Vanishing theorem for the cohomology of line bundles on Bott-Samelson varieties (Q975091)

The author proves some vanishing results for the cohomology of line bundles on Bott-Samelson varieties. Bott-Samelson varieties were defined as desingularizations of Schubert varieties and were used to describe the geometry of Schubert varieties. In this direction the results found in this paper, also if they are not as powerful as the results of N. Lauritzen and J. F. Thomsen on vanishing of the cohomology in positive degree of line bundles always on Bott-Samelson varieties, represent an important new tool. The results are obtained using the Grossberg-Karshon's degeneration of Bott-Samelson varieties to toric varieties and the description of cohomology of line bundles on toric varieties.