Homotopy invariance of the Picard group

Solution 1:

This is rather a question for mathoverflow. The canonical map $\pi^* : \mathrm{Pic}(X)\to\mathrm{Pic}(X\times\mathbb A^1)$ is an isomorphism when $X$ is normal, and there are counterexamples with $X$ local integral of dimension $1$ and of course non-normal (with no isomorphism between $\mathrm{Pic}(X)$ and $\mathrm{Pic}(X\times\mathbb A^1)$).

First suppose $X$ is normal. As $\pi^*$ is injective, it is enough to consider affine open subsets of $X$. Then descend to finitely generated $\mathbb Z$-algebras. Taking integral closure and because $\mathbb Z$ is excellent, we are reduced to the case $X$ noetherian and normal. Now apply EGA IV.21.4.11, page 360. Note that the same arguments apply for any non-empty open subset of $\mathbb A^1_\mathbb Z$, e.g., $\mathbb G_m$, instead of $\mathbb A^1$.

Now let us see a counterexample with $X$ non-normal. I will take the first integral non-normal example which comes to my mind: $X=\mathrm{Spec}(R)$ where $R$ is the local ring $$R=(k[u,v]/(u^2+v^3))_{(u,v)}$$ over a field $k$ of characteristic zero. Let $K=\mathrm{Frac}(R)$. As $X$ is local, $\mathrm{Pic}(X)$ is trivial. Denote by $Y:=X\times \mathbb A^1$. We want to show $\mathrm{Pic}(Y)$ is non-trivial.

Consider the polynomial $$f=1+vT^2\in R[T].$$ It is chosen in such a way that $f$ is not irreducible in $K[T]$ : $$f=(1+tT)(1-tT)=(v+uT)(1/v+(v/u)T),\quad t:=-u/v\in K$$ but is $f$ irreducible (I don't say prime) in $R[T]$ (I don't use explicitly this property, just to explaine where comes this $f$). Note that $Y$ is covered by the two affine open subsets $D(f)$ and the generic fiber $Y_K$. Let $L$ be the invertible sheaf on $Y$ given by $$L({D(f)})=(v+uT)R[T]_f, \quad L({Y_K})=K[T].$$ This is well defined because $(v+uT)$ is an invertible element of $O_Y(D(f)\cap Y_K)=K[T]_f$.

Admit for a moment that

$(R[T]_f)^{\star}=R^{\star}f^{\mathbb Z}$.

If $L$ is free, then there exist $\omega=af^{r}\in (R[T]_f)^\star$ and $\lambda\in (K[T])^\star=K^\star$ such that $(v+uT)\omega=\lambda$. This is impossible by comparing the degrees of both sides in $K[T]$. So $\mathrm{Pic}(Y)$ is non-trivial. The above fact on the units of $R[T]_f$ is (with the new $f$) easy to see. But I can post my solution if you want.