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Hodge-Deligne and Poincaré polynomials of M‾1,n\overline{\mathcal M}_{1,n}

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Abstract

By studying wall crossings of Hassett moduli spaces of weighted pointed curves, we prove a recursive formula that reduces the computation of the cohomology of M‾g,n\overline{\mathcal M}_{g,n} to that of the moduli space M‾g,(0+)n\overline{\mathcal M}_{g,(0^+)^n} of stable pointed curves of minimal weights. For g=1g=1, we further prove an explicit formula for the Hodge-Deligne and Poincaré polynomials of M‾1,(0+)n\overline{\mathcal M}_{1,(0^+)^n}. Combining these, we prove formulas that enable us to compute the cohomology of M‾1,n\overline{\mathcal M}_{1,n} efficiently.

Introduction

The moduli space M‾g,n\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,n} of stable curves of genus gg with nn marked points is one of the most important objects in algebraic geometry [10, 20]. It parametrizes connected projective curves CC of arithmetic genus gg with at worst nodal singularities together with nn ordered smooth marked points p1,…,pnp_1,\ldots,p_n in CC such that

  1. pip_i are all distinct and

  2. ωC(∑ipi)\omega_C(\sum_i p_i) is ample.

It is a smooth proper Deligne-Mumford stack with projective coarse moduli space. It plays a fundamental role in modern enumerative geometry and serves as a model for moduli spaces of higher dimensional varieties. For over half a century, much effort has been exerted to understand the geometry and topology of M‾g,n\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,n} and there has been a constant stream of new discoveries even until now [1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 17].

In this paper, we focus on the cohomology of M‾1,n\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,n}. Getzler [12] found a formula for the SnS_n-equivariant Hodge-Deligne polynomials of M‾1,n\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,n} for all nn, by the theory of modular operads [14]. It expresses them in terms of the equivariant Hodge-Deligne polynomials of the open moduli spaces M1,n\mathcal{M}_{1,n}, computed in [13] by means of the Eichler-Shimura isomorphism, and of genus zero data, combined by plethystic composition. This determines the Hodge numbers of M‾1,n\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,n} together with the SnS_n-action on its cohomology. Getzler listed the Hodge-Deligne polynomials of M‾1,n\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,n} for n≤15n \le15 [12], and the SnS_n-equivariant ones were tabulated for n≤20n \le20 by Bergström [3].

In genus zero, on the other hand, the Poincaré polynomial of M‾0,n\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{0,n} is given by an explicit recursive formula [21 (4.12)], which can be proved by Keel’s blowup construction [18]. Therefore it seems reasonable to ask the following.

Question 1.1. Is there an explicit recursive formula for the Poincaré and Hodge-Deligne polynomials of M‾1,n\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,n} which comes from a sequence of blowups, as in genus zero?

The purpose of this paper is to provide a positive answer to this question. This gives a new proof of Getzler’s results on the Hodge numbers of M‾1,n\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,n}, by elementary formulas which involve only binomial coefficients, Stirling numbers and dimensions of spaces of cusp forms, and an effective way to compute the Hodge and Betti numbers of M‾1,n\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,n} for large nn. Since our recursion comes from explicit smooth blowups, it also holds for any invariant satisfying the blowup formula, such as Chow groups.

Our computation of H∗(M‾1,n)H^*(\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,n}) is achieved in two stages. We first reduce the computation to a simpler moduli space M‾1,(0+)n\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,(0+)^n}, where 0+0^+ denotes a positive rational number sufficiently close to 00. We note that many of the strata in M‾1,n\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,n} disappear and the computation becomes much easier if we allow all the marked points to coincide. This happens in the moduli space M‾1,(0+)n\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,(0+)^n} of stable pointed curves with weight 0+0^+ for each marked point [16]. By studying wall crossings in Hassett’s moduli spaces of weighted pointed curves, we prove the following.

Theorem 1.2 (Theorem 3.1). Let g≥1g \ge1 and fix any invariant H\mathbf{H} of smooth proper Deligne-Mumford stacks satisfying the blowup formula (2.2) such as the Hodge-Deligne or Poincaré polynomial. Let M‾g,r∣s=M‾g,(1r,(0+)s)\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,r|s}=\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,(1^r,(0+)^s)} be the moduli space of stable curves of genus gg with rr points of weight 1 and ss points of weight 0+0^+. Let Hr∣s:=HM‾g,r∣s\mathbf{H}_{r|s}:=\mathbf{H}_{\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,r|s}}. Then for r,s≥0r,s\ge0 with r+s>0r+s>0 and n>0n>0, the following hold:

Hr∣s=Hr−1∣s+1+∑k=0s−2(sk)Hr∣k⋅(HPs−k−1−1),r≥1,(1)\mathbf{H}_{r|s}=\mathbf{H}_{r-1|s+1}+\sum_{k=0}^{s-2}\binom{s}{k}\mathbf{H}_{r|k}\cdot\left(\mathbf{H}_{\mathbb{P}^{s-k-1}}-1\right),\qquad r\ge1, \tag*{(1)}
HM‾g,n=Hn∣0=H0∣n+∑r=1n−2∑k=0s−2(sk)Hr∣k⋅(HPs−k−1−1).(2)\mathbf{H}_{\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,n}}=\mathbf{H}_{n|0}=\mathbf{H}_{0|n}+\sum_{r=1}^{n-2}\sum_{k=0}^{s-2}\binom{s}{k}\mathbf{H}_{r|k}\cdot\left(\mathbf{H}_{\mathbb{P}^{s-k-1}}-1\right). \tag*{(2)}

All Hr∣s\mathbf{H}_{r|s} are recursively determined by (1.1) if we know H0∣n=HM‾g,(0+)n\mathbf{H}_{0|n}=\mathbf{H}_{\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,(0+)^n}} for all nn.

The theorem is equivalent to [17 Theorem A]. Our proof comes from explicit blowups and gives us a Hodge conjecture comparison (Corollary 3.2).

Next we compute the cohomology of M‾1,(0+)n\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,(0+)^n} piece by piece. Let

π:M‾1,(0+)n⟶M‾1,0+=M‾1,1\pi:\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,(0+)^n}\longrightarrow\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,0+}=\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,1}

be the morphism that forgets all the marked points except the first. The inverse image In=π−1(M1,1)\mathcal{I}_n=\pi^{-1}(\mathcal{M}_{1,1}) of M1,1\mathcal{M}_{1,1} is the (n−1)(n-1)-fold fiber product of the universal curve

q:C⟶M1,1=SL⁡2(Z)\H,H={z∈C∣Im⁡z>0}q:\mathcal{C}\longrightarrow\mathcal{M}_{1,1}=\operatorname{SL}_2(\mathbb{Z})\backslash\mathbb{H},\qquad\mathbb{H}=\{z\in\mathbb{C}\mid\operatorname{Im}z>0\}

and we have

Rπ∗QIn=(Rq∗QC)⊗n−1=((Q⊕Q(−1)[−2])⊕V[−1])⊗n−1(3)R\pi_*\mathbb{Q}_{\mathcal{I}_n}=(Rq_*\mathbb{Q}_{\mathcal{C}})^{\otimes n-1}=\left((\mathbb{Q}\oplus\mathbb{Q}(-1)[-2])\oplus V[-1]\right)^{\otimes n-1} \tag*{(3)}

by the relative Künneth formula, where V=R1q∗QV=R^1q_*\mathbb{Q}. Note that Hc∗(M1,1,V⊗k)=0H_c^*(\mathcal{M}_{1,1},V^{\otimes k})=0 for kk odd by the action of the generic stabilizer −I∈SL⁡2(Z)-I\in\operatorname{SL}_2(\mathbb{Z}). By expanding the right hand side of (1.3) and applying the Clebsch-Gordan rule, the computation of Hc∗(In)H_c^*(\mathcal{I}_n) is reduced to that of Hc∗(M1,1,Sym⁡2jV)H_c^*(\mathcal{M}_{1,1},\operatorname{Sym}^{2j}V) which can be obtained by the Eichler-Shimura isomorphism (cf. Lemma 4.2). Combining these, we find that the Hodge-Deligne polynomial of the interior In\mathcal{I}_n is (cf. Proposition 4.1)

