Equivariant degenerations of spherical modules for groups of type \(A\) (Q1931235)

Let \(G\) be a complex connected reductive algebraic group and let \(B\) a Borel subgroup of \(G\). A normal \(G\)-variety \(X\) is called spherical if it has an open \(B\)-orbit; if moreover \(X\) is affine then it is spherical if and only if its coordinate ring \(\mathbb C[X]\) is multiplicity-free as a \(G\)-module. Let \(\mathcal{S}\) be a finitely generated submonoid of the monoid of dominant weights \(\Lambda^+\) (w.r.t. \(B\) and a maximal torus in it). \textit{V.~Alexeev} and \textit{M.~Brion} [J.~Algebraic~Geom. 14, No. 1, 83--117 (2005; Zbl 1081.14005)] introduced a moduli scheme \(\mathrm M_\mathcal{S}\) which parametrizes the isomorphism classes of affine spherical \(G\)-varieties \(X\) with weight monoid \(\mathcal{S}\), namely such that \(\mathbb C[X] \simeq \bigoplus_{\lambda \in \mathcal{S}} V(\lambda)^*\). Moreover, they proved that \(M_\mathcal{S}\) is a connected affine scheme of finite type. In the paper under review, the authors compute examples of \(\mathrm M_\mathcal{S}\) in the case where \(\mathcal{S}\) is the weight monoid of a spherical \(G\)-module and \(G\) is of type \(\mathsf A\), and prove that under these assumptions \(\mathrm M_\mathcal{S}\) is always an affine space. Previously, examples of \(\mathrm M_\mathcal{S}\) were computed by \textit{S.~Jansou} [Math.~Ann. 338, No. 3, 627--667 (2007; Zbl 1126.14057)], who treated the case where \(\mathcal{S}\) is generated by a single weight and showed that in this case \(\mathrm M_\mathcal{S}\) is either a (reduced) point or an affine line. Then new examples were computed by \textit{P.~Bravi} and \textit{S.~Cupit-Foutou} [Adv.~Math. 217, No. 6, 2800--2821 (2008; Zbl 1171.14029)], who treated the case of a free and saturated monoid \(\mathcal{S}\) (i.e. satisfying the property \(\mathbb Z \mathcal{S} \cap \Lambda^+ = \mathcal{S}\)), and in this case as well \(\mathrm M_\mathcal{S}\) was proved to be always an affine space. The weight monoids \(\mathcal{S}\) considered in the paper are also always freely generated, however in general they are not saturated. The main theorem of the paper concerning the structure of \(\mathrm M_\mathcal{S}\) in the case of the weight monoid of a spherical \(G\)-module is proved by reducing to a case-by-case verification, this part is general and does not depend on the type of \(G\). Then the classification of spherical modules (see e.g. \textit{F.~Knop} [ Representation theories and algebraic geometry. Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Study Institute, Montreal, Canada, July 28--August 8, 1997. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers. NATO ASI Ser., Ser. C, Math. Phys. Sci. 514, 301--317 (1998; Zbl 0915.20021)]) is used for the needed verification when \(G\) is of type \(\mathsf A\).