Closures of Steinberg fibers in twisted wonderful compactifications (Q862278)

Let \(G\) be a simple linear algebraic group over an algebraically closed field. Let \(\sigma\) denote a diagram automorphism of \(G\), let \(X\) be the wonderful compactification of \(G\), and let \(X_\sigma\) be the associated twisted wonderful compactification of \(G\), i.e., the underlying variety of \(X_\sigma\) is that of \(X\), but the \((G\times G)\)-action is twisted by \(\sigma\) on the second coordinate. Consider \(G\) as a \((G\times G)\)-variety by left and right translation and define \(G_\sigma\) by twisting the \(G\)-structure on \(G\) on the second factor by \(\sigma\). The set of elements in \(G_\sigma\) whose semisimple part lies in a fixed \(\text{diag}(G)\)-orbit in \(G_\sigma\) is called a Steinberg fiber of \(G_\sigma\). The authors study the closure of Steinberg fibers within \(X_\sigma\). The main result generalizes to the twisted case (with a more conceptual and easier proof) the result of \textit{X. He} [Adv. Math. 203, No. 1, 109--131 (2006; Zbl 1102.20032)].