Paving Springer fibers for \(E7\) (Q2105275)

Let \(G\) be a connected simple complex algebraic group, \(\mathfrak{g}\) be its Lie algebra and let \(\mathcal{B}\) be the projective variety of its Borel subalgebras. Given a nilpotent element \(N \in \mathfrak{g}\), the Springer fiber \(\mathcal{B}_N \subset \mathcal{B}\) is the subvariety of Borel subalgebras containing \(N\). More generally, if \(s \in G\) is a semisimple element such that ad\((s)N = cN\), for some \(c\in \mathbb{C}^*\) one also considers \(\mathcal{B}_N^s\), which is the subvariety of \(\mathcal{B}_N\) consisting of those Borel subalgebras fixed by \(s\). A finite ordered partition \(\{X_i\}_{1\leq i \leq n}\) of a variety X into locally closed subsets such that each \(X_i\) is an affine space is said to be a \textit{paving of \(X\)} if \(\cup_{i=1}^k\) is closed in \(X\) for each \(1\leq k\leq n\). If a variety \(X\) has a paving, then it has property \(S\) consisting of: \((S_1)\) the integral Borel-Moore homology is a free module, \((S_2)\) the integral Bore-Moore homology in odd degrees vanishes, and \((S_3)\) the Chow map is an isomorphism. In a paper by \textit{C. de Concini} et al. [J. Am. Math. Soc. 1, No. 1, 15--34 (1988; Zbl 0646.14034)], the authors proved that each \(\mathcal{B}_N^s\) has property \(S\). The question of paving of \(\mathcal{B}_N^s\) was affirmatively settled by work of Spaltenstein for \(\mathfrak{g}\) of type \(A_\ell\) and \(E_6\); for other classical Lie algebras by De Concini-Lusztig-Procesi in the above mentioned paper; and the case of \(\mathfrak{g}\) of types \(G_2\) and \(F_4\) is easy (a proof in these two cases is contained in this paper of De Concini and Maffei). The paper under review settles the question of the paving for the Springer fibers \(\mathcal{B}_N\) for \(\mathfrak{g}\) of type \(E_7\). The case of \(\mathfrak{g}\) of type \(E_8\) remains open.