Asymptotic cone of semisimple orbits for symmetric pairs (Q631813): Difference between revisions

Let \(G\) be a connected reductive algebraic group over \({\mathbb C}\) and denote its Lie algebra by \(\mathfrak{g}\). Let \(h\in\mathfrak{g}\) be a semisimple element and denote \({\mathbb O}_h=\text{Ad}(G)h\), the adjoint \(G\)-orbit through \(h\). \textit{W. Borho} and \textit{H. Kraft} proved [Comment. Math. Helv. 54, 61--104 (1979; Zbl 0395.14013)] that the asymptotic cone \(\mathfrak{C}({\mathbb O}_h)\) coincides with the closure of a Richardson nilpotent orbit \(\overline{\mathcal{O}}\) corresponding to a parabolic subgroup with \(Z_G(h)\) as its Levi component. It generalizes a \textit{B. Kostant}'s theorem [Am. J. Math. 85, 327--404 (1963; Zbl 0124.26802)]. \quad The manuscript under review gives an analogue of Borho and Kraft's result on a semisimple orbit for a symmetric pair. Precisely, let \(\theta\) be an involution of \(G\), and \(K=G^{\theta}\). Let \(\mathfrak{g}=\mathfrak{k}+\mathfrak{s}\) be the corresponding Cartan decomposition of \(\mathfrak{g}\). Let \(\{x,h,y\}\) be a normal \(\mathfrak{sl}_2\) triple, where \(x,y\in\mathfrak{s}\) are nilpotent, \(\bar x=y\), and \(h\in\mathfrak{k}\) semisimple. Here \(\bar x\) denotes the complex conjugation which commutes with \(\theta\). Then \(a=\sqrt{-1}(x-y)\) is a semisimple element in \(\mathfrak{s}\). The main result asserts that the asymptotic cone of \(\text{Ad}(K)a\) in \(\mathfrak{s}\) coincides with \(\overline{\text{Ad}(G)x\cap\mathfrak{s}}\), if \(x\) is even nilpotent. The asymptotic cone is no longer irreducible in the case of symmetric pair.