∑j=0⌊n−12⌋(n−12j)(uv+1)n−1−2j(αjj(uv)j+1−∑i=0j−1αij(uv)i)\sum_{j=0}^{\lfloor\frac{n-1}{2}\rfloor}\binom{n-1}{2j}(uv+1)^{n-1-2j}\left(\alpha_{jj}(uv)^{j+1}-\sum_{i=0}^{j-1}\alpha_{ij}(uv)^i\right)
−∑j=0⌊n−12⌋(n−12j)(uv+1)n−1−2j∑i=0j−1αijβ2j−2i+2(uv)i(u2j−2i+1+v2j−2i+1)(4)-\sum_{j=0}^{\lfloor\frac{n-1}{2}\rfloor}\binom{n-1}{2j}(uv+1)^{n-1-2j}\sum_{i=0}^{j-1}\alpha_{ij}\beta_{2j-2i+2}(uv)^i(u^{2j-2i+1}+v^{2j-2i+1}) \tag*{(4)}

where

αij=(2ji)−(2ji−1)andβk={⌊k12⌋−1if k≡2(mod12),⌊k12⌋if k≢2(mod12).\alpha_{ij}=\binom{2j}{i}-\binom{2j}{i-1} \qquad\text{and}\qquad \beta_k= \begin{cases} \left\lfloor\frac{k}{12}\right\rfloor-1 & \text{if }k\equiv2\pmod{12},\\ \left\lfloor\frac{k}{12}\right\rfloor& \text{if }k\not\equiv2\pmod{12}. \end{cases}

The complement Bn=π−1(∞)=M‾1,(0+)n−InB_n=\pi^{-1}(\infty)=\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,(0+)^n}-\mathcal{I}_n consists of pointed rational nodal curves. Let Bn,j⊂M‾1,(0+)nB_{n,j}\subset\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,(0+)^n} be the locus of pointed rational curves whose dual graphs are necklaces with jj vertices. It is obvious that there are γn,j\gamma_{n,j} dual graphs with jj vertices, where

γn,j={(nj)(j−1)!2for j>2,γn,1=1,γn,2=2n−1−1\gamma_{n,j}= \begin{cases} \binom{n}{j}\dfrac{(j-1)!}{2} & \text{for }j>2, \end{cases} \qquad\gamma_{n,1}=1,\qquad\gamma_{n,2}=2^{n-1}-1

and (nj)\binom{n}{j} denotes the Stirling number of the second kind. For j≥3j \ge3, each connected component of Bn,j\mathcal{B}_{n,j} is isomorphic to (C∗)n−j(\mathbb{C}^{*})^{n-j} and hence Hc∗(Bn,j)H_c^*(\mathcal{B}_{n,j}) has Hodge-Deligne polynomial γn,j(uv−1)n−j\gamma_{n,j}(uv-1)^{n-j}. For j=1,2j=1,2, we have to consider an additional action of S2S_2 which acts on C∗\mathbb{C}^{*} by z↦z−1z \mapsto z^{-1}. Combining all these, we find that the Hodge-Deligne polynomial of the boundary Bn\mathcal{B}_n is

(uv+1)n−1+(uv−1)n−12+γn,2(uv+1)n−2+(uv−1)n−22+∑j=3nγn,j(uv−1)n−j.(5)\frac{(uv+1)^{n-1}+(uv-1)^{n-1}}{2}+\gamma_{n,2}\frac{(uv+1)^{n-2}+(uv-1)^{n-2}}{2}+\sum_{j=3}^{n}\gamma_{n,j}(uv-1)^{n-j}. \tag*{(5)}

By (4) and (5), we have the following.

Theorem 1.3 (Theorem 4.4). The Hodge-Deligne polynomial H0∣n\mathbf{H}_{0|n} of M‾1,(0+)n=M‾1,0∣n\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,(0+)n}=\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,0|n} is

∑j=0⌊n−12⌋(n−12j)(uv+1)n−1−2j(αjj(uv)j+1−∑i=0j−1αij(uv)i)\sum_{j=0}^{\left\lfloor\frac{n-1}{2}\right\rfloor}\binom{n-1}{2j}(uv+1)^{n-1-2j}\left(\alpha_{jj}(uv)^{j+1}-\sum_{i=0}^{j-1}\alpha_{ij}(uv)^i\right)
+(uv+1)n−1+(uv−1)n−12+γn,2(uv+1)n−2+(uv−1)n−22+∑j=3nγn,j(uv−1)n−j+\frac{(uv+1)^{n-1}+(uv-1)^{n-1}}{2}+\gamma_{n,2}\frac{(uv+1)^{n-2}+(uv-1)^{n-2}}{2}+\sum_{j=3}^{n}\gamma_{n,j}(uv-1)^{n-j}
−∑j=0⌊n−12⌋(n−12j)(uv+1)n−1−2j∑i=0j−1αijβ2j−2i+2(uv)i(u2j−2i+1+v2j−2i+1).(6)-\sum_{j=0}^{\left\lfloor\frac{n-1}{2}\right\rfloor}\binom{n-1}{2j}(uv+1)^{n-1-2j}\sum_{i=0}^{j-1}\alpha_{ij}\beta_{2j-2i+2}(uv)^i(u^{2j-2i+1}+v^{2j-2i+1}). \tag*{(6)}

The Hodge-Deligne polynomial Hn∣0\mathbf{H}_{n|0} of M‾1,n=M‾1,n∣0\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,n}=\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,n|0} can be computed by the recursive formula (2) together with (1) and (6).

Letting u=v=−tu=v=-t, we get the Poincaré polynomial of M‾1,n\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,n}. Note that only the last line in (6) has odd degree terms.

It is straightforward to implement the above theorem into a computer program and we can compute the Hodge-Deligne and Poincaré polynomials of M‾1,n\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,n} for large nn within a relatively short period of time.

Motivated by recent discoveries on the cohomology of M‾0,n\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{0,n} [1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 9], we raise the following.

Question 1.4. (1) The sequence of blowups in § 3 is not SnS_n-equivariant. Can the method of this paper be refined to compute the SnS_n-equivariant Hodge-Deligne polynomials of M‾1,n\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,n}, giving a new proof of Getzler’s formula [12, 13]?

(2) Do the coefficients of the even degree Poincaré polynomial PM‾1,neven(x)=∑i=0nxidim⁡H2i(M‾1,n)P^{\mathrm{even}}_{\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,n}}(x)=\sum_{i=0}^{n}x^i\dim H^{2i}(\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,n}) of M‾1,n\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,n} form a log-concave or kk-ultra log-concave sequence for some kk?

(3) Does the probability distribution of the coefficients of PM‾1,neven(x)/PM‾1,neven(1)P^{\mathrm{even}}_{\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,n}}(x)/P^{\mathrm{even}}_{\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,n}}(1) converge to a Gaussian distribution?

(4) Can we find effective estimates of the Betti numbers of M‾1,n\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,n} for large nn?

(5) Can we also use the method in this paper to calculate the Hodge-Deligne and Poincaré polynomials of M‾g,n\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,n} for g≥2g \ge2? Note that Theorem 3.1 holds for all g≥1g \ge1 and hence it suffices to calculate the Hodge-Deligne polynomial of M‾g,0∣n\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,0|n}.

In subsequent papers, we will continue our investigation to seek answers to the above questions.

Convention. All schemes and stacks in this paper are defined over the complex number field C\mathbb{C} and all cohomology groups have rational coefficients.

Acknowledgement. It is my pleasure to thank Gergely Bérczi, Jonas Bergström, Jinwon Choi, Shiyue Li and Han-Bom Moon for useful discussions and comments.

Moduli spaces of weighted pointed curves and Hodge-Deligne polynomials

In this section, we collect necessary facts about Hassett moduli spaces [16] and Hodge-Deligne polynomials that will be used throughout this paper.

