On the classification of normal G-varieties with spherical orbits

Abstract

In this article, we investigate the geometry of reductive group actions on algebraic varieties. Given a connected reductive group $G$, we elaborate on a geometric and combinatorial approach based on Luna-Vust theory to describe every normal $G$-variety with spherical orbits. This description encompasses the classical case of spherical varieties and the theory of $\mathbb{T}$-varieties recently introduced by Altmann, Hausen, and S\"uss.