On the quotient of \(\mathbb{C}^4\) by a finite primitive group of type. I (Q743731)

Let \(G\) be a finite group acting linearly on \(\mathbb{C}^n\). E.~Noether asked when the field of invariants of the induced action of \(G\) on rational functions on \(\mathbb{C}^n\) is a purely transcendental extension of \(\mathbb{C}\), i.e. when the quotient \(\mathbb{C}^n/G\) is rational. This problem for \(n=4\) was considered by \textit{Y. G. Prokhorov} in [Prog. Math. 282, 245--273 (2010; Zbl 1204.14007)]. In particular, he settled the rationality question for many primitive groups, considering different cases based on the classification of finite primitive subgroups of \(\mathrm{GL}(4,\mathbb{C})\) given by \textit{H. F. Blickfeldt} [Finite collineation groups, with an introduction to the theory of groups of operators and substitution groups. University of Chicago Press (1916; JFM 46.0188.04)]. The article under review provides an answer in one case of a group of type (I) from Blickfeldt's classification, for which Prokhorov's approach was not sufficient. The author proves the rationality of the quotient of \(U_0 \simeq \mathbb{C}^4\) by the product \(G\simeq \mathbb{O} \times \mathbb{I}\) of the binary octahedral and binary icosahedral groups. However, his method works also for all other primitive groups of type (I), where the rationality was proved by Prokhorov [loc. cit.]. The starting point of the proof is to consider the action of \(G\) on a natural compactification \(V'\) of \(U_0/(\mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z})\), where \(\mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z}\) acts by multiplication by \(-1\). It turns out that \(V'\) is a Fano 4-fold, a quadratic cone in~\(\mathbb{P}^5\). Then one may find a \(G\)-equivariant linear projection \(V' \dashrightarrow \mathbb{P}^2\), which leads to a description of a splitting of the threefold \(V'/G\) birationally into a product of positive-dimensional varieties. This proves the rationality of \(V'/G\), and the rationality of \(U_0/G\) follows.