MATH 479: Linear Algebraic Groups

Torus actions

Let T be a n-dimensional torus and X an affine variety with a T -action.

1. Show that we can write

M
O(X) = O(X)χ ,
χ∈X(T )

where for any character χ ∈ X(T ) we define

O(X)χ = {f ∈ O(X) | tf = χ(t) · f for all t ∈ T }.

2. Show that the above decomposition defines a X(T ) grading on O(X), i.e.,
O(X)χ · O(X)χ0 ⊂ O(X)χ+χ0 for all characters χ and χ0 .
3. Give this decomposition for the canonical C∗ -action on C∗ and on An .

Bonus: Show that every Z-grading on O(X) defines a C∗ -action on X.