The power-structure compatibility conjecture for the -Euler characteristic

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Let kk be a field of characteristic not 22, let X/kX/k be a quasi-projective variety, and let n≥1n\geq 1. Write Sym⁡n(X)=Xn/Sn\operatorname{Sym}^n(X)=X^n/S_n for the nnth symmetric power, let χc\chi_c denote the A1\mathbb{A}^1-Euler characteristic, and let a∗a_* be the power structure on GW⁡(k)\operatorname{GW}(k) constructed by Pajwani and Pál.

Power-structure compatibility conjecture. For every such kk, XX, and nn,

χc(Sym⁡n(X))=an(χc(X)).\chi_c(\operatorname{Sym}^n(X))=a_n(\chi_c(X)).

Equivalently, χc\chi_c respects the power structures when K0~(Var⁡k)\widetilde{K_0}(\operatorname{Var}_k) is equipped with the symmetric-power power structure and GW⁡(k)\operatorname{GW}(k) with a∗a_*. The conjecture asks for a quadratic refinement of the formula for the Euler characteristic of symmetric powers and was also formulated by Bejleri and McKean. It is currently unknown whether the stated compatibility holds.

References

Primary source

Louisa F. Bröring, Jesse Pajwani and Anna M. Viergever, “The A^1-Euler characteristic of symmetric powers”, arXiv:2510.06922 (2026).

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