Abstract:
The author studies the fundamental group of the complement of an algebraic curve $D\subset\mathbf C^2$ defined by an equation $f(x,y)=0$. Let $F\colon X=\mathbf C^2\setminus D\to\mathbf C^*=\mathbf C\setminus\{0\}$ be the morphism defined by the equation $z=f(x,y)$. The main result is that if the generic fiber $Y=F^{-1}(z_0)$ is irreducible, then the kernel of the homomorphism $F_*\colon\pi_1(X)\to\pi_1(\mathbf C^*)$ is a finitely generated group. In particular, if $D$ is an irreducible curve, then the commutator subgroup of $\pi_1(X)$ is finitely generated.
The internal and external Alexander polynomials of a curve $D$ (denoted by $\Delta_{in}(t)$ and $\Delta_{ex}(t)$ respectively) are introduced, and it is shown that the Alexander polynomial $\Delta_1(t)$ of the curve $D$ divides $\Delta_{in}(t)$ and $\Delta_{ex}(t)$ and is a reciprocal polynomial whose roots are roots of unity. Furthermore, if $D$ is an irreducible curve, the Alexander polynomial $\Delta_1(t)$ of the curve $D$ satisfies the condition $\Delta_1(1)=\pm1$. From this it follows that among the roots of the Alexander polynomial $\Delta_1(t)$ of an irreducible curve there are no primitive roots of unity of degree $p^n$, where $p$ is a prime number.
Vik. S. Kulikov, “Alexander polynomials of Hurwitz curves”, Izv. Math., 70:1 (2006), 69–86
G.-M. Greuel, Vik. S. Kulikov, “On symplectic coverings of the projective plane”, Izv. Math., 69:4 (2005), 667–701
Alexandru Dimca, Commutative Algebra, Singularities and Computer Algebra, 2003, 113
Vik. S. Kulikov, “On the fundamental groups of complements of toral curves”, Izv. Math., 61:1 (1997), 89–112
Vik. S. Kulikov, “Finite presentability of the commutator subgroup of the fundamental group of the complement of a plane curve”, Izv. Math., 61:5 (1997), 961–967
Vik. S. Kulikov, V. S. Kulikov, “On the monodromy and mixed Hodge structure on cohomology of the infinite cyclic covering of the complement to a plane algebraic curve”, Izv. Math., 59:2 (1995), 367–386
Vik. S. Kulikov, “On plane algebraic curves of positive Albanese dimension”, Izv. Math., 59:6 (1995), 1173–1192
Vik. S. Kulikov, “A geometric realization of $C$-groups”, Russian Acad. Sci. Izv. Math., 45:1 (1995), 197–206