The period-index conjecture for abelian threefolds and Donaldson-Thomas theory

Abstract

We prove the period-index conjecture for unramified Brauer classes on abelian threefolds. To do so, we develop a theory of reduced Donaldson-Thomas invariants for 3-dimensional Calabi-Yau categories, with the feature that the noncommutative variational integral Hodge conjecture holds for classes with nonvanishing invariant. The period-index result is then proved by interpreting it as the algebraicity of a Hodge class on the twisted derived category, and specializing within the Hodge locus to an untwisted abelian threefold with nonvanishing invariant. As a consequence, we also deduce the integral Hodge conjecture for generically twisted abelian threefolds.