The global structure of moduli spaces of polarized \(p\)-divisible groups (Q2517776)

The author investigates the topological structure of moduli spaces of polarized \(p\)-divisible groups and determines their dimensions and their sets of connected components and of irreducible components. This complements previous work of the author [\textit{E. Viehmann}, J. Algebr. Geom. 17, No. 2, 341--374 (2008; Zbl 1144.14040)], where the case of \(p\)-divisible groups without polarization is analyzed. The moduli spaces in question have been introduced by \textit{M. Rapoport} and \textit{Th. Zink} [Period spaces for \(p\)-divisible groups. Annals of Mathematics Studies. 141. Princeton, NJ: Princeton Univ. Press (1996; Zbl 0873.14039)]. They parametrize pairs \((X, \lambda, \rho)\) where \(X\) is a \(p\)-divisible group, \(\lambda\) is a principal polarization of \(X\), and \(\rho\) is a quasi-isogeny from \(X\) modulo \(p\) to a fixed constant principally polarized \(p\)- divisible group \(\mathbb X\), s.~t.~\(\rho\) is compatible with the polarizations. To state the main results, we assume that \(\mathbb X\) is biinfinitesimal, which is the key case. Then mapping \((X, \lambda, \rho)\) to the height of \(\rho\) gives a bijection of the set of connected components of the moduli space with \(\mathbb Z\). Second, the automorphism group of the isocrystal of \(\mathbb X\) acts transitively on the set of irreducible components of the moduli space. This implies in particular that the moduli space is equi-dimensional. Finally, an explicit formula for the dimension is given. These results are analogous to the theory of affine Deligne-Lusztig varieties in the function field case; see the introduction of the paper at hand for further details.