Geometric quotient

In algebraic geometry, a geometric quotient of an algebraic variety X with the action of an algebraic group G is a morphism of varieties such that (i) For each y in Y, the fiber is an orbit of G. (ii) The topology of Y is the quotient topology: a subset is open if and only if is open. (iii) For any open subset , is an isomorphism. (Here, k is the base field.) The notion appears in geometric invariant theory. (i), (ii) say that Y is an orbit space of X in topology. (iii) may also be phrased as an isomorphism of sheaves . In particular, if X is irreducible, then so is Y and : rational functions on Y may be viewed as invariant rational functions on X (i.e., rational-invariants of X). For example, if H is a closed subgroup of G, then is a geometric quotient. A GIT quotient may or may not be a geometric quotient: but both are categorical quotients, which is unique; in other words, one cannot have both types of quotients (without them being the same). A geometric quotient is a categorical quotient. This is proved in Mumford's geometric invariant theory. A geometric quotient is precisely a good quotient whose fibers are orbits of the group. The canonical map is a geometric quotient. If L is a linearized line bundle on an algebraic G-variety X, then, writing for the set of stable points with respect to L, the quotient is a geometric quotient.