Algebraic Barth-Lefschetz theorems

Abstract

Using results of Hironaka-Matsumura and Faltings, we prove a strong version of the well known Fulton-Hansen connectivity theorem for weighted projective spaces. As a consequence we get the following result. If $Y$ is an irreducible subvariety of the $n$-dimensional projective space (over a field of arbitrary characteristic), then the diagonal embedding ${\Delta}_Y$ is $G_3$ in $Y\times Y$. This fact implies a generalized version (with a characteristic-free proof) of a result of Ogus (in char. zero) and Speiser (in positive characteristic).