Localization of spherical varieties (Q2509416)

Let \(G\) be a connected reductive group defined over an algebraically closed field \(k\) of arbitrary characteristic \(p\). A normal \(G\)-variety \(X\) is called spherical if a Borel subgroup \(B\) of \(G\) has an open orbit in \(X\). A combinatorial classification of the spherical varieties is known when \(p=0\). On the other hand not very much is known when \(p > 0\), and the present paper establishes some fundamental results towards a general classification of spherical varieties in arbitrary characteristic. In characteristic zero, the classification of spherical varieties splits up in Luna-Vust theory [\textit{D. Luna} and \textit{Th. Vust}, Comment. Math. Helv. 58, 186--245 (1983; Zbl 0545.14010)] and in \textit{D. Luna}'s theory [Publ. Math., Inst. Hautes Étud. Sci. 94, 161--226 (2001; Zbl 1085.14039)]. While the former deals with the classification of the equivariant embeddings of spherical homogeneous varieties, the latter concerns with the classification of the spherical homogeneous varieties in terms of suitable invariants called spherical systems, and has been accomplished with works of Losev, Cupit-Foutou, Bravi and Pezzini. While the theory of spherical embeddings has been extended in arbitrary characterstic by the author himself [\textit{F. Knop}, in: Proceedings of the Hyderabad conference on algebraic groups held at the School of Mathematics and Computer/Information Sciences of the University of Hyderabad, India, December 1989. Madras: Manoj Prakashan. 225--249 (1991; Zbl 0812.20023)], an extension of Luna's theory in arbitrary characteristic is still missing. The present paper is the first attempt in this direction, and a first definition of \(p\)-spherical system is given. In particular, the author recovers and simplifies in arbitrary characteristic most of the results obtained in characteristic zero by \textit{D. Luna} [in: Algebraic groups and Lie groups. A volume of papers in honour of the late R. W. Richardson. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 267--280 (1997; Zbl 0902.14037)], providing the main combinatorial invariants that should classify spherical homogeneous varieties and the axioms that they should satisfy.