Classification of smooth horizontal Schubert varieties (Q1677175)

For a complex semisimple Lie group \(G\) and a parabolic subgroup \(P\subseteq G\), let \(T(G/P)\) be the holomorphic tangent bundle of the rational homogeneous variety \(G/P\), and let \(T^1\subseteq T(G/P)\) be its unique minimal, bracket-generating, \(G\)-homogeneous subbundle. A Schubert variety \(X\subseteq G/P\) is \textit{horizontal} if it is tangent to \(T^1\) at smooth points. A homogeneous variety \(G/P\) is \textit{cominuscule} if \(T^1=T(G/P)\). The main result of the paper under review is that if \(X\subseteq G/P\) is a smooth horizontal Schubert variety, then \(X\) is a product of homogeneously embedded rational homogeneous cominuscule subvarieties \(X(\mathcal{D}')=G'/P'\subseteq G/P\) corresponding to subdiagrams \(\mathcal{D}'\) of the Dynkin diagram \(\mathcal{D}\) of the group \(G\). Moreover, in the course of the proof of this theorem, the authors show that the subdiagrams \(\mathcal{D}'\) may be explicitly characterized and they illustrate this with examples of isotropic (symplectic) Grassmannians. This theorem generalizes the classification of smooth Schubert varieties in a cominuscule \(G/P\) due to \textit{V. Lakshmibai} and \textit{J. Weyman} [Adv. Math. 84, No. 2, 179--208 (1990; Zbl 0729.14037)], \textit{M. Brion} and \textit{P. Polo} [Math. Z. 231, No. 2, 301--324 (1999; Zbl 0927.14024)] and \textit{J. Hong} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 359, No. 5, 2361--2381 (2007; Zbl 1126.14010)]. The proof of the authors main theorem is based on results of \textit{J. Hong} and \textit{N. Mok} [J. Algebr. Geom. 22, No. 2, 333--362 (2013; Zbl 1274.14061)] characterizing smooth Schubert varieties homogeneously embedded in a \(G/P\) with associated long simple root, and results of \textit{C. Robles} [Sel. Math., New Ser. 20, No. 3, 719--768 (2014; Zbl 1328.32003)] characterizing Schubert varieties that arise as variations of Hodge structure.