Frobenius splitting and geometry of G-Schubert varieties

Abstract

Let X be an equivariant embedding of a connected reductive group G over an algebraically closed field k of positive characteristic. Let B denote a Borel subgroup of G. A G-Schubert variety in X is a subvariety of the form diag (G) ṡ V, where V is a B × B-orbit closure in X. In the case where X is the wonderful compactification of a group of adjoint type, the G-Schubert varieties are the closures of Lusztig's G-stable pieces. We prove that X admits a Frobenius splitting which is compatible with all G-Schubert varieties. Moreover, when X is smooth, projective and toroidal, then any G-Schubert variety in X admits a stable Frobenius splitting along an ample divisors. Although this indicates that G-Schubert varieties have nice singularities we present an example of a nonnormal G-Schubert variety in the wonderful compactification of a group of type G2. Finally we also extend the Frobenius splitting results to the more general class of R-Schubert varieties. © 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.