Invariant Hilbert scheme resolution of Popov's \(\mathrm{SL}(2)\)-varieties (Q2075057)

Let \(G\) be a reductive linear algebraic group, let \(X\) be an affine \(G\)-variety and let \(h\colon \mathrm{Irr}(G) \to \mathbb{Z}_{\geq 0}\) be a function that associates to any irreducible representation of \(G\) some non-negative integer. The \emph{invariant Hilbert scheme} \(\mathcal{H}:=\mathrm{Hilb}_h^G(X)\), associated with the triple (\(G,X,h\)), is a moduli space, constructed by \textit{V. Alexeev} and \textit{M. Brion} [J. Algebr. Geom. 14, No. 1, 83--117 (2005; Zbl 1081.14005); Adv. Lect. Math. (ALM) 24, 64--117 (2015; Zbl 1322.14001)], whose points correspond to \(G\)-stable closed subschemes \(Z\) of \(X\) such that the coordinate ring \(\mathbb{C}[Z]\) decomposes into irreducible \(G\)-modules accordingly to the function \(h\). Also, for a well-chosen function \(h\), the scheme \(\mathcal{H}\) is equipped with a projective morphism \(\gamma \colon \mathcal{H} \to X/\!/G=\mathrm{Spec}(\mathbb{C}[X]^G)\) which is an isomorphism over a dense open subset of \(X/\!/G\). The main contribution of the author of this article is the study of a new family of examples where \(G=\mathbb{G}_m \times \mu_m\) acts on some hypersurface \(X \subset \mathbb{C}^5\) such that \(X/\!/G=E_{l,m}\) is a quasi-homogeneous \(\mathrm{SL}(2)\)-variety. \textit{V. L. Popov} [Math. USSR, Izv. 7, 793--831 (1974; Zbl 0286.14013)] gives a complete classification of affine normal quasi-homogeneous \(\mathrm{SL}(2)\)-threefolds: they are uniquely determined by a pair of numbers \((l,m) \in (\mathbb{Q} \cap ]0;1]) \times \mathbb{Z}_{>0}\). Also, Popov proves that the variety \(E_{l,m}\) (corresponding to the pair \((l,m)\)) is smooth if and only if \(l=1\), and otherwise it contains a unique singular point. When singular, if follows from the work of \textit{V. Batyrev} and \textit{F. Haddad} [Mosc. Math. J. 8, No. 4, 621--646 (2008; Zbl 1221.14052)] that the variety \(E_{l,m}\) is furthermore dominated by a canonical weighted blow-up \(E'_{l,m} \to E_{l,m}\), where \(E'_{l,m}\) that is smooth if and only if \(E_{l,m}\) is toric (\(\Leftrightarrow \) \(q-p\) divides \(m\) with \(l=\frac{p}{q}\)). Since any affine normal quasi-homogeneous \(\mathrm{SL}(2)\)-threefold is of this form, it is natural to ask whether a canonical \(\mathrm{SL}(2)\)-equivariant desingularization of \(E_{l,m}\) can be obtained from the invariant Hilbert scheme. In this article the author gives a positive answer by describing \(\mathcal{H}\), which is shown to be connected and smooth, and the Hilbert-Chow morphism \(\gamma \colon \mathcal{H} \to X/\!/G=E_{l,m}\) using a wide range of techniques from classical invariant theory to Luna-Vust theory of spherical embeddings. More precisely, she proves the following (Main Theorem): \begin{itemize} \item[1.] If \(l=1\), then \(\gamma\colon \mathcal{H} \to E_{l,m}\) is an isomorphism. \item[2.] If \(l<1\) and \(E_{l,m}\) is toric, then \(\gamma\colon \mathcal{H} \to E_{l,m}\) coincides with the weighted blow-up \(E'_{l,m} \to E_{l,m}\). \item[3.] If \(l<1\) and \(E_{l,m}\) is non-toric, then \(\gamma\colon \mathcal{H} \to E_{l,m}\) coincides with the composition of the weighted blow-up \(E'_{l,m} \to E_{l,m}\) followed by the minimal desingularization \(\widetilde{E'_{l,m}} \to E'_{l,m}\). \end{itemize}