Sufficient Conditions for Holomorphic Linearisation

Abstract

Let $G$ be a reductive complex Lie group acting holomorphically on $X={\mathbb C}^n$. The (holomorphic) Linearisation Problem asks if there is a holomorphic change of coordinates on ${\mathbb C}^n$ such that the $G$-action becomes linear. Equivalently, is there a $G$-equivariant biholomorphism $\Phi\colon X\to V$ where $V$ is a $G$-module? There is an intrinsic stratification of the categorical quotient $Q_X$, called the Luna stratification, where the strata are labeled by isomorphism classes of representations of reductive subgroups of $G$. Suppose that there is a $\Phi$ as above. Then $\Phi$ induces a biholomorphism $\phi\colon Q_X\to Q_V$ which is stratified, i.e., the stratum of $Q_X$ with a given label is sent isomorphically to the stratum of $Q_V$ with the same label. The counterexamples to the Linearisation Problem construct an action of $G$ such that $Q_X$ is not stratified biholomorphic to any $Q_V$. Our main theorem shows that, for most $X$, a stratified biholomorphism of $Q_X$ to some $Q_V$ is sufficient for linearisation. In fact, we do not have to assume that $X$ is biholomorphic to ${\mathbb C}^n$, only that $X$ is a Stein manifold.