Estimation of the dimensions of some Kisin varieties (Q507459)

The goal of this article is to study some varieties that parameterize lattices in certain \(\phi\)-modules. Let \(k\) be an algebraically closed field of characteristic \(p\), and endow \(K = k((u))\) with the \(k\)-linear continuous map \(\phi\) that sends \(u\) to \(u^p\). One is interested in the set of lattices \(L\) in \(K^d\) satisfying certain conditions, such as \(u^e L \subset \phi^*(L) \subset L\), where \(e \geq 0\). This set of lattices is naturally the set of \(k\)-points of a variety \(\mathcal{X}_{\leq e}\). These varieties were introduced by \textit{M. Kisin} [Ann. Math. (2) 170, No. 3, 1085--1180 (2009; Zbl 1201.14034)] and studied by \textit{G. Pappas} and \textit{M. Rapoport} [Mosc. Math. J. 9, No. 3, 625--663 (2009; Zbl 1194.14032)], \textit{E. Hellmann} [Mosc. Math. J. 9, No. 3, 531--561 (2009; Zbl 1191.14064); Adv. Math. 228, No. 1, 219--240 (2011; Zbl 1268.11074)] and \textit{N. Imai} (e.g., [Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 138, No. 11, 3827--3833 (2010; Zbl 1255.14037); Am. J. Math. 132, No. 5, 1189--1204 (2010; Zbl 1205.14025)]. The main result of the paper (Theorems 1.1 and 1.2) is an upper and a lower bound for the dimension of the irreducible component of \(\mathcal{X}_{\leq e}\) of largest dimension. One can define some more refined varieties, in terms of the invariant factors of the inclusion \(\phi^*(L) \subset L\), and the author proves some results (Theorems 1.4 and 1.5) about their corresponding dimensions. The article starts with an informative introduction, discussing the scope of the various results. The introduction and the last section of the paper contain a discussion of possible generalizations and directions for further research.