things are, nought
could be hopefuller than for you and your wife to come together again."
"You meant well as you always do, Billy."
"An Old Testament fashion of woman is your mother-in-law. The faith

that would move mountains. It's a good thing that she hasn't got much
power, for she'd use it in a very uncomfortable fashion if she had. A great,
mournful wonder in the land. She's like a sloe-bush, Jacob: the older she
grows, the sharper her thorns and the poorer her fruit. I came away with my
tail between my legs, I assure you. I was dust in the wind afore her."
"She'll never change."
"Never. Wild horses wouldn't make her change. Hell comforts her, same
as heaven comforts us, and there's no fear the fires would go out if she had
the stoking."
"The littleness of her—the littleness of her!" cried Jacob. "Can't she see
that all this talk is nothing to tortured flesh and blood? Her power lies in the
weakness and ignorance of other people. Hear this, William: my wife would
see me and listen to me, if her mother allowed it. And when I know that—to
Auna she whispered it—in a weak moment—still Auna heard—and when I
know that, what's hell or heaven to me? They must be nothing, anyway, to a
man who has done what I've done—to a man who has brought such sorrow
on the earth as I have. What is eternity to one who's wasted all his time?
The things I might have done—the happiness I might have given—the good
I might have wrought! Instead, I break the heart of the best, truest woman
ever a man had for wife. What can alter that? Can eternity alter it? Can
heaven make it better, or hell make it worse? Nothing can change it but
what happens here—here—before it's too late. And Judith Huxam is going
to confound all—just that one, old woman, poisoned by religion, as much as
I was poisoned by jealousy."
"A very great thought, Jacob," admitted Mr. Marydrew. "We be in the
hand of principalities and powers, and mystery hides our way, look where
we will. But we must trust. Everything is on the move, and the Lord can
touch the hardest heart."
"Hearts are nothing, William. The head governs the world, and great,
blind forces govern the head. Blind forces, driving on, driving over us, like
the wheel over the mole by night; and despite our wits and our power of
planning and looking ahead and counting the cost, we can't withstand them.
They run over us all."
"We can't withstand 'em; but the God who made 'em can," answered
William. "Be patient still and trust the turn of the lane. You be paying the
wages of your sin, Jacob; you be paying 'em very steady and regular; and I
hope that a time will come when you'll be held to have paid in full. We
never know how much, or how little our Maker calls us to pay for our
mistakes. You may have very near rubbed off the score by God's mercy; for
He's well known for a very generous creditor and never axes any man to
pay beyond his powers."
He chattered on and, from time to time, patted Jacob's big hand, that lay
on the counterpane of his bed.
The sick man thanked him presently and then there came Peter, to see
his father on business. He asked after Jacob's health and expressed
satisfaction to know that he was making progress. Having received
necessary instructions, he went his way and William praised him.
"There's more humanity in Peter than there is in my eldest," admitted

Peter's father.
He grew calmer before Billy left him and promised to keep his soul in
patience.
"First thing you've got to do is to get well and up on your legs again
against the wedding," urged William.
"I hope much from it," answered Jacob. "I'm planning to beg Barlow
Huxam to see me on the subject. That's reasonable—eh?"
"Very reasonable indeed. He's one with a good deal of sense to him. In
fact the man as have lived all his life with your mother-in-law must have
qualities out of the common," declared William. "But he haven't
neighboured with that amazing character all these years for nothing. How
much of his soul he calls his own, you may know better than me. 'Tis a case
of Aaron's rod swallowing the lesser, and he won't gainsay Mrs. Huxam in
anything, I'm afraid."
When he was gone, one thought of a comforting character remained
with the sick man. He had been much daunted with the tremendous moral
significance of the opinion of the world and its crushing censure. It had
weakened resolution and increased his self-condemnation. Now his friend
was able to assert that public emotion grew quieter against him; that even,
in some quarters, he had won an admission it might be reasonable for
husband and wife to come together again. This fact soothed Bullstone, for
like many, who do not court their fellow-creatures, he had been, none the
less, sensitive of their opinions and jealous of their approval. Herein,
therefore, appeared hope. He felt grateful to his old companion, who,
among so many words that to Jacob meant no comfort, was yet able to drop
this salutary consolation. He much desired to tell Auna, who had long been
the recipient of all his confidences and made older than her years by them.
CHAPTER VIII
JEREMY EVASIVE
After Margery knew her husband's desires, she was animated fitfully to
make an effort and return. But she lacked strength to do any such thing
single-handed. She had been losing vitality, yet so gradually, that none
about her appeared conscious of the fact. Even Auna saw her too often to
appreciate it. The girl came every week, but won no further opportunity to
see her mother alone. She opposed a sulky obstinacy to her grandmother
and Judith began to fear for her.
Then Margery saw her brother again and, with even less reticence than
on a former occasion, appealed to him. She had kept her original contract
and succeeded in winning her father. It was understood that Jeremy and
Jane would take over the post-office and the draper's shop, when the
Huxams went to their private house; and Jeremy, now accustomed to the
idea, argued that his sister had really not influenced the decision and that
she might not, therefore, fairly ask him to assist her present project. In fact
he much desired to be off the bargain, and but for Jane, would have evaded
it. She showed him, however, that this might not honourably be done and,
with very ill grace, Margery's brother listened to her purpose.
"I must go back when he does," explained Jacob's wife. "He's made a
good recovery, and can walk on crutches, and will soon be able to travel
with a stick. And the next thing will be the wedding, I suppose; and I ought
to be at my home for that. Because such a thing will break the ice and help
all round—at least so I feel and hope. I must go back, Jeremy. I'm called
stronger and stronger to it, and mother's awful ideas don't trouble me no
more. I've gone much farther than to forgive Jacob now. He's been very near
death and I ask myself what I'd have felt. But all that's my business. What I
beg from you, Jeremy, is just practical help—to meet me by night with your
trap, unbeknownst to any living thing but ourselves, and drive me back."
"I don't like it—I hate it," he answered. "It's not a religious action and
I'm very doubtful indeed if it's a wise one even from a worldly point of
view. The excitement will certainly be terrible bad for you, because you're
in no state at all to stand it."
"It may be kill or cure; but I'd far rather face it than go on like this—
seeing my bones come through my skin and my hair fail me. It'll soon be
now or never; but I do think, if I get back quietly and quickly, I'll build up
again and be some good to my family. I'm only sorry for mother."
Jeremy exploited the ethical objections.
"You see, Margery, it's quite as difficult for me as for you. As a matter
of fact you're putting a great charge on my conscience, because I've got to
go contrary to mother and behind her back—a thing I've never yet done—
and feeling as I do that she is right——"
"You've promised," interrupted Jane. "You promised to lend Margery a

