Families of invariant divisors on rational complexity-one \(T\)-varieties (Q2438361)

Let \(X\) be a rational complexity-one \(T\)-variety, namely a normal rational variety \(X\) endowed with an effective action by some torus \(T\) of dimension one less than \(\text{dim}X\). Such varieties can be described completely in terms of convex polyhedral data attached to points on the projective line. \textit{N. O. Ilten} and \textit{R. Vollmert} [J. Algebr. Geom. 21, No. 3, 531--562 (2012; Zbl 1244.14044)] have shown how certain decompositions of the combinatorial data describing such an \(X\) can be used to construct a deformation \(\pi:\mathcal{X} \rightarrow \mathcal{B}\) of \(X\) with the action of \(T\) on \(X\) extending to an action on \(\mathcal{X}\) which preserves the fibers of \(\pi\). Such deformations are called \(T\)-deformations. Fix some one-parameter \(T\)-deformation \(\pi:\mathcal{X} \rightarrow \mathcal{B}\) of \(X\). The purpose of the paper under review is to compare the Picard group of a general fiber \(\mathcal{X}_{s}\) of \(\pi\) with the Picard group of the special fiber \(\mathcal{X}_{0}=X\). To do this, the authors identify a natural subgroup of the Picard group of \(\mathcal{X}_{s}\), which is canonically isomorphic to the Picard group of \(\mathcal{X}_{0}\). This isomorphism preserves Euler characteristic, intersection numbers, and the canonical class.