Support varieties for rational representations

Abstract

We introduce support varieties for rational representations of a linear algebraic group $G$ of exponential type over an algebraically closed field $k$ of characteristic $p>0$. These varieties are closed subspaces of the space $V(G)$ of all 1-parameter subgroups of $G$. The functor $M\mapsto V(G)_{M}$ satisfies many of the standard properties of support varieties satisfied by finite groups and other finite group schemes. Furthermore, there is a close relationship between $V(G)_{M}$ and the family of support varieties $V_{r}(G)_{M}$ obtained by restricting the $G$ action to Frobenius kernels $G_{(r)}\subset G$. These support varieties seem particularly appropriate for the investigation of infinite-dimensional rational $G$-modules.