Homological Mirror Symmetry - Key Proof
We outline the proof of homological mirror symmetry for elliptic curves, the foundational result established by Polishchuk and Zaslow. This proof illustrates the techniques that have been extended to higher-dimensional cases.
Let be an elliptic curve and its dual torus. We construct an equivalence .
Step 1: Generators
The derived category is generated by:
- Structure sheaf
- Skyscraper sheaf at a point
Every coherent sheaf on can be built from these via exact triangles and shifts.
Step 2: Lagrangian Generators
The Fukaya category is generated by:
- Zero section
- Fiber of the projection
These Lagrangian circles generate via products and taking cones.
Step 3: Define Functor on Generators
Set:
This assignment must preserve triangulated structure and Ext groups.
Step 4: Verify Ext Groups
We need:
Left side: By Serre duality and Riemann-Roch:
Right side: The Lagrangians and intersect transversely at one point, so:
The differential in Floer complex vanishes since there are no holomorphic strips between single intersection points.
Step 5: Self-Exts and Structure
For :
This matches:
The products on both sides (Yoneda product vs. holomorphic polygon counts) must match. This requires detailed analysis of holomorphic strips in .
Step 6: Line Bundles and Lagrangian Tori
Line bundles parametrized by correspond to Lagrangian tori via:
where is the translate of by . The Ext groups:
match the Floer cohomology computed from parallel Lagrangian tori.
Step 7: Fully Faithful and Essentially Surjective
Having verified:
- sends generators to generators
- All Ext/HF groups match
- products agree
We conclude is fully faithful. Essential surjectivity follows from generation: every object in both categories is built from generators.
Conclusion: is an equivalence of triangulated categories.
This proof strategyβidentifying generators, verifying Ext/Floer isomorphisms, checking compatibilityβhas been extended to K3 surfaces, toric varieties, and partial results for Calabi-Yau threefolds. The main challenges in higher dimensions are:
- More complex Fukaya categories with intricate structures
- Difficulties defining and computing Floer cohomology rigorously
- Non-compact moduli spaces of holomorphic curves requiring virtual techniques
The elliptic curve case remains the template for HMS proofs, illustrating the deep interplay between algebraic and symplectic geometry.