On the automorphism group of a toral variety

Abstract

Let $\mathbb{K}$ be an algebraically closed field of characteristic zero. An affine algebraic variety $X$ over $\mathbb{K}$ is toral if it is isomorphic to a closed subvariety of a torus $(\mathbb{K}^*)^d$. We study the group $\mathrm{Aut}(X)$ of regular automorpshims of a toral variety $X$. We prove that if $T$ is a maximal torus in $\mathrm{Aut}(X)$, then $X$ is a direct product $Y\times T$, where $Y$ is a toral variety with a trivial maximal torus in the automorphism group. We show that knowing $\mathrm{Aut}(Y)$, one can compute $\mathrm{Aut}(X)$. In the case when the rank of the group $\mathbb{K}[Y]^*/\mathbb{K}^*$ is $\dim Y + 1$, the group $\mathrm{Aut}(Y)$ can be described explicitly.