A Riemann-Roch theorem in Bott-Chern cohomology

If M is a complex manifold, the Bott-Chern cohomology H(,)BC(M,C) of M is a refinement of de Rham cohomology, that takes into account the (p,q) grading of smooth differential forms. By results of Bott and Chern, vector bundles have characteristic classes in Bott-Chern cohomology, which will be denoted with the subscript BC. Let p:MS be a proper holomorphic submersion of complex manifolds. Let F be a holomorphic vector bundle on M and let RpF be its direct image. We will prove that if RpF is locally free, then chBC(RpF)=p[TdBC(TM/S)chBC(F)].
If p is projective, this result is a consequence of the theorem of Riemann-Roch-Grothendieck. If M is Kaehler, it follows from a families version of classical Hodge theory. In the general case, none of these tools is available. We will show how a suitable hypoelliptic deformation of Hodge theory can be used to prove the above result.

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Affiliation

Université Paris-Sud

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