In mathematics, a Zariski geometry consists of an abstract structure introduced by Ehud Hrushovski and Boris Zilber, in order to give a characterisation of the Zariski topology on an algebraic curve, and all its powers. The Zariski topology on a product of algebraic varieties is very rarely the product topology, but richer in closed sets defined by equations that mix two sets of variables. The result described gives that a very definite meaning, applying to projective curves and compact Riemann surfaces in particular.
A Zariski geometry consists of a set X and a topological structure on each of the sets
X, X2, X3, ...
satisfying certain axioms.
(N) Each of the Xn is a Noetherian topological space, of dimension at most n.
Some standard terminology for Noetherian spaces will now be assumed.
(A) In each Xn, the subsets defined by equality in an n-tuple are closed. The mappings
Xm → Xndefined by projecting out certain coordinates and setting others as constants are all continuous.
(B) For a projection
p: Xm → Xn
and an irreducible closed subset Y of Xm, p(Y) lies between its closure Z and Z \ where is a proper closed subset of Z. (This is quantifier elimination, at an abstract level.)
(C) X is irreducible.
(D) There is a uniform bound on the number of elements of a fiber in a projection of any closed set in Xm, other than the cases where the fiber is X.
(E) A closed irreducible subset of Xm, of dimension r, when intersected with a diagonal subset in which s coordinates are set equal, has all components of dimension at least r - s + 1.
The further condition required is called very ample (cf. very ample line bundle). It is assumed there is an irreducible closed subset P of some Xm, and an irreducible closed subset Q of P× X2, with the following properties:
(I) Given pairs (x, y), (, ) in X2, for some t in P, the set of (t, u, v) in Q includes (t, x, y) but not (t, , )
(J) For t outside a proper closed subset of P, the set of (x, y) in X2, (t, x, y) in Q is an irreducible closed set of dimension 1.
(K) For all pairs (x, y), (, ) in X2, selected from outside a proper closed subset, there is some t in P such that the set of (t, u, v) in Q includes (t, x, y) and (t, , ).
Geometrically this says there are enough curves to separate points (I), and to connect points (K); and that such curves can be taken from a single parametric family.
Then Hrushovski and Zilber prove that under these conditions there is an algebraically closed field K, and a non-singular algebraic curve C, such that its Zariski geometry of powers and their Zariski topology is isomorphic to the given one. In short, the geometry can be algebraized.