Comparison theorems for deformation functors via invariant theory (Q1736921)

In his celebrated paper [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 130, 208--222 (1968; Zbl 0167.49503)], \textit{M. Schlessinger} gave feasible conditions for the existence of (semi-) universal formal deformations of functors, which have influenced a series of results in deformation theory Subsequent comparison theorems of Schlessinger have been investigated in more detail by the second author of the article under review [Math. Scand. 45, 205--231 (1979; Zbl 0436.14004)]. Here new situations relating deformation functors of algebras to deformation functors of schemes are studied. The base field \(k\) is algebraically closed. \(X\) denotes a scheme which is a good quotient of a quasi-affine scheme \(X'\) by a linearly reductive group \(G\), where \(X'\subseteq\mathrm{Spec} (S)\), \(S\) a finitely generated algebra over \(k\) and \(G\) acts on \(S\) inducing the action on \(X'\). The deformations \(\mathrm{Def}^G_S\) are compared to \(\mathrm{Def}_X\) where -- roughly speaking -- the former one is the functor of invariant deformations of \(S\). Technically precise definitions are given using objects called \(G\)-quadruples and \(G\)-subquadruples. The latter ones (being defined by \(G\)-invariant ideals of \(S\)) give the context for comparing local Hilbert functors to the functor of deformations of an invariant surjection of \(k\)-algebras. Main result for Hilbert functors is a theorem stating sufficient homological conditions for \(\mathrm{Def}^G_{S/R}\) and \(\mathrm{Hilb}_{X/Y}\) to be isomorphic, where \(S\) denotes the algebra for the \(G\)-quadruple of \(X\) and \(R\) the algebra for the \(G\)-subquadruple of \(Y\). For the remaining part of the article, additional restrictions are imposed on the field \(k\). In the abstract (i.e. non-embedded) case, it is assumed that \(\mathrm{char} (k)=0\). Conditions are given which guarantee that \(\mathrm{Def}^G_S \to\mathrm{Def}_X\) is smooth or an isomorphism, respectively. As before, results are illustrated by a series of applications and examples. In the final section (where \(k=\mathsf{C}\)) the authors present aspects of their comparison theorems for toric varieties. A discussion of \(T^1\) for toric singularities leads to rigidity results: The paper concludes reproving the theorems of Altmann for \(\mathbb Q\)-Gorenstein affine toric varieties and of Totaro for toric Fano varieties respectively, which are shown to be rigid if they are smooth in codimension 2 and simplicial in codimension 3. Note that compared to earlier preprint-versions, the article has undergone changes including modification of definitions. The references facilitate understanding the results in the context of the development in this meanwhile classical area.