Definition 2.1. [16] Let g,n≥0g,n \ge0. For A=(a1,…,an)∈(0,1]n\mathcal{A}=(a_1,\ldots,a_n)\in(0,1]^n with 2g−2+∑iai>02g-2+\sum_i a_i>0, a connected curve CC with marked points p1,…,pn∈Cp_1,\ldots,p_n\in C is called A\mathcal{A}-stable if

(1) CC has at worst nodal singularities and pip_i are all smooth points;

(2) if pi1=pi2=⋯=pikp_{i_1}=p_{i_2}=\cdots=p_{i_k}, then ai1+⋯+aik≤1a_{i_1}+\cdots+a_{i_k}\le1;

(3) ωC(a1p1+⋯+anpn)\omega_C(a_1p_1+\cdots+a_np_n) is ample.

Let M‾g,A\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,\mathcal{A}} denote the moduli stack of A\mathcal{A}-stable nn-pointed curves of genus gg. In particular, when ai>1/2a_i>1/2 for all ii, M‾g,A\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,\mathcal{A}} coincides with the Knudsen-Deligne-Mumford moduli stack M‾g,n\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,n} of stable curves of genus gg with nn marked points [10, 20].

Let us summarize useful facts about M‾g,A\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,\mathcal{A}} from [16].

Theorem 2.2. Let A=(a1,…,an)∈(0,1]n\mathcal{A}=(a_1,\ldots,a_n)\in(0,1]^n with 2g−2+∑i=1nai>02g-2+\sum_{i=1}^n a_i>0.

(1) M‾g,A\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,\mathcal{A}} is a smooth connected proper Deligne-Mumford stack of dimension 3g−3+n3g-3+n with projective coarse moduli space.

(2) If A=(a1,…,an)\mathcal{A}=(a_1,\ldots,a_n), A′=(a1′,…,an′)\mathcal{A}'=(a'_1,\ldots,a'_n) and ai≥ai′a_i\ge a'_i for all ii, then we have a natural morphism

ρA,A′:M‾g,A⟶M‾g,A′(7)\rho_{\mathcal{A},\mathcal{A}'}:\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,\mathcal{A}}\longrightarrow\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,\mathcal{A}'} \tag*{(7)}

which is obtained by contracting rational components in an A\mathcal{A}-stable curve which are not A′\mathcal{A}'-stable.

(3) For 2<r≤n2<r\le n, if ai1′+⋯+air′≤1a'_{i_1}+\cdots+a'_{i_r}\le1 and ai1+⋯+air>1a_{i_1}+\cdots+a_{i_r}>1 but any proper subset of {ai1,…,air}\{a_{i_1},\ldots,a_{i_r}\} has sum at most one while aj=aj′a_j=a'_j for j≠i1,…,irj\ne i_1,\ldots,i_r, then the morphism ρA,A′\rho_{\mathcal{A},\mathcal{A}'} is the smooth blowup along the locus M‾g,A‾′\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,\overline{\mathcal{A}}'} in M‾g,A′\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,\mathcal{A}'} where pi1=⋯=pirp_{i_1}=\cdots=p_{i_r} and A‾′\overline{\mathcal{A}}' is obtained from A′\mathcal{A}' by replacing ai1′,…,air′a'_{i_1},\ldots,a'_{i_r} by their sum.

(4) If r≤2r\le2 for any I⊂[n]I\subset[n] such that ai1+⋯+air>1a_{i_1}+\cdots+a_{i_r}>1 and ai1′+⋯+air′≤1a'_{i_1}+\cdots+a'_{i_r}\le1, then ρA,A′\rho_{\mathcal{A},\mathcal{A}'} is an isomorphism.

Proof. (1) is [16 Theorem 2.1] and (2) is [16 Theorem 4.1] while (3) is [16 Remark 4.6] and (4) is [16 Corollary 4.7]. □\square

In this paper, we will consider invariants H\mathbf{H} of smooth proper Deligne-Mumford stacks which assign an element HX\mathbf{H}_X of a ring to each XX over C\mathbb{C} satisfying the blowup formula: If X→YX\to Y is the smooth blowup along ZZ of codimension cc, then

HX=HY+HZ⋅(HPc−1−1).(8)\mathbf{H}_X=\mathbf{H}_Y+\mathbf{H}_Z\cdot(\mathbf{H}_{\mathbb{P}^{c-1}}-1). \tag*{(8)}

For instance, H\mathbf{H} may be the Hodge-Deligne or the Poincaré polynomial of XX. Our result in §3 (Theorem 3.1) relies only on the blowup formula (2.2).

For the computation in §4 (Theorem 4.4), we will let H\mathbf{H} be the Hodge-Deligne polynomial

HX(u,v)=∑k(−1)k∑p,qupvqdim⁡Hcp,q;k(X)∈Z[u,v],Hcp,q;k(X)=gr⁡Fpgr⁡p+qWHck(X)\mathbf{H}_X(u,v)=\sum_k(-1)^k\sum_{p,q}u^pv^q\dim H_c^{p,q;k}(X)\in\mathbb{Z}[u,v],\qquad H_c^{p,q;k}(X)=\operatorname{gr}_F^p\operatorname{gr}_{p+q}^W H_c^k(X)

where gr⁡Fp\operatorname{gr}_F^p and gr⁡p+qW\operatorname{gr}_{p+q}^W denote the graded parts with respect to the Hodge filtration and weight filtration respectively. Since the mixed Hodge structure is natural, the Hodge-Deligne polynomial is a motivic invariant in the sense that

(1) HX=HX−Z+HZ\mathbf{H}_X=\mathbf{H}_{X-Z}+\mathbf{H}_Z for any closed Z⊂XZ\subset X and

(2) HX×Y=HX⋅HY\mathbf{H}_{X\times Y}=\mathbf{H}_X\cdot\mathbf{H}_Y.

By letting u=v=−tu=v=-t, we obtain the virtual Poincaré polynomial

PX(t)=HX(−t,−t)∈Z[t]P_X(t)=H_X(-t,-t)\in\mathbb{Z}[t]

of XX which is also a motivic invariant.

Reduction to minimally weighted curves

In this section, we prove an explicit formula (Theorem 3.1) that calculates the invariants of M‾g,n=M‾g,1n\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,n}=\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,1^n} from those of M‾g,(0+)n\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,(0^+)^n} where (0+)n∈(0,1]n(0^+)^n\in(0,1]^n denotes an element sufficiently close to zero, for g≥1g\geq1.

Fix g≥1g\geq1 and n≥1n\geq1. Then M‾g,A\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,A} is a nonempty proper smooth Deligne-Mumford stack for any A∈(0,1]nA\in(0,1]^n. For 0≤r<n0\leq r<n and 0<s≤n−r0<s\leq n-r, let

Ar,s(n)=(1,…,1,sn−r,1n−r,…,1n−r)∈(0,1]n(9)A_{r,s}^{(n)}=\left(1,\ldots,1,\frac{s}{n-r},\frac{1}{n-r},\ldots,\frac{1}{n-r}\right)\in(0,1]^n \tag*{(9)}

where 11 is repeated r−1r-1 times and 1n−r\frac{1}{n-r} is repeated n−rn-r times. For instance, A0,s(n)=(1n,…,1n)A_{0,s}^{(n)}=\left(\frac{1}{n},\ldots,\frac{1}{n}\right) for any ss. Let

Yr,s(n):=M‾g,Ar,s(n).(10)Y_{r,s}^{(n)}:=\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,A_{r,s}^{(n)}}. \tag*{(10)}

In particular, Y0,n(n)=M‾g,(0+)nY_{0,n}^{(n)}=\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,(0^+)^n} and

Yn−2,2(n)=Yn−1,1(n)=M‾g,n.(11)Y_{n-2,2}^{(n)}=Y_{n-1,1}^{(n)}=\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,n}. \tag*{(11)}

Moreover, by Theorem 2.2 (4),

Yr,n−r−1(n)=Yr,n−r(n)=M‾g,(1r,(0+)n−r)=:M‾g,r∣n−r(12)Y_{r,n-r-1}^{(n)}=Y_{r,n-r}^{(n)}=\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,(1^r,(0^+)^{n-r})}=:\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,r|n-r} \tag*{(12)}

is the moduli space of stable curves of genus gg with rr heavy points and n−rn-r light points [17].

