Rank One Local Systems and Forms of Degree One

Abstract

Cohomology support loci of rank one local systems of a smooth quasiprojective complex algebraic variety are finite unions of torsion-translated complex subtori of the character variety of the fundamental group. Tangent spaces of the character variety are (partially) represented by logarithmic 1-forms. In this paper, we give a relation between cohomology support loci and the natural strata of 1-forms given by the dimension of the vanishing locus. This relation generalizes the one for the projective case due to Green and Lazarsfeld and also generalizes the partial relation due to Dimca in the quasi-projective case.