# Embeddings of flag manifolds

Consider the flag manifold $$\mathbb{F}(a_1,\dots,a_k)$$ parametrizing flags of type $$F^{a_1}\subseteq\dots\subseteq F^{a_k}\subseteq V$$ in a vector spaces $$V$$ of dimension $$n+1$$, where $$F^{a_i}$$ is a sub-vector space of dimension $$a_i$$.

Then $$\mathbb{F}(a_1,\dots,a_k)$$ embeds in the product of Grassmannians $$G(a_1,V)\times\dots\times G(a_k,V)$$ which in turn embeds in $$\mathbb{P}^{N_1}\times\dots\times\mathbb{P}^{N_k}$$ via the product of the Plücker embeddings. Now we can embed $$\mathbb{P}^{N_1}\times\dots\times\mathbb{P}^{N_k}$$ in a projective space $$\mathbb{P}^N$$ via the Segre embedding.

Finally, we get an embedding $$\mathbb{F}(a_1,\dots,a_k)\hookrightarrow\mathbb{P}^N$$. Is this embedding the minimal rational homogeneous embedding of $$\mathbb{F}(a_1,\dots,a_k)$$?

• What @VictorPetrov writes is completely correct. I just want to clarify one point. When you write "minimal", do you mean that the dimension of the projective space is minimal, or do you mean that the ample cone is the translate of the nef cone by the divisor class of this embedding (the embedding is the "vertex" of the ample cone)? Mar 17, 2019 at 11:07

In general there is a more efficient way: $$a_1,\ldots,a_k$$ determines a Young diagram, and you can realize the flag variety as the stabilizer of a point in the unique closed orbit of $${\mathbb P}(U)$$, where $$U$$ is the representation of $$GL(V)$$ corresponding to this diagram. Its dimension is given by the "hook formula".
First, the embedding. Let $$n$$ and $$a_1,\ldots,a_k$$ be as in your question, $$F=\mathbb F(a_1,\ldots,a_k)$$ and $$G=SL_{n+1}$$. Consider the dominant $$G$$-weight $$\lambda=\omega_{a_1}+\ldots+\omega_{a_k}$$ where the $$\omega_i$$ are the fundamental weights. Let $$L_\lambda$$ be the corresponding irreducible representation with highest weight vector $$v_\lambda$$. (Your $$F$$ is $$G/P$$ where $$P$$ is the parabolic subgroup preserving the line $$\mathbb Cv_\lambda$$.) Consider the projectivization $$\mathbb P(L_\lambda)$$ and the point $$\mathrm v_\lambda$$ therein corresponding to the line $$\mathbb Cv_\lambda$$. Then, $$F$$ can be realized as the (closed) orbit $$G\mathrm v_\lambda\subset \mathbb P(L_\lambda)$$.
Now, the minimality. Suppose we have a minimal projective embedding $$\iota:F\hookrightarrow\mathbb P(U)$$. Consider the pullback $$\mathcal L=\iota^*(\mathcal O_{\mathbb P(U)}(1))$$. The minimality implies that $$\Gamma(F,\mathcal L)=U^*$$. However, every line bundle on $$F$$ is $$G$$-equivariant (see Theorem 1 in http://www.math.harvard.edu/~lurie/papers/bwb.pdf) and every equivariant line bundle with global sections on $$F$$ is $$\mathcal L_\mu$$ for some $$\mu$$ which is a $$\mathbb Z_{>0}$$-linear combination of the $$\omega_{a_i}$$ (by Borel-Weil-Bott, again, see Lurie's text). So $$\mathcal L=\mathcal L_\mu$$ for some $$\mu$$ but $$\Gamma(F,\mathcal L_\mu)=L_\mu^*$$ and $$\dim L_\mu\ge\dim L_\lambda$$, i.e. $$\dim U\ge \dim L_\lambda$$.