The Bruhat order on Hermitian symmetric varieties and on abelian nilradicals (Q2216738)

Let \(G\) be a simple algebraic group over an algebraically closed group. Let \(P\) be a parabolic subgroup of \(G\) with abelian unipotent radical \(P^u\), and let \(L\) be a Levi subgroup of \(P\). Then \(G/L\) is a Hermitian symmetric space. Let \(B\) be a Borel subgroup of \(G\) contained in \(P\). The Bruhat order on Hermitian symmetric varieties referred to in the title of the article refers to the partial order defined by inclusions of \(B\)-orbit closures in \(G/L\). It is named in analogy with the classical Bruhat order, defined by inclusions of Schubert varieties in \(G/B\). Such Schubert varieties are parametrized by elements of the Weyl group of \(G\) thanks to the Bruhat decomposition, and the induced partial order on the Weyl group can be encoded in a fully combinatorial way. The \(B\)-orbits in \(G/L\) have already been studied, notably by \textit{R. W. Richardson} and \textit{T. A. Springer} [Geom. Dedicata 35, No. 1--3, 389--436 (1990; Zbl 0704.20039)]. They are parametrized by combinatorial data as well. The main result of the paper is a combinatorial translation of the partial order alluded to above. This provides a solution to a conjecture of \textit{R. W. Richardson} and \textit{T. A. Springer} [Contemp. Math. 153, 109--142 (1993; Zbl 0840.20039),Conjecture 5.6.2]. One ingredient of the proof, which leads to results of independent interest is the following. The inclusion \(L\subset P\) provides a homogeneous fibration of \(G/L\) onto \(G/P\) whose fibers are isomorphic to \(P/L\). Under natural identifications and exponential map, this fiber is isomorphic to the Lie algebra \(\mathfrak{p}^u\) of \(P^u\). Orbits under \(B\) behave well under this projection, allowing to approach the problem by studying \(B\)-orbit closures in \(G/P\) (a well-known variation on the classical Bruhat order) and \(B\)-orbit closures in the fibers \(\mathfrak{p}^u\). The latter is studied as a first step in the present article, providing in particular the final steps to settle a conjecture of \textit{D. Panyushev} [Transform. Groups 22, No. 2, 503--524 (2017; Zbl 1377.22016), Conjecture~6.2].