On degree growth and stabilization of three-dimensional monomial maps (Q376670)

In the paper under review, the author studies the stabilization problem and the degree growth for monomial maps of toric varieties in dimension three. Given a \(n\times n\) integer matrix \(A=(a_{i,j})\) the ``associated monomial map'' \(f_A:(\mathbb{C}^*)^n\to (\mathbb{C}^*)^n\) is defined by \[ f_A(x_1,\dots, x_n) = \left(\prod_j x_j^{a_{1,j}}, \dots, \prod_j x_j^{a_{n,j}}\right). \] The morphism \(f_A\) extends to a rational map, again denoted by \(f_A\), on any \(n\)-dimensional toric variety. Recall that a toric variety \(X=X(\Delta)\) is defined by a lattice \(N\cong \mathbb{Z}^m\) and a fan \(\Delta\) in \(N\). The stabilization problem has been completely classified in dimension two in [\textit{C. Favre}, Mich. Math. J. 51, No. 3, 467--475 (2003; Zbl 1053.37021)] and [\textit{M. Jonsson} and \textit{E. Wulcan}, Mich. Math. J. 60, No. 3, 629--660 (2011; Zbl 1247.37040)]. Here the author focuses on the three-dimensional case for \(A\) diagonalizable, dealing both with the 1-stable and the 2-stable problems. In these settings, one has to deal with more cases than in dimension two. One of the main results in the paper is the following: { Theorem 1.1:} Let \(\Delta\) be a fan in a lattice \(N\cong \mathbb{Z}^3\), \(N_{\mathbb{R}}=N\otimes_\mathbb{Z} \mathbb{R}\), and \(f_A: X(\Delta)\dashrightarrow X(\Delta)\) be a monomial map associated to \(A\). Suppose that \(A\) is diagonalizable and that, for each eigenvalue \(\mu\) of \(A\), \(\mu/\bar\mu\) is a root of unity. Then there exist a complete simplicial refinement \(\Delta'\) of \(\Delta\) and \(k_0\in\mathbb{N}\) such that the map \(f_A^k: X(\Delta')\to X(\Delta')\) is both 1-stable and 2-stable for all \(k\geq k_0\). The author is able to obtain better results in certain subcases. For instance, if the eigenvalues have different modulus, then he shows that \(X(\Delta')\) can be made smooth and projective. Another interesting case is when \(\{A^k\mid k\in\mathbb{N}\}\) is a finite set, in which case the author can find a smooth projective \(X(\Delta')\) so that \(f_A\) is an automorphism on \(X(\Delta')\). The case when \(A\) has two complex eigenvalues \(\mu, \bar\mu\) with \(\mu/\bar\mu\) not a root of unity is also studied in the paper, and in particular, it is shown that several phenomena can occur: {\parindent=30pt \begin{itemize}\item[{\(\bullet\)}] the map \(f_A\) can be \(1\)-stable on a smooth projective variety, while not having a \(2\)-stable model, and vice-versa; \item[{\(\bullet\)}] given a toric variety \(X\), there can be a stable birational model for \(f_A\) even it \(f_A\) cannot be made stable by performing the blowup process on \(X\); \item[{\(\bullet\)}] the map \(f_A\) may have no \(1\)-stable model and no \(2\)-stable model. \end{itemize}} \smallskip The author develops technical tools about stabilization and the degree sequence, which in many cases work in arbitrary dimensions, and he also studies the resolution of the indeterminacy of pairs.