hand if she helped you; and she did help you. And it's humbug to say you
never hid anything behind your mother's back, my dear man. What about it
when you married me?"
"I'm talking to Margery, not you," he replied, "and I was going to say
that somebody else might help her in the details much better than I could.
You see some think she's right, and such as them would do this with a much
better appetite than I shall. How if I was to drop a hint and get another man
to do it, Margery? It would be just the same to you and a good bit pleasanter
for me."
"There's nobody but you," she answered, "and it's properly unkind if
you're going back on your promise."
"He isn't," declared Jane with diplomacy. "He's a lot too fearless and a
lot too good a brother for that."
"I wouldn't say I promised; but of course if you feel I did——"

continued Jeremy. "However I've got rather a bright idea, and since you're
firm about this, and nobody will thank God better than your husband if you
do go back, then why not let him do it? That would be a natural seemly
arrangement since you both think alike. I'm perfectly willing to go to him
and tell him."
"No," said Margery. "That would upset everything I've planned. My

return must be a surprise for a thousand reasons. I want to go back as I
came out. In plain words, I've got to escape mother to go at all. Set like steel
as she is against any truck with Jacob, I have no choice but to deceive her.
I'm too weak to carry it off with a high hand, and she'd stop me if she
guessed I was thinking of it. Only I can't, of course, walk to Red House, and
so I must be drove; and you must drive me."
"If you're a man, you will, Jeremy," added Jane. "You promised."
"I bargain, then, that my part never comes out," said Jeremy, much
perturbed. "I consider this is something of a trap I'm in, and I don't think
much the better of you for it, Margery. And I believe you're courting a pack
of trouble, not to speak of Everlasting punishment if you go back to such a
man. But since you won't let me out, I'll do as you wish on the one
understanding, that my name's never whispered."
Neither Margery nor Jane, however, felt any sorrow for Jeremy.
"Thank you, then," said his sister. "It's only a question of waiting now
till my husband's well enough to go home. Then you can fix up a night, and
I'll husband my strength and come and meet you at Lydia Bridge, or
somewhere out of the way. We might do better to go round under Brent
Tor."
"We must leave the details for the present," said Jeremy, "and it will be
needful to wait till the nights are longer and darker."
Jane changed the subject.
"What about Avis and Bob?" she asked. "Jacob counts on their wedding
taking place from Red House—so Mr. Marydrew told me."
"It's going to be a difficult subject," answered Margery; "everything

must be difficult till we begin again; and mother won't do anything to make
it less difficult."
"Jacob naturally expects his daughter to be married from her home—

and why not?" asked Jane.
"Because it isn't her home," explained Jeremy. "You can't talk of Red
House being a home no longer, and mother's right there. Red House ceased
to be a home when Margery left it."
"But if I was back that would be altered," declared Margery. "It all
points to my going back. And mother will live to see it was right, if only for
our children's sakes."
Jeremy, however, would not allow this.
"Don't fox yourself to think so. Your children haven't any use for their
father and never will have. He's done for himself with them—all but Auna
—and when she's old enough to see the sense of it, no doubt she will."
"Jeremy's right," said Jane. "You mustn't think that, Margery. The boys
and Avis always did care a lot more for you than their father. They never hit
it, and you knew it, if Jacob did not."

