Small modifications of Mori dream spaces arising from \(\mathbb{C}^\ast\)-actions (Q2087705)

Let \(X\) be a smooth complex projective variety, and \(L\) an ample \({\mathbb Q}\)-divisor on \(X\). Let us assume that \(X\) admits a \({\mathbb C}^*\) action. The main goal of the paper under review is to link small modifications of \(X\) to GIT quotiens with respect to this action. Any fixed point component \(Y\) of such action has a weight with respect to \(L\). Moreover, for any orbit \(t \cdot x\), there exist a limit when \(t \to 0\), the source, and to infinity, the sink. This allows to define, for each fixed point component \(Y\), the closure of the set of points whose source (resp. whose sink) lies on \(Y\). This is the so called Bialynicki-Birula cell decomposition. The weights order the set of fixed point components \(Y_{a_i}\) of the action, where the minimum is reached at the \(0\)-weight component, the source of the action (source for general \(x \in X\)), and the maximum reached at \(Y_r\), the sink of the action (sink for general \(x \in X\)). The indices \(a_i\) are called critical values. On the other hand, fixing \(i\) such that \(a_i\) is a critical vale, a set of semistable points for the action can be defined por the pairs \((i,i+1)\). Correspondingly, GIT quotients \({\mathcal G}X(i,i+1)\) appear. With these definitions, the interplay between small modifications and GIT quotients proved in the paper under review is exemplified in Thm. 1.1 (under the assumption on the action to be equalized, details in Lemma 2.1). To be precise: Assume that \(Y_0\) and \(Y_r\) are not isolated points. (1) The varieties \(\mathcal{G}X(i,i +1)\) are smooth and the natural birational maps from \(\mathcal{G}X(i,i+1)\) to \(\mathcal{G}X(i+1,i+2)\) are flips. (2) The blowup of \(X\) along \(Y_0\), \(Y_r\) is a Mori dream space. (3) For each possible \((i,j)\), there exists a unique small \({\mathbb Q}\)-factorial modification \(X(i,j)\) of \(X\) that is smooth and admits a \({\mathbb C}^*\)-action with extremal fixed point components \(\mathcal{G}X(i,i +1)\), \(\mathcal{G}X(j,j+1)\) (4) Every small \({\mathbb Q}\)-factorial modification of \(X\) is constructed as above.