Note that if r>r′r>r' or r=r′r=r' and s>s′s>s', then Ar,s(n)−Ar′,s′(n)≥0A_{r,s}^{(n)}-A_{r',s'}^{(n)}\geq0 and hence we have the natural morphism

ρ(r,s),(r′,s′):Yr,s(n)⟶Yr′,s′(n)\rho_{(r,s),(r',s')}:Y_{r,s}^{(n)}\longrightarrow Y_{r',s'}^{(n)}

by Theorem 2.2 (2).

Fix an invariant H\mathbf{H} satisfying the blowup formula and let

Hr∣s:=HM‾g,r∣s=HYr,s(n)(13)\mathbf{H}_{r|s}:=\mathbf{H}_{\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,r|s}}=\mathbf{H}_{Y_{r,s}^{(n)}} \tag*{(13)}

be the invariant of M‾g,r∣s\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,r|s}. Then we have H0∣n=HM‾g,(0+)n\mathbf{H}_{0|n}=\mathbf{H}_{\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,(0^+)^n}} and Hn∣0=HM‾g,n\mathbf{H}_{n|0}=\mathbf{H}_{\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,n}} by (3.4).

Now our goal is to reach Yn−2,2(n)=M‾g,nY_{n-2,2}^{(n)}=\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,n} starting from Y0,n(n)=M‾g,(0+)nY_{0,n}^{(n)}=\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,(0^+)^n} by smooth blowups so that we can reduce the computation of Hn∣0\mathbf{H}_{n|0} to H0∣n\mathbf{H}_{0|n}. Let us first reach Y1,n−1(n)Y_{1,n-1}^{(n)}. The natural map

ρA1,1(n),A0,n(n):Y1,1(n)⟶Y0,n(n)\rho_{A_{1,1}^{(n)},A_{0,n}^{(n)}}:Y_{1,1}^{(n)}\longrightarrow Y_{0,n}^{(n)}

is the smooth blowup along the locus M‾g,1∣0=M‾g,1\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,1|0}=\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,1} of p1=p2=⋯=pnp_1=p_2=\cdots=p_n by Theorem 2.2 (3). Likewise, for 1≤k≤n−31\leq k\leq n-3, the natural map

ρA1,k+1(n),A1,k(n):Y1,k+1(n)⟶Y1,k(n)\rho_{A_{1,k+1}^{(n)},A_{1,k}^{(n)}}:Y_{1,k+1}^{(n)}\longrightarrow Y_{1,k}^{(n)}

is the smooth blowup along the locus of p1=pi1=⋯=pin−k−1p_1=p_{i_1}=\cdots=p_{i_{n-k-1}} for {i1,…,in−k−1}⊂{2,…,n}\{i_1,\ldots,i_{n-k-1}\}\subset\{2,\ldots,n\} which consists of (n−1k)\binom{n-1}{k} copies of M‾g,1∣k\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,1|k}. Note that Y1,n−2(n)=Y1,n−1(n)Y^{(n)}_{1,n-2}=Y^{(n)}_{1,n-1} by (12). By applying the blowup formula (8) to these morphisms, we find that

H1∣n−1=H0∣n+∑k=0n−3(n−1k)H1∣k(HPn−k−2−1).(14)\mathbf{H}_{1|n-1}=\mathbf{H}_{0|n}+\sum_{k=0}^{n-3}\binom{n-1}{k}\mathbf{H}_{1|k}\left(\mathbf{H}_{\mathbb{P}^{n-k-2}}-1\right). \tag*{(14)}

Next, let us reach Y2,n−2(n)Y^{(n)}_{2,n-2} from Y1,n−1(n)Y^{(n)}_{1,n-1}. The natural map

ρA2,1(n),A1,n−1(n):Y2,1(n)⟶Y1,n−1(n)\rho_{\mathcal{A}^{(n)}_{2,1},\mathcal{A}^{(n)}_{1,n-1}}:Y^{(n)}_{2,1}\longrightarrow Y^{(n)}_{1,n-1}

is the smooth blowup along the locus M‾g,2∣0=M‾g,2\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,2|0}=\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,2} of p2=p3=⋯=pnp_2=p_3=\cdots=p_n by Theorem 2.2 (3). For 1≤k≤n−41\leq k\leq n-4, the natural map

ρA2,k+1(n),A2,k(n):Y2,k+1(n)⟶Y2,k(n)\rho_{\mathcal{A}^{(n)}_{2,k+1},\mathcal{A}^{(n)}_{2,k}}:Y^{(n)}_{2,k+1}\longrightarrow Y^{(n)}_{2,k}

is the smooth blowup along the locus of p2=pi1=⋯=pin−k−2p_2=p_{i_1}=\cdots=p_{i_{n-k-2}} for {i1,…,in−k−2}⊂{3,…,n}\{i_1,\ldots,i_{n-k-2}\}\subset\{3,\ldots,n\} which consists of (n−2k)\binom{n-2}{k} copies of M‾g,2∣k\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,2|k}. We have Y2,n−3(n)=Y2,n−2(n)Y^{(n)}_{2,n-3}=Y^{(n)}_{2,n-2} by (12) and the blowup formula (8) gives us

H2∣n−2=H1∣n−1+∑k=0n−4(n−2k)H2∣k(HPn−k−3−1).(15)\mathbf{H}_{2|n-2}=\mathbf{H}_{1|n-1}+\sum_{k=0}^{n-4}\binom{n-2}{k}\mathbf{H}_{2|k}\left(\mathbf{H}_{\mathbb{P}^{n-k-3}}-1\right). \tag*{(15)}

Repeating this way, we obtain the following.

Theorem 3.1. For n>0n>0 and r,s≥0r,s\geq0 with r+s>0r+s>0, the following hold:

Hr∣s=Hr−1∣s+1+∑k=0s−2(sk)Hr∣k⋅(HPs−k−1−1),r≥1,(16)\mathbf{H}_{r|s}=\mathbf{H}_{r-1|s+1}+\sum_{k=0}^{s-2}\binom{s}{k}\mathbf{H}_{r|k}\cdot\left(\mathbf{H}_{\mathbb{P}^{s-k-1}}-1\right),\qquad r\geq1, \tag*{(16)}
HM‾g,n=Hn∣0=H0∣n+∑r=1n−2∑k=0s−2(sk)Hr∣k⋅(HPs−k−1−1).(17)\mathbf{H}_{\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,n}}=\mathbf{H}_{n|0}=\mathbf{H}_{0|n}+\sum_{r=1}^{n-2}\sum_{k=0}^{s-2}\binom{s}{k}\mathbf{H}_{r|k}\cdot\left(\mathbf{H}_{\mathbb{P}^{s-k-1}}-1\right). \tag*{(17)}

All Hr∣s\mathbf{H}_{r|s} are recursively determined by (16) if we know H0∣n=HM‾g,(0+)n\mathbf{H}_{0|n}=\mathbf{H}_{\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,(0+)n}} for all nn.

In particular, the invariants HM‾g,n=Hn∣0\mathbf{H}_{\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,n}}=\mathbf{H}_{n|0} can be recursively calculated by (17) if we know the invariants HM‾g,(0+)n=H0∣n\mathbf{H}_{\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,(0+)n}}=\mathbf{H}_{0|n} for all n≥1n\geq1. Conversely, if we know HM‾g,n=Hn∣0\mathbf{H}_{\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,n}}=\mathbf{H}_{n|0} for all n≥1n\geq1, we can recursively calculate HM‾g,(0+)n=H0∣n\mathbf{H}_{\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,(0+)n}}=\mathbf{H}_{0|n} for all positive nn.

The above factorization of the natural morphism

ρ:M‾g,n⟶M‾g,(0+)n\rho:\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,n}\longrightarrow\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,(0+)n}

into smooth blowups in the proof of Theorem 3.1 tells us that the Chow motive of M‾g,n\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,n} is a direct sum of Tate twists of the Chow motives of M‾g,(0+)m\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,(0+)m} for m≤nm\leq n. Moreover, recall that the Hodge conjecture is about the surjectivity of the cycle class map

Ap(X)Q⟶Hp,p(X)∩H2p(X,Q)A^p(X)_{\mathbb{Q}}\longrightarrow H^{p,p}(X)\cap H^{2p}(X,\mathbb{Q})

and that we have the blowup formulas for the Chow and ordinary cohomology groups [11, 15]. So the following are straightforward from the proof of Theorem 3.1.