Free Download Geometry and Physics A Festschrift in Honour of Nigel Hitchin Volume Ii Andersen Full Chapter PDF

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Free Download Geometry and Physics A Festschrift in Honour of Nigel Hitchin Volume Ii Andersen Full Chapter PDF

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Geometry and Physics: A Festschrift in

Honour of Nigel Hitchin, Volume II

Brauer Group of Moduli of Higgs Bundles

400005, India, Email: indranil@math.tifr.res.in

Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany, Email: schapos@illinois.edu

To Nigel Hitchin, on the occasion of his seventieth

2000 Mathematics Subject Classification. 14F22, 14H60.

through which in Section 2 we study the Brauer group Br(MC ):

2. Brauer Group of Some Moduli Spaces

2.1. Brauer Group of Moduli Spaces of Connections

is a holomorphic differential operator of order 1 satisfying the Leibniz identity

degree(E) + trace(Res(D, x0 )) = 0. (2.2)

For notational convenience, we shall let K := KX ⊗ OX (x0 ).

of relative dimension (r − 1) which is equipped with a relative holomorphic connection in

be the projective bundle obtained by restricting 

a torsor on Y for W. Then the pullback homomorphism

 generated by it. Now, from [Fo,

 −→ Br(W ) −→ H1 (P(W), Q/Z) −→ · · · .

Combining this with (2.11) we get an isomorphism

We know that Br(N ) is cyclic of order τ = g.c.d.(r, δ) [BBGN, p. 267, Theorem

Finally, in order to find a generator of Br(MC ), let 

be the projective bundle obtained by restricting  P, where x is the point of X in (2.5).

2.2. Analytic Brauer Group of Representation Spaces

Homδ ( , SL(r, C)) ⊂ Hom( , SL(r, C))

be all such homomorphisms ρ satisfying the condition that

R := Homδ ( , SL(r, C))//SL(r, C),

A homomorphism ρ : −→ SL(r, C) is called reducible if ρ( ) is contained in some

the locus of irreducible homomorphisms in R. It is easy to see that R is contained in the

makes H an algebraic principal PSL(r, C)-bundle over R. We shall denote by

PR := H ×PSL(r,C) CPr−1 −→ R (2.15)

Bran (R) ⊂ Bran (R) .

2.3. Brauer Group of Moduli Spaces of Higgs Bundles

Br(N ) = Br(T ∗ N ) = Br(MH ) ;

as before, we use that N is simply connected.

3. Generalizations to Principal Bundles

be the smooth locus of MC (G).

4. Langlands Duality and Brauer Groups

1107452, 1107263, 1107367 RNMS: GEometric structures And Representation varieties

Classification of Boundary Lefschetz

33615 Bielefeld, Germany, E-mail address: sbehrens@math.uni-bielefeld.de

The Netherlands, E-mail address: g.r.cavalcanti@uu.nl

Boulevard du Triomphe B-1050 Bruxelles, Belgique, E-mail address: rklaasse@ulb.ac.be

Dedicated to Professor Nigel Hitchin on the occasion of

Abstract. Stable generalized complex structures can be constructed out of boundary

Theorem Let f : X 4 → D2 be a relatively minimal boundary Lefschetz fibration and

Organization of the paper

2. Boundary Lefschetz Fibrations

• The map f is a boundary map if the normal Hessian of f along D is definite.

f (x1 , . . . , x2n ) = (x21 + x22 , x3 ), (2.1)

f (z1 , . . . , zn ) = z21 + · · · + z2n . (2.2)

Example 2.2 (S1 × S3 ) In this example we provide X = S1 × S3 with the structure

2.1. Vanishing Cycles and Monodromy

To summarize, f −1 (η0 ) is a solid torus whose boundary is Fy . Further Fy contains a well-

Here Bi = τbi is a right-handed Dehn twist about bi and h is any diffeomorphism of T 2 .

μ(f ) ∈ M(Fy ) = π0 Diff + (Fy )

be the counterclockwise monodromy of f around S1r as measured in the mapping class

μ(f ) = τλ ◦ · · · ◦ τλ1 ∈ M(Fy ) = π0 Diff + (Fy ). (2.3)

We record two facts that are important for our purposes:

μ(f ) = τλ ◦ · · · ◦ τλ1 = ±τδk ∈ M(Fy ), k ∈ Z.

B ◦ · · · ◦ B1 = ±Ak ∈ M(T 2 ) (2.5)

2.2. Handle Decompositions and Kirby Diagrams

∪ two 3-handles ∪ two 3-handles

As an illustration of this procedure, Figure 2 shows the Kirby diagrams correspond-

be the projective bundle obtained by restricting

generated by it. Now, from [Fo,

−→ Br(W ) −→ H1 (P(W), Q/Z) −→ · · · .

Finally, in order to find a generator of Br(MC ), let

be the projective bundle obtained by restricting P, where x is the point of X in (2.5).

μ(f ) = τλ ◦ · · · ◦ τλ1 ∈ M(Fy ) = π0 Diff + (Fy ). (2.3)

μ(f ) = τλ ◦ · · · ◦ τλ1 = ±τδk ∈ M(Fy ), k ∈ Z.

B ◦ · · · ◦ B1 = ±Ak ∈ M(T 2 ) (2.5)