On \(\mathbb Q\)-factorial terminalizations of nilpotent orbits (Q981631)

Let \(G\) be a connected simple complex Lie group with Lie algebra \(\mathfrak g\). Let \({\mathcal O}\) be the orbit of a nilpotent element of \(\mathfrak g\) under the adjoint action of \(G\) on \(\mathfrak g\) and \(\overline{\mathcal O}\) its topological closure. There is a structure theorem by \textit{Y. Namikawa} [Adv. Math. 222, No. 2, 547--564 (2009; Zbl 1173.22011)] for the complex variety \(\overline{\mathcal O}\) when \(\mathfrak g\) is a classical Lie algebra: The normalization \(\widetilde{\mathcal O}\) of \(\overline{\mathcal O}\) is either \(\mathbb Q\)-factorial terminal or every \(\mathbb Q\)-factorial terminalization of \(\widetilde{\mathcal O}\) is given by a generalized Springer map, and any two such terminalizations are connected by Mukai flops. In the present article the author proves this fact for the exceptional simple Lie algebras, applying also arguments from the above cited paper. For an exceptional Lie algebra \(\mathfrak g\) it is shown that \(\widetilde{\mathcal O}\) is \(\mathbb Q\)-factorial whenever \(\mathfrak g\) is different from \(E_6\), and for \(\mathfrak g=E_6\) the space \(\widetilde{\mathcal O}\) is factorial if and only if \({\mathcal O}\) is not one of the orbits \(A_1, A_2+A_1, A_2+2A_1, A_3, A_3+A_1, A_4, A_4+A_1, D_5(a_1), D_5\), in the notation of \textit{W. M. McGovern} [Encycl. Math. Sci. 131, 159--238 (2002; Zbl 1036.17007)]. This result is based on a classification of orbits which are images of birational generalized Springer maps. \(\widetilde {\mathcal O}\) is \(\mathbb Q\)-factorial terminal for orbits \({\mathcal O}\) which are rigid in the sense that \(\overline{\mathcal O}\) is not the image of a generalized Springer map. A main result of the present article is a structure theorem for non-rigid nilpotent orbits \({\mathcal O}\) in an exceptional Lie algebra \(\mathfrak g\) for which \(\widetilde{\mathcal O}\) does not admit a crepant resolution: If \(\mathcal O\) equals \(A_2+A_1\) or \(A_4+A_1\) in \(E_7\) or \(A_4+A_1\) or \(A_4+2A_1\) in \(E_8\), then \(\widetilde{\mathcal O}\) has \(\mathbb Q\)-factorial terminal singularities. For all other nilpotent orbits in \(\mathfrak g\) any \(\mathbb Q\)-factorial terminalization of \(\widetilde{\mathcal O}\) is given by a generalized Springer map. Any two of those terminalizations are connected by specific Mukai flops. Finally the author classifies the nilpotent orbits \({\mathcal O}\) with \(\mathbb Q\)-factorial \(\widetilde{\mathcal O}\) in a classical simple Lie algebra, hereby closing a gap of a former paper.