Corollary 3.2. [19 Proposition 3.5, Corollary 3.6]

  1. Let g≥1g\geq1. Then the Hodge conjecture holds on M‾g,m\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,m} for all m≤nm\leq n if and only if it holds on M‾g,(0+)m\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,(0+)m} for all m≤nm\leq n.

  1. The Hodge conjecture holds on M‾1,(0+)n\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,(0+)n} and on any M‾1,r∣s\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,r|s} for n=r+s≥1n=r+s\geq1.

Note that the Hodge conjecture holds on M‾1,n\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,n} for any n≥1n \ge1 by (26).

Moduli spaces of minimally weighted curves

In this section, we let g=1g = 1 and let H\mathbf{H} be the Hodge-Deligne polynomial. We find an explicit formula that calculates the Hodge-Deligne polynomials of the moduli spaces M‾1,(0+)n\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,(0+)^n} of stable curves of genus 11 with nn marked points whose weights are ≤1/n\le1/n. By Theorem 3.1, we can then calculate HM‾1,n\mathbf{H}_{\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,n}} for all n>0n > 0.

Note that in M‾1,(0+)n\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,(0+)^n}, all the marked points are allowed to coincide as long as they stay away from the nodes. Let

π=πn:M‾1,(0+)n⟶M‾1,0+=M‾1,1\pi= \pi_n : \overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,(0+)^n} \longrightarrow\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,0+} = \overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,1}

be the morphism that forgets all the marked points except the first. Using the stratification

M‾1,1=M1,1⊔{∞}\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,1} = \mathcal{M}_{1,1} \sqcup\{\infty\}

where ∞\infty parameterizes the unique singular rational curve, we have the decomposition

M‾1,(0+)n=In⊔Bn,Bn=πn−1(∞),In=πn−1(M1,1)\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,(0+)^n} = \mathcal{I}_n \sqcup\mathcal{B}_n,\qquad\mathcal{B}_n = \pi_n^{-1}(\infty),\qquad\mathcal{I}_n = \pi_n^{-1}(\mathcal{M}_{1,1})

into the interior and the boundary.

Let In=HInI_n = \mathbf{H}_{\mathcal{I}_n} and Bn=HBnB_n = \mathbf{H}_{\mathcal{B}_n} be the Hodge-Deligne polynomials of In\mathcal{I}_n and Bn\mathcal{B}_n respectively so that

H0∣n=HM‾1,(0+)n=In+Bn\mathbf{H}_{0|n} = \mathbf{H}_{\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,(0+)^n}} = I_n + B_n

is the Hodge-Deligne polynomial of M‾1,(0+)n\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,(0+)^n}.

The Hodge-Deligne Polynomial InI_n of In\mathcal{I}_n

In this subsection, we prove the following.

Proposition 4.1. In(u,v)=Ineven(u,v)+Inodd(u,v)I_n(u,v) = I_n^{\mathrm{even}}(u,v) + I_n^{\mathrm{odd}}(u,v) with

Ineven(u,v)=∑j=0⌊n−12⌋(n−12j)(uv+1)n−1−2j(αjj(uv)j+1−∑i=0j−1αij(uv)i),I_n^{\mathrm{even}}(u,v) = \sum_{j=0}^{\left\lfloor\frac{n-1}{2} \right\rfloor} \binom{n-1}{2j}(uv+1)^{n-1-2j}\left(\alpha_{jj}(uv)^{j+1} - \sum_{i=0}^{j-1}\alpha_{ij}(uv)^i\right),
Inodd(u,v)=−∑j=0⌊n−12⌋(n−12j)(uv+1)n−1−2j∑i=0j−1αijβ2j−2i+2(uv)i(u2j−2i+1+v2j−2i+1)I_n^{\mathrm{odd}}(u,v) = -\sum_{j=0}^{\left\lfloor\frac{n-1}{2} \right\rfloor} \binom{n-1}{2j}(uv+1)^{n-1-2j}\sum_{i=0}^{j-1}\alpha_{ij}\beta_{2j-2i+2}(uv)^i(u^{2j-2i+1}+v^{2j-2i+1})

where

αij=(2ji)−(2ji−1)\alpha_{ij} = \binom{2j}{i} - \binom{2j}{i-1}

and

βk={⌊k12⌋−1if k≡2(mod12),⌊k12⌋if k≠2(mod12).(18)\beta_k = \begin{cases} \left\lfloor\frac{k}{12} \right\rfloor- 1 & \text{if } k \equiv2 \pmod{12},\\ \left\lfloor\frac{k}{12} \right\rfloor& \text{if } k \ne2 \pmod{12}. \end{cases} \tag*{(18)}

See Example 5.1 for an explicit computation of InI_n for n≤10n \le10.

Let q:C→M1,1q : \mathcal{C} \to\mathcal{M}_{1,1} denote the universal curve. By our choice of stability condition, all the marked points are allowed to coincide and hence In\mathcal{I}_n is nothing but the (n−1)(n-1)-fold fiber product

π:In=C×M1,1C×M1,1⋯×M1,1C⟶M1,1\pi: \mathcal{I}_n = \mathcal{C} \mathop{\times}_{\mathcal{M}_{1,1}} \mathcal{C} \mathop{\times}_{\mathcal{M}_{1,1}} \cdots\mathop{\times}_{\mathcal{M}_{1,1}} \mathcal{C} \longrightarrow\mathcal{M}_{1,1}

which is a smooth projective fibration with fiber En−1E^{n-1} for an elliptic curve E∈M1,1E \in\mathcal{M}_{1,1}.

Let V=R1q∗QV = R^1q_*\mathbb{Q}. Then VV is a local system of rank 22 over M1,1\mathcal{M}_{1,1} and

Rq∗Q≅(Q⊕Q(−1)[−2])⊕V[−1].Rq_*\mathbb{Q} \cong\left(\mathbb{Q} \oplus\mathbb{Q}(-1)[-2]\right) \oplus V[-1].

Let π′=π∣In\pi' = \pi|_{\mathcal{I}_n}. By the relative Künneth theorem, we have

Rπ∗′QIn≅((Q⊕Q(−1)[−2])⊕V[−1])⊗n−1=∑k=0n−1(n−1k)Ck⊗V⊗k[−k](19)R\pi'_* \mathbb{Q}_{\mathcal{I}_n} \cong\left(\left(\mathbb{Q} \oplus\mathbb{Q}(-1)[-2]\right) \oplus V[-1]\right)^{\otimes n-1} = \sum_{k=0}^{n-1} \binom{n-1}{k} C_k \otimes V^{\otimes k}[-k] \tag*{(19)}

where Ck=(Q⊕Q(−1)[−2])⊗n−1−kC_k = \left(\mathbb{Q} \oplus\mathbb{Q}(-1)[-2]\right)^{\otimes n-1-k}.

Since M1,1≅SL2(Z)\H\mathcal{M}_{1,1} \cong SL_2(\mathbb{Z})\backslash\mathbb{H} where H\mathbb{H} denotes the upper half plane and the generic stabilizer −I∈SL2(Z)-I \in SL_2(\mathbb{Z}) acts on V⊗kV^{\otimes k} as (−1)k(-1)^k, we have the vanishing

Hc∗(M1,1,V⊗k)=0,∀ odd k.H_c^*(\mathcal{M}_{1,1},V^{\otimes k})=0,\qquad\forall\text{ odd }k.

Hence (19) gives us

Hc∗(In)=Hc∗(M1,1,Rπ∗′QIn)≅⨁j=0⌊n−12⌋(n−12j)C2j⊗Hc∗(M1,1,V⊗2j)[−2j].(20)H_c^*(\mathcal{I}_n)=H_c^*(\mathcal{M}_{1,1},R\pi'_*\mathbb{Q}_{\mathcal{I}_n})\cong\bigoplus_{j=0}^{\left\lfloor\frac{n-1}{2}\right\rfloor}\binom{n-1}{2j}C_{2j}\otimes H_c^*(\mathcal{M}_{1,1},V^{\otimes2j})[-2j]. \tag*{(20)}

By the Clebsch-Gordan rule and (18), we have

V⊗2j≅⨁i=0j−1αijSym⁡2j−2iV(−i)⊕αjjQ.V^{\otimes2j}\cong\bigoplus_{i=0}^{j-1}\alpha_{ij}\operatorname{Sym}^{2j-2i}V(-i)\oplus\alpha_{jj}\mathbb{Q}.

