Let $G$ be a split semisimple group over a global function field $K$. Given a cuspidal automorphic representation $\Pi$ of $G$ satisfying a technical hypothesis, we prove that for almost all primes $\ell$, there is a cyclic base change lifting of $\Pi$ along any $\mathbb {Z}/\ell \mathbb {Z}$-extension of $K$. Our proof does not rely on any trace formulas; instead it is based on using modularity lifting theorems, together with a Smith theory argument, to obtain base change for residual representations. As an application, we also prove that for any split semisimple group $G$ over a local function field $F$, and almost all primes $\ell$, any irreducible admissible representation of $G(F)$ admits a base change along any $\mathbb {Z}/\ell \mathbb {Z}$-extension of $F$. Finally, we characterize local base change more explicitly for a class of toral representations considered in work of Chan and Oi.

We investigate the Gross–Prasad conjecture and its refinement for the Bessel periods in the case of $(\mathrm {SO}(5), \mathrm {SO}(2))$. In particular, by combining several theta correspondences, we prove the Ichino–Ikeda-type formula for any tempered irreducible cuspidal automorphic representation. As a corollary of our formula, we prove an explicit formula relating certain weighted averages of Fourier coefficients of holomorphic Siegel cusp forms of degree two, which are Hecke eigenforms, to central special values of $L$-functions. The formula is regarded as a natural generalization of the Böcherer conjecture to the non-trivial toroidal character case.

We show that a virtually residually finite rationally solvable (RFRS) group $G$ of type $\mathtt {FP}_n(\mathbb {Q})$ virtually algebraically fibres with kernel of type $\mathtt {FP}_n(\mathbb {Q})$ if and only if the first $n$ $\ell ^2$-Betti numbers of $G$ vanish, that is, $b_p^{(2)}(G) = 0$ for $0 \leqslant p \leqslant n$. This confirms a conjecture of Kielak. We also offer a variant of this result over other fields, in particular in positive characteristic. As an application of the main result, we show that amenable virtually RFRS groups of type $\mathtt {FP}(\mathbb {Q})$ are virtually Abelian. It then follows that if $G$ is a virtually RFRS group of type $\mathtt {FP}(\mathbb {Q})$ such that $\mathbb {Z} G$ is Noetherian, then $G$ is virtually Abelian. This confirms a conjecture of Baer for the class of virtually RFRS groups of type $\mathtt {FP}(\mathbb {Q})$, which includes (for instance) the class of virtually compact special groups.

We describe the $J$-invariant of a semisimple algebraic group $G$ over a generic splitting field of a Tits algebra of $G$ in terms of the $J$-invariant over the base field. As a consequence we prove a 10-year-old conjecture of Quéguiner-Mathieu, Semenov, and Zainoulline on the $J$-invariant of groups of type $\mathrm {D}_n$. In the case of type $\mathrm {D}_n$ we also provide explicit formulas for the first component and in some cases for the second component of the $J$-invariant.

For $2 \leq d \leq 5$, we show that the class of the Hurwitz space of smooth degree $d$, genus $g$ covers of $\mathbb {P}^1$ stabilizes in the Grothendieck ring of stacks as $g \to \infty$, and we give a formula for the limit. We also verify this stabilization when one imposes ramification conditions on the covers, and obtain a particularly simple answer for this limit when one restricts to simply branched covers.

We formulate and prove the archimedean period relations for Rankin–Selberg convolutions for ${\mathrm {GL}}(n)\times {\mathrm {GL}}(n-1)$. As a consequence, we prove the period relations for critical values of the Rankin–Selberg L-functions for ${\mathrm {GL}}(n)\times {\mathrm {GL}}(n-1)$ over arbitrary number fields.

We introduce the notions of quasi-Laurent and Laurent families of simple modules over quiver Hecke algebras of arbitrary symmetrizable types. We prove that such a family plays a similar role of a cluster in quantum cluster algebra theory and exhibits a quantum Laurent positivity phenomenon similar to the basis of the quantum unipotent coordinate ring $\mathcal {A}_q(\mathfrak {n}(w))$, coming from the categorification. Then we show that the families of simple modules categorifying Geiß–Leclerc–Schröer (GLS) clusters are Laurent families by using the Poincaré–Birkhoff–Witt (PBW) decomposition vector of a simple module $X$ and categorical interpretation of (co)degree of $[X]$. As applications of such $\mathbb {Z}\mspace {1mu}$-vectors, we define several skew-symmetric pairings on arbitrary pairs of simple modules, and investigate the relationships among the pairings and $\Lambda$-invariants of $R$-matrices in the quiver Hecke algebra theory.

We prove a version of the Lefschetz hyperplane theorem for fppf cohomology with coefficients in any finite commutative group scheme over the ground field. As consequences, we establish new Lefschetz results for the Picard scheme.

We construct the first examples of infinite sharply 2-transitive groups which are finitely generated. Moreover, we construct such a group that has Kazhdan property (T), is simple, has exactly four conjugacy classes and we show that this number is as small as possible.

