A Riemann-Roch theorem for Frobenius quotients

Abstract

We construct two families of commutative Frobenius rings: discrete and continuous Frobenius quotients $K_f$, resp. $A_g$, which are defined as the quotients of shift, resp. differential operator algebras by the annihilator of a polynomial. These constructions model the numerical $K$-rings and Chow rings of smooth complete varieties. We show that there is a naturally defined isomorphism $\mathbb{Q} K_f \cong \mathbb{Q} A_g$ playing the role of the Chern character, precisely when the polynomials satisfy a combinatorial analogue of the Hirzebruch-Riemann-Roch theorem, which states that there exists an invertible element $\mathrm{td} \in \mathbb{Q} A_g^\times$, called the Todd class, such that $f = \mathrm{td} \cdot g$. In this case we show that $K_f$ carries all the structure needed to make it a suitable model for $K$-rings of complete smooth varieties: $K_f$ is a $λ$-ring, has well-defined Chern classes, determinants, and satisfies a combinatorial analogue of Serre duality. We further show that the construction is functorial and obtain a combinatorial analogue of the Grothendieck-Riemann-Roch theorem. Lastly, we investigate the existence of larger families of isomorphisms between Frobenius quotients defined by the action of a power series on a generating set, such as the truncated Chern character which yields an integral isomorphism $K_f \cong A_g$. We provide numerous examples and applications: we give a new formula for computing Snapper polynomials of matroids, show that the dualizing class of $K_f$ coincides with dualizing classes of matroids and linear families of polytopes, realize $K$-rings of toric variety bundles as Frobenius quotients, and study $K$-rings of Ehrhart fans as well as exceptional isomorphisms in this setting.