Computation of the vector space \(T^ 1\) for affine toric varieties (Q1336789)

In the present paper, the vector space \(T^1\) of first order infinitesimal deformations is computed for affine toric varieties \(X_\sigma\). The result is given by two different formulas which use combinatorial data of the given cone \(\sigma\) only. One of these formulas suggests that there is a relation between deformations of affine toric varieties on the one hand and splitting of certain polyhedra (obtained by affine cross cuts of the given cone) into a Minkowski sum on the other hand. As an application, the result is used to investigate when three-dimensional affine toric varieties are rigid.