The deepest arithmetic invariants attached to an algebraic variety defined over a number field $F$ are conjecturally captured by the integral part of its motivic cohomology. There are essentially two ways of defining it when $X$ is a smooth projective variety: one is via the $K$-theory of a regular integral model, the other is through its $\ell$-adic realization. Both approaches are conjectured to coincide. This paper initiates the study of motivic cohomology for global fields of positive characteristic, hereafter named $A$-motivic cohomology, where classical mixed motives are replaced by mixed Anderson $A$-motives. Our main objective is to set the definitions of the integral part and the good $\ell$-adic part of the $A$-motivic cohomology using Gardeyn's notion of maximal models as the analogue of regular integral models of varieties. Our main result states that the integral part is contained in the good $\ell$-adic part. As opposed to what is expected in the number field setting, we show that the two approaches do not match in general. We conclude this work by introducing the submodule of regulated extensions of mixed Anderson $A$-motives, for which we expect the two approaches to match, and solve some particular cases of this expectation.

The loop space of a string manifold supports an infinite-dimensional Fock space bundle, which is an analog of the spinor bundle on a spin manifold. This spinor bundle on loop space appears in the description of two-dimensional sigma models as the bundle of states over the configuration space of the superstring. We construct a product on this bundle that covers the fusion of loops, i.e. the merging of two loops along a common segment. For this purpose, we exhibit it as a bundle of bimodules over a certain von Neumann algebra bundle, and realize our product fibrewise using the Connes fusion of von Neumann bimodules. Our main technique is to establish novel relations between string structures, loop fusion, and the Connes fusion of Fock spaces. The fusion product on the spinor bundle on loop space was proposed by Stolz and Teichner as part of a programme to explore the relation between generalized cohomology theories, functorial field theories, and index theory. It is related to the pair of pants worldsheet of the superstring, to the extension of the corresponding smooth functorial field theory down to the point, and to a higher-categorical bundle on the underlying string manifold, the stringor bundle.

For a partially multiplicative quandle (PMQ) ${\mathcal {Q}}$ we consider the topological monoid $\mathring {\mathrm {HM}}({\mathcal {Q}})$ of Hurwitz spaces of configurations in the plane with local monodromies in ${\mathcal {Q}}$. We compute the group completion of $\mathring {\mathrm {HM}}({\mathcal {Q}})$: it is the product of the (discrete) enveloping group ${\mathcal {G}}({\mathcal {Q}})$ with a component of the double loop space of the relative Hurwitz space $\mathrm {Hur}_+([0,1]^2,\partial [0,1]^2;{\mathcal {Q}},G)_{\mathbb {1}}$; here $G$ is any group giving rise, together with ${\mathcal {Q}}$, to a PMQ–group pair. Under the additional assumption that ${\mathcal {Q}}$ is finite and rationally Poincaré and that $G$ is finite, we compute the rational cohomology ring of $\mathrm {Hur}_+([0,1]^2,\partial [0,1]^2;{\mathcal {Q}},G)_{\mathbb {1}}$.

We define $p$-adic $\mathrm {BPS}$ or $p\mathrm {BPS}$ invariants for moduli spaces $\operatorname {M}_{\beta,\chi }$ of one-dimensional sheaves on del Pezzo and K3 surfaces by means of integration over a non-archimedean local field $F$. Our definition relies on a canonical measure $\mu _{\rm can}$ on the $F$-analytic manifold associated to $\operatorname {M}_{\beta,\chi }$ and the $p\mathrm {BPS}$ invariants are integrals of natural ${\mathbb {G}}_m$ gerbes with respect to $\mu _{\rm can}$. A similar construction can be done for meromorphic and usual Higgs bundles on a curve. Our main theorem is a $\chi$-independence result for these $p\mathrm {BPS}$ invariants. For one-dimensional sheaves on del Pezzo surfaces and meromorphic Higgs bundles, we obtain as a corollary the agreement of $p\mathrm {BPS}$ with usual $\mathrm {BPS}$ invariants through a result of Maulik and Shen [Cohomological $\chi$-independence for moduli of one-dimensional sheaves and moduli of Higgs bundles, Geom. Topol. 27 (2023), 1539–1586].

The $4 n^2$-inequality for smooth points plays an important role in the proofs of birational (super)rigidity. The main aim of this paper is to generalize such an inequality to terminal singular points of type $cA_1$, and obtain a $2 n^2$-inequality for $cA_1$ points. As applications, we prove birational (super)rigidity of sextic double solids, many other prime Fano 3-fold weighted complete intersections, and del Pezzo fibrations of degree $1$ over $\mathbb {P}^1$ satisfying the $K^2$-condition, all of which have at most terminal $cA_1$ singularities and terminal quotient singularities. These give first examples of birationally (super)rigid Fano 3-folds and del Pezzo fibrations admitting a $cA_1$ point which is not an ordinary double point.