Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2023 / ii / Paper 1 / 24F / Solution

A germ of a holomorphic function at $z\in D$ is an equivalence class $[f{]}_z$ of pairs consisting of a neighbourhood $U$ of $z$ and a holomorphic function $f:U\to \mathbb{C}$. Two pairs represent the same germ if their functions agree on some neighbourhood of $z$.

The space of germs of holomorphic functions isFor every holomorphic $f$ on an open $U\subseteq D$, the setis declared open; these sets form a basis. The forgetful mapmaps each ${\tilde{U}}_f$ homeomorphically onto $U$. The inverses of these restrictions give the charts defining the complex structure, so $\pi$ is a local biholomorphism.

The evaluation map isIt is well-defined by the germ equivalence relation. On the chart ${\tilde{U}}_f$, its coordinate expression iswhich is holomorphic. Hence $\mathcal{E}$ is analytic, as stated in evaluation map on a space of germs.

Now putThis gives the germ surface of the square root of z to the eighth minus one. An explicit gluing description is obtained by pairing the eight roots into four adjacent pairs and cutting the plane along four disjoint arcs joining the members of each pair. On the complement of the cuts choose one branch $q(z)$ of $\sqrt{z^8-1}$. Take two copies, labelled by $q$ and $-q$, and glue the upper bank of each cut in one copy to the lower bank in the other, and conversely. The cut interiors are restored by the gluing, while the eight endpoints remain absent because they are not in $D$.

On this surface defineFor each $(z,w)\in R$, the holomorphic function $z^8-1$ is nonzero near $z$, so it has a unique local square root $q$ with $q(z)=w$. DefineThis is well-defined, injective, and analytic in the displayed local sheets; its inverse on its image is $[q{]}_z\mapsto (z,q(z))$. Thus $\Phi$ is the required analytic embedding, and it intertwines both the forgetful and evaluation maps.

To compactify, first add one point above each of the eight roots of unity. These are simple branch points of the double cover. Since the polynomial has even degree eight, the even-degree hyperelliptic model has two distinct, unbranched points above infinity. Consequently

Finally apply the Riemann-Hurwitz formula to the degree-two meromorphic map $\bar{\pi }:\overline{R}\to {\mathbb{C}}_{\infty }$. Its only ramification consists of the eight simple finite branch points, soThereforeThis is the compactification of y squared equals x to the eighth minus one.

Solved by gpt-5.6-sol high.