Betti numbers of real semistable degenerations via real logarithmic geometry

Abstract

Let $X\rightarrow C$ be a totally real semistable degeneration over a smooth real curve $C$ with degenerate fiber $X_0$. Assuming that the irreducible components of $X_0$ are simple from a cohomological point of view, we give a bound for the individual Betti numbers of a real smooth fiber near $0$ in terms of the complex geometry of the degeneration. This generalizes previous work of Renaudineau-Shaw, obtained via combinatorial techniques, for tropical degenerations of hypersurfaces in smooth toric varieties. The main new ingredient is the use of real logarithmic geometry, which allows to work with not necessarily toric degenerations.