Homogeneous varieties under split solvable algebraic groups (Q1983971)

A connected solvable linear algebraic group \(G\) over a field \(k\) is said to be split if it admits a subnormal series of closed subgroups \(\{e\}=G_0\vartriangleleft G_1\vartriangleleft\dots\vartriangleleft G_s=G\) such that \(G_i/G_{i-1}\simeq \mathbb G_{\text{a}}\) or \(\mathbb G_{\text{m}}\) for \(i=1,\dots,s\). A classical theorem of \textit{M. Rosenlicht} [Ann. Mat. Pura Appl. (4) 62, 97--120 (1963; Zbl 0126.16901)] states that any homogeneous \(G\)-variety \(X\) is \(k\)-isomorphic to \(\mathbb A^m\times(\mathbb A^\times)^n\) for some \(m,n\), where \(\mathbb A^\times\) denotes the punctured affine line. The aim of the note under review is to provide a modern proof for this theorem and some further developments. Starting with a structure lemma saying that the subnormal series in \(G\) can be chosen so that each \(G_i\) is normal in \(G\) and the quotients \(G_i/G_{i-1}\) are isomorphic to \(\mathbb G_{\text{a}}\), resp.\ \(\mathbb G_{\text{m}}\), whenever \(i\le m\), resp. \(i>m\), the author proves the theorem of Rosenlicht by induction on \(\dim G\). By existence of a \(k\)-rational point in \(X\) (also proved by \textit{M. Rosenlicht} [Am. J. Math. 78, 401--443 (1956; Zbl 0073.37601)] and reproved in this note), \(X\) can be presented as a quotient space \(X=G/H\), and the induction step is performed by applying the induction assumption to \(Y=X/G_1=G/HG_1\). The cases \(H\supset G_1\) and \(G_1\simeq\mathbb G_{\text{m}}\) are trivial, because then either \(G\) acts through \(G/G_1\) or \(G\) is a split torus. In the nontrivial case \(H\not\supset G_1\simeq\mathbb G_{\text{a}}\), it is proved that the quotient morphism \(X\to Y\) is a \(\mathbb G_{\text{a}}\)-torsor, which has to be trivial since \(Y\) is affine. More generally, given any \(G\)-variety \(X\), the author considers a rational quotient \(Y\) for the action of \(G\) on \(X\), that is, a geometric model of the field \(k(X)^G\) of invariant rational functions, and applies Rosenlicht's theorem to the generic fiber of the rational map \(X\dashrightarrow Y\). With some further efforts, he deduces existence of a \(G\)-stable open subvariety \(X_0\subset X\) isomorphic to \(\mathbb A^m\times(\mathbb A^\times)^n\times Y\) (for some \(m,n\), and \(Y\)). As a corollary, he proves that \(k(X)\) is a pure transcendental extension of \(k(X)^G\), cf.\ [\textit{V. L. Popov}, Eur. J. Math. 2, No. 1, 283--290 (2016; Zbl 1332.14061)]. In the case \(G=\mathbb G_{\text{a}}\), the \(G\)-action on \(X_0\simeq\mathbb A^1\times Y\) is given explicitly by a monic additive polynomial \(P\in\mathcal{O}(Y)[t]\).