On the D-affinity of flag varieties in positive characteristic (Q615833)

Let \(X\) be an algebraic variety over an algebraically closed field \(k\), and let \({\mathcal D}_X\) be the sheaf of differential operators on \(X\). \(X\) is called \(D\)-affine if every \(D\)-module \(M\) on \(X\) is generated by its global sections (i.e., \(M=\Gamma({\mathcal D})_X\otimes_{{\mathcal D}_X}\Gamma(M)\); this property is called quasi-\(D\)-affinity), and, moreover, \(H^i(X,{\mathcal D}_X)=0\) for \(i>0\). Now let \(G\) be a semisimple algebraic group, \(B\) its Borel subgroup and \(P\) a parabolic subgroup. A classical result of \textit{A. Beilinson} and \textit{J. Bernstein} [C. R. Acad. Sci., Paris, Sér. I 292, 15--18 (1981; Zbl 0476.14019)] states that all partial flag varieties \(G/P\) are \(D\)-affine provided the base field is of characteristic zero. Flag varieties in positive characteristic are always quasi-\(D\)-affine, but not always \(D\)-affine: \textit{B. Haastert} [Manuscr. Math. 58, 385--415 (1987; Zbl 0607.14010)] showed that the projective spaces and the flag variety for \(G=SL_3\) are \(D\)-affine, and \textit{M. Kashiwara} and \textit{N. Lauritzen} [C. R., Math., Acad. Sci. Paris 335, No. 12, 993--996 (2002; Zbl 1016.14009)] gave the first example of a non-\(D\)-affine flag variety, for \(G=SL_5\). This paper deals with the case of the full flag variety \(G/B\) of the group \(G=Sp_4\) in odd characteristic. It is shown that in this case the higher cohomology groups of \({\mathcal D}_{G/B}\) vanish, and thus the flag variety \(Sp_4/B\) is \(D\)-affine. The argument for this is essentially geometric: the problem is reduced to computing cohomology groups of line bundles on \(Sp_4/B\). This extends a result of \textit{H. H. Andersen} and \textit{M. Kaneda} [Manuscr. Math. 103, No. 3, 393--399 (2000; Zbl 1018.14019)], who showed the cohomology vanishing of the first term of the \(p\)-filtration.