Therefore (20) gives us

Hc∗(In)≅⨁j=0⌊n−12⌋(n−12j)C2j⊗(αjjHc∗(M1,1,Q)[−2j]+∑i=0j−1αijHc∗(M1,1,V2j−2i)[−2i]).(21)H_c^*(\mathcal{I}_n)\cong\bigoplus_{j=0}^{\left\lfloor\frac{n-1}{2}\right\rfloor}\binom{n-1}{2j}C_{2j}\otimes\left(\alpha_{jj}H_c^*(\mathcal{M}_{1,1},\mathbb{Q})[-2j]+\sum_{i=0}^{j-1}\alpha_{ij}H_c^*(\mathcal{M}_{1,1},V_{2j-2i})[-2i]\right). \tag*{(21)}

Since Hc∗(M1,1,Q)≅Q(−1)[−2]H_c^*(\mathcal{M}_{1,1},\mathbb{Q})\cong\mathbb{Q}(-1)[-2], Proposition 4.1 follows immediately from the following.

Lemma 4.2. For k>0k>0, we have an isomorphism

Hc∗(M1,1,V2k)=Hc1(M1,1,V2k)≅Q⊕(S2k+2⊕S‾2k+2)H_c^*(\mathcal{M}_{1,1},V_{2k})=H_c^1(\mathcal{M}_{1,1},V_{2k})\cong\mathbb{Q}\oplus(S_{2k+2}\oplus\overline{S}_{2k+2})

where S2k+2S_{2k+2} denotes the space of cusp forms of weight 2k+22k+2 with respect to SL2(Z)SL_2(\mathbb{Z}). The first factor Q\mathbb{Q} has weight 0 and S2k+2S_{2k+2} is of Hodge type (2k+1,0)(2k+1,0).

Proof. Let j:M1,1→M‾1,1j:\mathcal{M}_{1,1}\to\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,1} denote the inclusion map. Then we have an exact triangle

j!V2k⟶j∗V2k⟶j∗V2k∣∞⟶.j_!V_{2k}\longrightarrow j_*V_{2k}\longrightarrow j_*V_{2k}|_{\infty}\longrightarrow.

By the Eichler-Shimura isomorphism [23 Theorem 8.4], we have

H∗(M‾1,1,j∗V2k)=H1(M‾1,1,j∗V2k)≅Hpar1(SL2(Z),Sym⁡2k(C2))≅S2k+2⊕S‾2k+2H^*(\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,1},j_*V_{2k})=H^1(\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,1},j_*V_{2k})\cong H^1_{\mathrm{par}}(SL_2(\mathbb{Z}),\operatorname{Sym}^{2k}(\mathbb{C}^2))\cong S_{2k+2}\oplus\overline{S}_{2k+2}

where S2k+2S_{2k+2} has Hodge type (2k+1,0)(2k+1,0). We thus find that Hc∗(M1,1,V2k)=Hc1(M1,1,V2k)H_c^*(\mathcal{M}_{1,1},V_{2k})=H_c^1(\mathcal{M}_{1,1},V_{2k}) and have an exact sequence

0⟶H0(∞,j∗V2k∣∞)⟶Hc1(M1,1,V2k)⟶S2k+2⊕S‾2k+2⟶0.0\longrightarrow H^0(\infty,j_*V_{2k}|_{\infty})\longrightarrow H_c^1(\mathcal{M}_{1,1},V_{2k})\longrightarrow S_{2k+2}\oplus\overline{S}_{2k+2}\longrightarrow0.

As the cusp ∞\infty has the stabilizer group generated by

σ:=(1101),\sigma:=\begin{pmatrix}1&1\\0&1\end{pmatrix},

H0(∞,j∗V2k∣∞)H^0(\infty,j_*V_{2k}|_{\infty}) is the σ\sigma-invariant part (Sym⁡2kQ2)σ≅Q(\operatorname{Sym}^{2k}\mathbb{Q}^2)^\sigma\cong\mathbb{Q}. This completes the proof. □

It is well known that dim⁡S2k+2=β2k+2\dim S_{2k+2}=\beta_{2k+2} for k>0k>0 by Riemann-Roch, using the notation of (18).

The Hodge-Deligne Polynomial BnB_n of BnB_n

Let γn,1=1\gamma_{n,1}=1, γn,2=2n−1−1\gamma_{n,2}=2^{n-1}-1 and for k>2k>2, let

γn,k=(nk)(k−1)!2=12k∑i=0k(−1)k−i(ki)in(22)\gamma_{n,k}=\binom{n}{k}\frac{(k-1)!}{2}=\frac{1}{2k}\sum_{i=0}^{k}(-1)^{k-i}\binom{k}{i}i^n \tag*{(22)}

where (nk)\binom{n}{k} denotes the Stirling number of the second kind, i.e. the number of ways to partition [n]={1,2,⋯ ,n}[n]=\{1,2,\cdots,n\} into kk unordered subsets. In this subsection, we prove the following.

Proposition 4.3. With γn,k\gamma_{n,k} in (22).

Bn(u,v)=(uv+1)n−1+(uv−1)n−12+γn,2(uv+1)n−2+(uv−1)n−22+∑j=3nγn,j(uv−1)n−jB_n(u,v)=\frac{(uv+1)^{n-1}+(uv-1)^{n-1}}{2}+\gamma_{n,2}\frac{(uv+1)^{n-2}+(uv-1)^{n-2}}{2}+\sum_{j=3}^{n}\gamma_{n,j}(uv-1)^{n-j}

See Example 5.2 for the calculation of BnB_n for n≤10n\leq10.

Observe that we have a decomposition

Bn=∐1≤j≤nBn,jB_n=\coprod_{1\leq j\leq n}B_{n,j}

where Bn,jB_{n,j} denotes the locus of curves with jj rational components i.e. the dual graph is a necklace with jj vertices.

If (C,p1,⋯ ,pn)∈Bn,1(C,p_1,\cdots,p_n)\in B_{n,1}, CC is a rational curve with normalization P1\mathbb{P}^1. Let 0,∞∈P10,\infty\in\mathbb{P}^1 map to the node of CC. Then we find that

Bn,1≅(C∗)n/(C∗×S2)≅(C∗)n−1/S2B_{n,1}\cong(\mathbb{C}^*)^n/(\mathbb{C}^*\times S_2)\cong(\mathbb{C}^*)^{n-1}/S_2

where −1∈S2-1\in S_2 acts by (z1,⋯ ,zn−1)↦(z1−1,⋯ ,zn−1−1)(z_1,\cdots,z_{n-1})\mapsto(z_1^{-1},\cdots,z_{n-1}^{-1}). Therefore, we have

Hc∗(Bn,1)≅(Hc∗(C∗)⊗n−1)S2H_c^*(B_{n,1})\cong\left(H_c^*(\mathbb{C}^*)^{\otimes n-1}\right)^{S_2}

whose Hodge-Deligne polynomial is

HBn,1(u,v)=12((uv+1)n−1+(uv−1)n−1).(23)\mathbf{H}_{B_{n,1}}(u,v)=\frac{1}{2}\left((uv+1)^{n-1}+(uv-1)^{n-1}\right). \tag*{(23)}

If (C,p1,⋯ ,pn)∈Bn,2(C,p_1,\cdots,p_n)\in B_{n,2}, C=C1∪C2C=C_1\cup C_2 with C1,C2≅P1C_1,C_2\cong\mathbb{P}^1. The locus Bn,2,kB_{n,2,k} of such pointed curves where one component has kk marked points while the other has n−kn-k points is

((C∗)k/C∗×(C∗)n−k/C∗)/S2≅(C∗)n−2/S2((\mathbb{C}^*)^k/\mathbb{C}^*\times(\mathbb{C}^*)^{n-k}/\mathbb{C}^*)/S_2\cong(\mathbb{C}^*)^{n-2}/S_2

where S2S_2 interchanges the two nodes. We thus find that

HBn,2(u,v)=(2n−1−1)12((uv+1)n−2+(uv−1)n−2).(24)\mathbf{H}_{B_{n,2}}(u,v)=(2^{n-1}-1)\frac{1}{2}\left((uv+1)^{n-2}+(uv-1)^{n-2}\right). \tag*{(24)}

For j≥3j\geq3, the number of ways to distribute nn marked points to jj components is γn,j\gamma_{n,j} in (22). For each such distribution, we have a connected component of Bn,jB_{n,j} isomorphic to (C∗)n−j(\mathbb{C}^*)^{n-j}. Hence we find that

HBn,j(u,v)=γn,j(uv−1)n−j,for j≥3.(25)\mathbf{H}_{B_{n,j}}(u,v)=\gamma_{n,j}(uv-1)^{n-j},\qquad\text{for }j\geq3. \tag*{(25)}

Adding (23), (24) and (25), we obtain Proposition 4.3.

