Consider the algebraic function $\Phi _{g,n}$ that assigns to a general $g$-dimensional abelian variety an $n$-torsion point. A question first posed by Klein asks: What is the minimal $d$ such that, after a rational change of variables, the function $\Phi _{g,n}$ can be written as an algebraic function of $d$ variables? Using techniques from the deformation theory of $p$-divisible groups and finite flat group schemes, we answer this question by computing the essential dimension and $p$-dimension of congruence covers of the moduli space of principally polarized abelian varieties. We apply this result to compute the essential $p$-dimension of congruence covers of the moduli space of genus $g$ curves, as well as its hyperelliptic locus, and of certain locally symmetric varieties. These results include cases where the locally symmetric variety $M$ is proper. As far as we know, these are the first examples of nontrivial lower bounds on the essential dimension of an unramified, nonabelian covering of a proper algebraic variety.

We prove that the essential dimension of central simple algebras of degree $p^{\ell m}$ and exponent $p^{m}$ over fields $F$ containing a base-field $k$ of characteristic $p$ is at least $\ell +1$ when $k$ is perfect. We do this by observing that the $p$-rank of $F$ bounds the symbol length in $\text{Br}_{p^{m}}(F)$ and that there exist indecomposable $p$-algebras of degree $p^{\ell m}$ and exponent $p^{m}$. We also prove that the symbol length of the Kato-Milne cohomology group $\text{H}_{p^{m}}^{n+1}(F)$ is bounded from above by $\binom{r}{n}$ where $r$ is the $p$-rank of the field, and provide upper and lower bounds for the essential dimension of Brauer classes of a given symbol length.

We examine situations, where representations of a finite-dimensional F-algebra A defined over a separable extension field K/F, have a unique minimal field of definition. Here the base field F is assumed to be a field of dimension ≼1. In particular, F could be a finite field or k(t) or k((t)), where k is algebraically closed. We show that a unique minimal field of definition exists if (a) K/F is an algebraic extension or (b) A is of finite representation type. Moreover, in these situations the minimal field of definition is a finite extension of F. This is not the case if A is of infinite representation type or F fails to be of dimension ≼1. As a consequence, we compute the essential dimension of the functor of representations of a finite group, generalizing a theorem of Karpenko, Pevtsova and the second author.

We prove that spin groups act generically freely on various spinor modules, in the sense of group schemes and in a way that does not depend on the characteristic of the base field. As a consequence, we extend the surprising calculation of the essential dimension of spin groups and half-spin groups in characteristic zero by Brosnan et al. [Essential dimension, spinor groups, and quadratic forms, Ann. of Math. (2) 171 (2010), 533–544], and Chernousov and Merkurjev [Essential dimension of spinor and Clifford groups, Algebra Number Theory 8 (2014), 457–472] to fields of characteristic different from two. We also complete the determination of generic stabilizers in spin and half-spin groups of low rank.

This paper gives a new upper bound for the essential dimension and the essential 2-dimension of the split simply connected group of type ${{E}_{7}}$ over a field of characteristic not 2 or 3. In particular, $\text{ed}\left( {{E}_{7}} \right)\,\le \,29$, and $\text{ed}\left( {{E}_{7}};\,2 \right)\,\le \,27$.

The well-known fiber dimension theorem in algebraic geometry says that for every morphism f:X→Y of integral schemes of finite type the dimension of every fiber of f is at least dim X−dim Y. This has recently been generalized by Brosnan, Reichstein and Vistoli to certain morphisms of algebraic stacks f:𝒳→𝒴, where the usual dimension is replaced by essential dimension. We will prove a general version for morphisms of categories fibered in groupoids. Moreover, we will prove a variant of this theorem, where essential dimension and canonical dimension are linked. These results let us relate essential dimension to canonical dimension of algebraic groups. In particular, using the recent computation of the essential dimension of algebraic tori by MacDonald, Meyer, Reichstein and the author, we establish a lower bound on the canonical dimension of algebraic tori.

We find upper bounds on the essential dimension of the moduli stack of parabolic vector bundles over a curve. When there is no parabolic structure, we improve the known upper bound on the essential dimension of the usual moduli stack. Our calculations also give lower bounds on the essential dimension of the semistable locus inside the moduli stack of vector bundles of rank r and degree d without parabolic structure.