Product Formulas for Periods of CM Abelian Varieties and the Function Field Analog

Abstract

We survey Colmez's theory and conjecture about the Faltings height and a product formula for the periods of abelian varieties with complex multiplication, along with the function field analog developed by the authors. In this analog, abelian varieties are replaced by Drinfeld modules and $A$-motives. We also explain the necessary background on abelian varieties, Drinfeld modules and $A$-motives, including their cohomology theories and comparison isomorphisms and their theory of complex multiplication.