The Hodge-Deligne polynomial HM‾1,(0+)n\mathrm{H}_{\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,(0+)^n}}

By Propositions 4.1 and 4.3, we obtain the following.

Theorem 4.4. The Hodge-Deligne polynomial HM‾1,(0+)n=H0∣n\mathrm{H}_{\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,(0+)^n}}=\mathrm{H}_{0|n} of M‾1,(0+)n\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,(0+)^n} is

H0∣n(u,v)=∑j=0⌊n−12⌋(n−12j)(uv+1)n−1−2j(αjj(uv)j+1−∑i=0j−1αij(uv)i)+(uv+1)n−1+(uv−1)n−12+γn,2(uv+1)n−2+(uv−1)n−22+∑j=3nγn,j(uv−1)n−j−∑j=0⌊n−12⌋(n−12j)(uv+1)n−1−2j∑i=0j−1αijβ2j−2i+2(uv)i(u2j−2i+1+v2j−2i+1).\begin{aligned} \mathrm{H}_{0|n}(u,v)={}&\sum_{j=0}^{\left\lfloor\frac{n-1}{2}\right\rfloor}\binom{n-1}{2j}(uv+1)^{n-1-2j}\left(\alpha_{jj}(uv)^{j+1}-\sum_{i=0}^{j-1}\alpha_{ij}(uv)^i\right)\\ &+\frac{(uv+1)^{n-1}+(uv-1)^{n-1}}{2}+\gamma_{n,2}\frac{(uv+1)^{n-2}+(uv-1)^{n-2}}{2}+\sum_{j=3}^{n}\gamma_{n,j}(uv-1)^{n-j}\\ &-\sum_{j=0}^{\left\lfloor\frac{n-1}{2}\right\rfloor}\binom{n-1}{2j}(uv+1)^{n-1-2j}\sum_{i=0}^{j-1}\alpha_{ij}\beta_{2j-2i+2}(uv)^i(u^{2j-2i+1}+v^{2j-2i+1}). \end{aligned}

where αij\alpha_{ij}, βk\beta_k and γn,k\gamma_{n,k} are constants defined by (4.1) and (4.5) respectively.

See Example 5.3 for a computation of H0∣n\mathrm{H}_{0|n} for n≤10n\leq10.

By Theorems 4.4 and 3.1, we can now calculate HM‾1,n(u,v)\mathrm{H}_{\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,n}}(u,v) recursively for all nn. By [22], the cycle class map induces an isomorphism

R∗(M‾1,n)≅H2∗(M‾1,n)(26)R^*(\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,n})\cong H^{2*}(\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,n}) \tag*{(26)}

where R∗(M‾1,n)R^*(\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,n}) denotes the tautological ring and hence we can also compute dim⁡Ri(M‾1,n)\dim R^i(\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,n}) as the coefficient of (uv)i(uv)^i in HM‾1,n(u,v)\mathrm{H}_{\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,n}}(u,v). In particular, the Poincaré polynomial of the tautological ring is the same as the even degree Poincaré polynomial PM‾1,neven(x)P^{\mathrm{even}}_{\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,n}}(x).

Computations for n≤10n\leq10

Letting x=uvx=uv, by Proposition 4.1, we can evaluate InI_n as follows.

Example 5.1.

I1(x)=xI_1(x)=x

I2(x)=x2+xI_2(x)=x^2+x

I3(x)=x3+3x2+x−1I_3(x)=x^3+3x^2+x-1

I4(x)=x4+6x3+6x2−2x−3I_4(x)=x^4+6x^3+6x^2-2x-3

I5(x)=x5+10x4+20x3+4x2−14x−7I_5(x)=x^5+10x^4+20x^3+4x^2-14x-7

I6(x)=x6+15x5+50x4+40x3−30x2−49x−15I_6(x)=x^6+15x^5+50x^4+40x^3-30x^2-49x-15

I7(x)=x7+21x6+105x5+160x4−183x2−139x−31I_7(x)=x^7+21x^6+105x^5+160x^4-183x^2-139x-31

I8(x)=x8+28x7+196x6+469x5+280x4−427x3−700x2−356x−63I_8(x)=x^8+28x^7+196x^6+469x^5+280x^4-427x^3-700x^2-356x-63

I9(x)=x9+36x8+336x7+1148x6+1386x5−406x4−2436x3−2224x2−860x−127I_9(x)=x^9+36x^8+336x^7+1148x^6+1386x^5-406x^4-2436x^3-2224x^2-860x-127

I10(x)=x10+45x9+540x8+2484x7+4662x6+1764x5−6090x4−9804x3−6372x2−2003x−255I_{10}(x)=x^{10}+45x^9+540x^8+2484x^7+4662x^6+1764x^5-6090x^4-9804x^3-6372x^2-2003x-255

By Proposition 4.3, we can evaluate BnB_n as follows with x=uvx=uv.

Example 5.2.

B1(x)=1B2(x)=x+1B3(x)=x2+3x+2B4(x)=x3+7x2+9x+4B5(x)=x4+15x3+31x2+25x+8B6(x)=x5+31x4+100x3+111x2+65x+16B7(x)=x6+63x5+316x4+476x3+351x2+161x+32B8(x)=x7+127x6+987x5+2178x4+1883x3+1023x2+385x+64B9(x)=x8+255x7+3053x6+10515x5+12307x4+6637x3+2815x2+897x+128B10(x)=x9+511x8+9366x7+51313x6+92466x5+62065x4+21654x3+7423x2+2049x+256\begin{aligned} B_1(x) &= 1 \\ B_2(x) &= x+1 \\ B_3(x) &= x^2+3x+2 \\ B_4(x) &= x^3+7x^2+9x+4 \\ B_5(x) &= x^4+15x^3+31x^2+25x+8 \\ B_6(x) &= x^5+31x^4+100x^3+111x^2+65x+16 \\ B_7(x) &= x^6+63x^5+316x^4+476x^3+351x^2+161x+32 \\ B_8(x) &= x^7+127x^6+987x^5+2178x^4+1883x^3+1023x^2+385x+64 \\ B_9(x) &= x^8+255x^7+3053x^6+10515x^5+12307x^4+6637x^3+2815x^2+897x+128 \\ B_{10}(x) &= x^9+511x^8+9366x^7+51313x^6+92466x^5+62065x^4+21654x^3+7423x^2+2049x+256 \end{aligned}

By adding InI_n and BnB_n, we find Tn=HM‾1,0∣nT_n=\mathbf{H}_{\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,0|n}} as follows.

Example 5.3.

