Beyond heights: slopes and distribution of rational points

Abstract

The distribution of rational points of bounded height on algebraic varieties is far from uniform. Indeed the points tend to accumulate on thin subsets which are images of non-trivial finite morphisms. The problem is to find a way to characterise the points in these thin subsets. The slopes introduced by Jean-Beno\^it Bost are a useful tool for this problem. These notes will present several cases in which this approach is fruitful. We shall also describe the notion of locally accumulating subvarieties which arises when one considers rational points of bounded height near a fixed rational point.