Deformations of Smooth Complete Toric Varieties: Obstructions and the Cup Product

Abstract

Let $X$ be a complete $\mathbb{Q}$-factorial toric variety. We explicitly describe the space $H^2(X,T_X)$ and the cup product map $H^1(X,T_X)\times H^1(X,T_X)\to H^2(X,T_X)$ in combinatorial terms. Using this, we give an example of a smooth projective toric threefold for which the cup product map does not vanish, showing that in general, smooth complete toric varieties may have obstructed deformations.

19 pages, 4 figures; v2 minor revisions