T1(x)=x+1T2(x)=x2+2x+1T3(x)=x3+4x2+4x+1T4(x)=x4+7x3+13x2+7x+1T5(x)=x5+11x4+35x3+35x2+11x+1T6(x)=x6+16x5+81x4+140x3+81x2+16x+1T7(x)=x7+22x6+168x5+476x4+476x3+168x2+22x+1T8(x)=x8+29x7+323x6+1456x5+2458x4+1456x3+323x2+29x+1T9(x)=x9+37x8+591x7+4201x6+11901x5+11901x4+4201x3+591x2+37x+1T10(x)=x10+46x9+1051x8+11850x7+55975x6+94230x5+55975x4+11850x3+1051x2+46x+1\begin{aligned} T_1(x) &= x+1 \\ T_2(x) &= x^2+2x+1 \\ T_3(x) &= x^3+4x^2+4x+1 \\ T_4(x) &= x^4+7x^3+13x^2+7x+1 \\ T_5(x) &= x^5+11x^4+35x^3+35x^2+11x+1 \\ T_6(x) &= x^6+16x^5+81x^4+140x^3+81x^2+16x+1 \\ T_7(x) &= x^7+22x^6+168x^5+476x^4+476x^3+168x^2+22x+1 \\ T_8(x) &= x^8+29x^7+323x^6+1456x^5+2458x^4+1456x^3+323x^2+29x+1 \\ T_9(x) &= x^9+37x^8+591x^7+4201x^6+11901x^5+11901x^4+4201x^3+591x^2+37x+1 \\ T_{10}(x) &= x^{10}+46x^9+1051x^8+11850x^7+55975x^6+94230x^5+55975x^4+11850x^3+1051x^2+46x+1 \end{aligned}

Note that this matches perfectly with Table 2 in [17] with x=uvx=uv.

By (3.8) and Theorem 4.4, we can compute Hr∣s=HM‾1,r∣s\mathbf{H}_{r|s}=\mathbf{H}_{\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,r|s}} as follows with x=uvx=uv.

Example 5.4.

H0∣1=H1∣0=x+1H0∣2=H1∣1=H2∣0=x2+2x+1H0∣3=x3+4x2+4x+1H1∣2=H2∣1=H3∣0=x3+5x2+5x+1H0∣4=x4+7x3+13x2+7x+1H1∣3=x4+11x3+21x2+11x+1H2∣2=H3∣1=H4∣0=x4+12x3+23x2+12x+1H0∣5=x5+11x4+35x3+35x2+11x+1H1∣4=x5+22x4+79x3+79x2+22x+1H2∣3=x5+26x4+97x3+97x2+26x+1H3∣2=H4∣1=H5∣0=x5+27x4+102x3+102x2+27x+1.\begin{aligned} H_{0|1} &= H_{1|0} = x+1\\ H_{0|2} &= H_{1|1} = H_{2|0} = x^2+2x+1\\ H_{0|3} &= x^3+4x^2+4x+1\\ H_{1|2} &= H_{2|1} = H_{3|0} = x^3+5x^2+5x+1\\ H_{0|4} &= x^4+7x^3+13x^2+7x+1\\ H_{1|3} &= x^4+11x^3+21x^2+11x+1\\ H_{2|2} &= H_{3|1} = H_{4|0} = x^4+12x^3+23x^2+12x+1\\ H_{0|5} &= x^5+11x^4+35x^3+35x^2+11x+1\\ H_{1|4} &= x^5+22x^4+79x^3+79x^2+22x+1\\ H_{2|3} &= x^5+26x^4+97x^3+97x^2+26x+1\\ H_{3|2} &= H_{4|1} = H_{5|0} = x^5+27x^4+102x^3+102x^2+27x+1. \end{aligned}

Note that this matches perfectly with Table 1 in [17] after applying the hook-length formula to extract the Hodge-Deligne polynomials.

By (17) and Theorem 4.4, we can compute Hn∣0=HM‾1,nH_{n|0}=H_{\overline{\mathcal M}_{1,n}} as follows with x=uvx=uv.

Example 5.5.

HM‾1,1=x+1HM‾1,2=x2+2x+1HM‾1,3=x3+5x2+5x+1HM‾1,4=x4+12x3+23x2+12x+1HM‾1,5=x5+27x4+102x3+102x2+27x+1HM‾1,6=x6+58x5+421x4+756x3+421x2+58x+1HM‾1,7=x7+121x6+1612x5+5077x4+5077x3+1612x2+121x+1HM‾1,8=x8+248x7+5802x6+31072x5+52402x4+31072x3+5802x2+248x+1HM‾1,9=x9+503x8+19925x7+175036x6+480097x5+480097x4+175036x3+19925x2+503x+1HM‾1,10=x10+1014x9+66090x8+920263x7+3975949x6+6349238x5+3975949x4+920263x3+⋯ .\begin{aligned} H_{\overline{\mathcal M}_{1,1}} &= x+1\\ H_{\overline{\mathcal M}_{1,2}} &= x^2+2x+1\\ H_{\overline{\mathcal M}_{1,3}} &= x^3+5x^2+5x+1\\ H_{\overline{\mathcal M}_{1,4}} &= x^4+12x^3+23x^2+12x+1\\ H_{\overline{\mathcal M}_{1,5}} &= x^5+27x^4+102x^3+102x^2+27x+1\\ H_{\overline{\mathcal M}_{1,6}} &= x^6+58x^5+421x^4+756x^3+421x^2+58x+1\\ H_{\overline{\mathcal M}_{1,7}} &= x^7+121x^6+1612x^5+5077x^4+5077x^3+1612x^2+121x+1\\ H_{\overline{\mathcal M}_{1,8}} &= x^8+248x^7+5802x^6+31072x^5+52402x^4+31072x^3+5802x^2+248x+1\\ H_{\overline{\mathcal M}_{1,9}} &= x^9+503x^8+19925x^7+175036x^6+480097x^5+480097x^4+175036x^3+19925x^2+503x+1\\ H_{\overline{\mathcal M}_{1,10}} &= x^{10}+1014x^9+66090x^8+920263x^7+3975949x^6+6349238x^5+3975949x^4+920263x^3+\cdots. \end{aligned}

Note that this matches perfectly with [3 eM1bar.txt] and [12 page 491].

By Theorems 3.1 and 4.4, it is straightforward to write up a computer program that computes the Hodge-Deligne and Poincaré polynomials of M‾1,n\overline{\mathcal M}_{1,n} for higher nn, quite efficiently. For n=50n=50, we get the following picture for the probability distribution

pn,i=dim⁡H2i(M‾1,n)∑k=0ndim⁡H2k(M‾1,n).(27)p_{n,i}=\frac{\dim H^{2i}(\overline{\mathcal M}_{1,n})}{\sum_{k=0}^{n}\dim H^{2k}(\overline{\mathcal M}_{1,n})}. \tag*{(27)}

The red curve in the picture is the graph of a Gaussian function.

Image not extracted

Figure 1.

In the subsequent paper [5], we will prove that indeed the probability distribution (27) is asymptotically Gaussian. Furthermore, we will prove a formula that gives us effective estimates of the Betti numbers for nn large and show that the Betti sequence is asymptotically 3-ultra log concave.

Update on Question 1.4. With the formulas of this paper, the Betti numbers of M‾1,n\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,n} can be computed easily for large nn, and one can experiment with various properties of the Betti sequence. After posting this paper in the arXiv, Gergely Bérczi informed me that the even degree Poincaré polynomial (or the Poincaré polynomial of the tautological ring) of M‾1,n\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,n} is not real-rooted when n=8706n=8706. Still it seems reasonable to expect that the even degree Betti sequence is ultra-log-concave (ULC) based on numerical computations.

The reduction to minimally weighted curves was made SnS_n-equivariant in [19 Theorem 3.9, Remark 3.10], and together with an SnS_n-equivariant computation for M‾1,(0+)n\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{1,(0+)^n}, this gives a new proof of Getzler’s formula, answering Question 1.4(1) [6]. In [19], the strategy of this paper is applied to compute the SnS_n-equivariant Hodge-Deligne polynomials of M‾2,n\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{2,n}, which answers Question 1.4(5) for g=2g=2.

On the other hand, in [5], it was proved for all g≥1g \ge1 that the even degree Betti sequence of M‾g,n\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,n} is asymptotically 3-ULC but not 4-ULC. Interestingly, the even degree Betti sequence of M‾g,(0+)n\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,(0+)^n} is also asymptotically normally distributed with slightly larger variance and asymptotically 3-ULC.

References

School of Mathematics, Korea Institute for Advanced Study, 85 Hoegiro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02455, Korea

Email address: [email protected]

References

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