Finite groups of essential dimension 2 (Q373480)

Fix an algebraically closed field \(k\) of characteristic \(0\). The essential dimension of a finite group \(G\), denoted \(\mathrm{ed}(G)\), is defined as the least dimension of a versal \(G\)-variety. Here a \(G\)-variety \(X\) over \(k\) is versal, if it is faithful and for every \(G\)-torsor \(T\) over a field extension \(K/k\) the set of \(K\)-rational points in the twisted variety \({}^T X\) is dense. The only (finite) group of essential dimension \(0\) is the trivial group and groups of \(\mathrm{ed}(G)=1\) are precisely the non-trivial cyclic and odd dihedral groups as shown by \textit{J. Buhler} and \textit{Z. Reichstein} [Compos. Math. 106, No. 2, 159--179 (1997; Zbl 0905.12003)]. The paper under review classifies all finite groups of essential dimension 2. A similar classification was made by \textit{H. Kraft} and \textit{G. W. Schwarz} for covariant dimension instead of essential dimension [J. Algebra 313, No. 1, 268--291 (2007; Zbl 1118.14055)]. In general \(\mathrm{ed(G)}\leq \mathrm{covdim}(G)\) and if \(G\) has a non-trivial center, the two values coincide as shown by the above two authors and the reviewer in [\textit{H. Kraft} et al., J. Algebra 322, No. 1, 94--107 (2009; Zbl 1173.14036)]. This permits the author to consider only groups \(G\) with trivial center. In order to complete the classification of groups of essential dimension \(2\) the author studies minimal rational surfaces with a versal action of a finite group. These have been classified by \textit{Yu. I. Manin} [Math. USSR, Sb. 1, 141--168 (1968); translation from Mat. Sb., n. Ser. 7 (114; Zbl 0182.23701)] and \textit{V. A. Iskovskikh} [Math. USSR, Izv. 14, 17--39 (1980; Zbl 0427.14011)] based on work of Enriques. The list of groups of \(\mathrm{ed}(G)=2\) the author finally obtains includes the groups \(S_5\), \(\mathrm{PSL}_2(\mathbb{F}_7)\), subgroups of \(\mathrm{GL}_2(\mathbb{C})\) that are neither cyclic nor odd dihedral and certain finite subgroups of \((\mathbb{C}^\times)^2 \rtimes D\), where \(D\) is a maximal finite subgroup of \(\mathrm{GL}_2(\mathbb{Z})\).