Quotient varieties (Q582348)

Let G be a reductive algebraic group acting on the algebraic variety X, both over the complex field \({\mathbb{C}}\). Assume a categorical quotient X//G of X by G exists (which will always be the case for affine X). The authors use the structure of G as a Lie group, in particular the existence of maximal compact subgroups K of G, to analyze the topology of X//G. In particular, they prove that for affine X the map X/K\(\to X//G\) induces an isomorphism in cohomology, so that if X is acyclic, so is X//G. The authors further prove that if X,Y are simply connected affine G-varieties and f: \(X\to Y\) a G morphism which is a cohomology isomorphism then \(f:\quad X//G\to Y//G\) is a homotopy equivalence. If X is contractible and Y a point then these two results combine to prove that X//G is contractible. If X is simply connected, X/K\(\to X//G\) is shown to be a homotopy equivalence. One application includes a theorem of Panyushev: if the semi-simple group G is represented on the vector space V and the finite group H is represented on the vector space W then if V//G and W//H are isomorphic they both are isomorphic to \({\mathbb{C}}^{(n)}\).