Algebraic varieties with automorphism groups of maximal rank (Q1934301)

Let \(X\) be an \(n\)-dimensional normal compact complex variety with automorphism group Aut\((X)\). For \(g\in\) Aut\((X)\) define \(\rho(g)\) to be the spectral radius of the induced automorphism \(g^*\in \text{Aut\,}H^*(X,\mathbb C)\). The number \(\log\rho(g)\) is called the entropy of \(g\). If \(X\) is a compact Kähler manifold, then every commutative subgroup \(G\subset \text{Aut\,}(X)\) is isomorphic to a product \(N(G)\times G_1\), where \(N(G):=\{g\in G\,|\, \rho(g)=1\}\) is a subgroup of \(G\) and \(G_1\) a free abelian group of rank \(\leq n-1\) and of positive entropy, i.e. \(\rho(g)>1\) for all \(g\in G_1\backslash\{\)id\(\}\), cf. [\textit{T.-C. Dinh} and \textit{N. Sibony}, Duke Math. J. 123, No. 2, 311--328 (2004; Zbl 1065.32012)]. The author considers normal projective varieties \(X\) for \(n\geq 3\) with maximal possible commutative subgroups of \(\text{Aut\,}(X)\) of positive entropy. (For \(n=2\) cf. [\textit{S. Cantat}, C. R. Acad. Sci., Paris, Sér. I, Math. 328, No. 10, 901--906 (1999; Zbl 0943.37021)].) Assume that \(X\) has only quotient singularities and that \(G=\mathbb Z^{\oplus r}\subset \text{Aut\,}(X)\) is of positive entropy with \(r\geq n-1\). Then \(r=n-1\), and the absence of a positive-dimensional proper subvariety of \(X\) invariant under a finite-index subgroup of \(G\) is necessary and sufficient for \(X\) to be the quotient of an abelian variety \(A\) by a finite group \(F\) which acts freely on \(A\) outside a finite subset. Under some additional technical assumptions on \(X=A/F\) it is shown that the action of some finite-index group of \(G\) can be lifted to an action on \(A\). The proofs are based on the methods of the minimal model program and \(G\)-equivariant resolutions of singularities. There is also an addendum to the authors former paper [Adv. Math. 225, No. 5, 2332--2340 (2010; Zbl 1205.14054)] where similar results had been proven.