Universal coefficients for overconvergent cohomology and the geometry of eigenvarieties

Abstract

We prove a universal coefficients theorem for the overconvergent cohomology modules introduced by Ash and Stevens, and give several applications. In particular, we sketch a very simple construction of eigenvarieties using overconvergent cohomology and prove many instances of a conjecture of Urban on the dimensions of these spaces. For example, when the underlying reductive group is an inner form of GL(2) over a quadratic imaginary extension of the rationals, the cuspidal component of the eigenvariety is a rigid analytic curve.

41 pages, with an appendix by James Newton; Theorem 1.6 significantly improved; comments and corrections welcome