Toroidal varieties and the weak factorization theorem (Q1417453)

The results of the comprehensive treatise under review represent a major progress in current algebraic geometry under several aspects. In this regard, they may be assessed as being truly fundamental, pioneering and historically epoch-making. The first significant contribution provided by this paper is given by the author's approach to extend the theory of toroidal embeddings à la \textit{G. Kempf}, \textit{F. Knudsen}, \textit{D. Mumford} and \textit{B. Saint-Donat} [Toroidal embeddings. I. Lect. Notes Math. 339 (1973; Zbl 0271.14017)] to the class of toroidal varieties with stratifications. Using this powerful and novel generalized theory developed in the first half of the paper, the author derives then the second, just as fundamental and spectacular main result of his highly original work: a complete and rigorous proof of the long-standing ``Weak Factorization Conjecture'' for complete smooth algebraic varieties over an algebraically closed field. This famous conjecture, first stated by K. Miyake and T. Oda in [\textit{T. Oda}, Lectures on torus embeddings and applications (based on joint work with Katsuya Miyake), Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bombay (1978; Zbl 0417.14043)] predicted that every birational map between two such varieties over a ground field of characteristic zero can be decomposed into a sequence of successive blow-ups or blow-downs at a smooth center. As for toric varieties and birational toric maps, the ``Weak Factorization Conjecture'', sometimes also called the ``Weak Oda Conjecture'', was proved by the author of the present paper in 1997 [cf.: \textit{J. Włodarczyk}, Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 349, No. 1, 373--411 (1997; Zbl 0867.14005)] and, somewhat later and independently, by \textit{R. Morelli} [Correction to J. Algebr. Geom. 5, No. 4, 751--782 (1996; Zbl 0871.14041), available at \url{http://www.math.utah.edu/~morelli/Math/math.html}]. A further variant of the author's approach toward the general ``Weak Factorization Conjecture'' was developed in his subsequent paper published in 2000 (Zbl 1010.14002), where he introduced the new conceptual framework of birational cobordisms between birationally equivalent varieties. With a view to this earlier work of the author's, the current treatise must be seen as the culmination of his efforts at turning the ``Weak Factorization Conjecture'' into the ``Weak Factorization Theorem'' in its most general form, which is indeed concluded here by applying the additional new framework of the theory of stratified toroidal varieties. In this way, the final proof of this utmost deep theorem also illustrates and demonstrates the fundamental significance of the geometry of stratified toroidal varieties. Shortly after the present proof was found, another proof of the ``Weak Factorization Theorem'' was conceived by \textit{D. Abramovich}, \textit{K. Karu} and \textit{K. Matsuki} and the author of the current paper himself [J. Am. Math. Soc. 15, No. 3, 531--572 (2002; Zbl 1032.14003)]. However, while their alternative proof relies on both the ``Weak Factorization Theorem'' for toric varieties and the theory of birational cobordisms (as in J. Włodarczyk's earlier papers cited above), the proof presented, here does not and seems to be of somewhat more general nature. In fact, another application of the theory of stratified toroidal varieties is given in the course of the current work, where the author establishes the existence of a resolution of singularities of toroidal varieties in arbitrary characteristic via blowing up ideals determined by valuations. Now, with the author's ingenious proof of the ``Weak Factorization Theorem'' at hand, it remains to finally clarify the situation concerning the so-called ``Strong Factorization Conjecture'' formulated by H. Hironaka in 1960 [cf.: \textit{H. Hironaka}, On the theory of birational blowing-up, Ph.D. Thesis, Harvard University, 1960)]. This stronger version states that a birational map (as above) can even be factored into a succession of blow-ups at smooth centers followed by a succession of blow-downs at smooth centers. With regard to this task, the author's present general approach might provide a highly useful toolkit.