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Mikhail Borovoi
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A good stratification of a variety on which an algebraic group acts

Let $X$ be an algebraic variety over an algebraically closed field $k$ of characteristic 0 (a reduced separated scheme of finite type over $k$). Let $G$ be a connected linear algebraic group over $k$ (an connected affine group scheme of finite type over $k$) acting on $X$.

I am looking for a proof or a reference to a proof of the following lemma:

Lemma. There exists a stratification $$ X=\bigsqcup_{i\in I} X_i $$ of $X$ into a finite union of $G$-invariant non-intersecting locally closed subvarieties $X_i$ with the following properties:

(1) Each $X_i$ is irreducible and smooth.

(2) For each $i$ there exists a surjective morphism $f_i\colon X_i\to Y_i$ onto a smooth $k$-variety $Y_i$ whose fibres are orbits of $G$ in $X_i$.

(3) Each morphism $f_i$ is flat, or, equivalently, all orbits of $G$ in $X_i$ have the same dimension $n_i$ depending only on $i$.

EDIT. What else can be required for a stratification to be good?

Mikhail Borovoi
  • 14.2k
  • 2
  • 32
  • 72