Factorial algebraic group actions and categorical quotients (Q2438890)

Let \(\mathbb{K}\) be an algebraically closed field, and let \(G\) be an affine algebraic group \(G\) which acts on a normal variety \(X\) defined over \(\mathbb{K}\). As is well-known, the orbit space \(X/G\) is often not a variety, so typically one is interested in the notion of a categorical quotient, that is, a \(G\)-invariant morphism \(\pi:X\rightarrow Y\) such that every other \(G\)-invariant morphism \(X\rightarrow Z\) factors uniquely through \(\pi.\) Such categorical quotients exist provided \(G\) is reductive -- in this case, \(Y=\text{Spec}\Gamma\left( X,\mathcal{O}\right) ^{G},\) however if \(G\) is reductive there may be no categorical quotient. In the work under review, the authors consider actions of \(G\) on \(X\) such that every \(G\)-invariant hypersurface in \(X\) is the zero set of an invariant function \(f\in\Gamma\left( X,\mathcal{O}\right) \) -- such an action is called factorial. While the algebra of invariants \(\Gamma\left( X,\mathcal{O}\right) ^{G}\) in not, in general, finitely generated, there exist finitely generated normal subalgebras \(A\subset\Gamma\left( X,\mathcal{O}\right) ^{G}\) with field of fractions \(\mathbb{K}\left( X\right) ^{G}.\) For \(Y^{\prime}=\text{Spec}A,\) the map \(\pi^{\prime }:X\rightarrow Y^{\prime}\) corresponding to this inclusion is not necessarily surjective; we let \(Y=\pi^{\prime}\left( X\right) ,\) which is a constructible set. The first result of this paper is that \(\pi:X\rightarrow Y,\) given by applying \(\pi^{\prime},\) is a categorical quotient in the category of constructible spaces for the \(G\)-action on \(X\) if and only if either \(\pi^{\ast}:\Gamma\left( Y,\mathcal{O}\right) \rightarrow \Gamma\left( X,\mathcal{O}\right) ^{G}\) is an isomorphism or, equivalently, there is an open subset \(Y^{\prime\prime}\subset Y^{\prime}\) containing \(Y\) such that \(Y^{\prime\prime}\backslash Y\) is of codimension at least two (in \(Y^{\prime\prime}\)). Moreover, if these equivalent conditions hold then \(\pi\) is a strong categorical quotient, that is, for all \(V\subset Y,\) the restriction \(\pi:\pi^{-1}\left( V\right) \rightarrow V\) is a categorical quotient. The quotient \(Y\) is then a quasiaffine constructible space. As a special case, if \(\Gamma\left( X,\mathcal{O}\right) ^{G}\) is finitely generated, we may take \(A=\Gamma\left( X,\mathcal{O}\right) ^{G}\) and conclude that \(\pi:X\rightarrow Y\) is a strong categorical quotient (since \(\pi^{\ast}\) is an isomorphism). Of course, one may also be interested in quotients in the category of varieties. It is shown that a quotient \(\pi:X\rightarrow Y\) exists in this category if and only if there is a finitely generated normal subalgebra \(A\subset\Gamma\left( X,\mathcal{O}\right) ^{G}\) with field of fractions \(\mathbb{K}\left( X\right) ^{G}\) such that the image of \(X\rightarrow \text{Spec}A\) is open; to establish this condition one may assume \(A\) is a normal separating subalgebra. Again, if the condition holds then \(\pi:X\rightarrow Y\) is a strong categorical quotient. In the case where \(\Gamma\left( X,\mathcal{O}\right) ^{G}\) is finitely generated, then it suffices to check if \(X\rightarrow\text{Spec}\Gamma\left( X,\mathcal{O}\right) ^{G}\) is open. Finally, suppose now \(G\) is a unipotent group which acts linearly on a finite dimensional \(\mathbb{K}\)-vector space \(V.\) Then there exists a quotient in the category of varieties for the action of \(G\) on \(V\) if and only if \(\Gamma\left( V,\mathcal{O}\right) ^{G}\) is finitely generated and \(\pi:V\rightarrow\text{Spec}\Gamma\left( V,\mathcal{O}\right) ^{G}\) is surjective.