A Gromov-Winkelmann type theorem for flexible varieties (Q343099)

The article contains generalizations of theorems about flexibility properties by \textit{M. Gromov} [Partial differential relations. Berlin: Springer (1986; Zbl 0651.53001)] and transitivity properties by \textit{J. Winkelmann} [Math. Z. 204, No. 1, 117--127 (1990; Zbl 0701.32014)]. The main result answers affirmatively a question posed by \textit{I. Arzhantsev} et al. [Duke Math. J. 162, No. 4, 767--823 (2013; Zbl 1295.14057)]. For an affine variety \(X\) one can consider the special automorphism group \(\mathrm{SAut}(X)\) which is generated by one-parameter unipotent subgroups of \(\mathrm{Aut}(X)\). If \(\mathrm{SAut}(X)\) acts transitively on \(X_{\mathrm{reg}}\), the smooth locus of \(X\), then \(X\) is called flexible. The main result can be summarized as follows: Theorem. Let \(X\) be a smooth quasi-affine variety of dimension \(\geq 2\) and \(Y\subseteq X\) a closed subscheme of codimension \(\geq 2\). If \(X\) is flexible then so is \(X\setminus Y\). With the assumption that \(X\) is affine this result was established in [\textit{I. V. Arzhantsev} et al., Sb. Math. 203, No. 7, 923--949 (2012; Zbl 1311.14059); translation from Mat. Sb. 203, No. 7, 3--30 (2012); Duke Math. J. 162, No. 4, 767--823 (2013; Zbl 1295.14057)]. For the case when \(X\) is a manifold, the authors develop a machinery (in Sections 3 and 4) whcih allows to reduce the proof to the model case of a standard birational transormation of a ruled surface introduced by a \(\mathbb{G}_{a}\)-action.