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Let $B$ be an affine $k$-domain which admits a nontrivial fundamental pair $(D,U)$ of locally nilpotent derivations, i.e., if $E=[D,U]$ then $(D,U,E)$ is an $\mathfrak{sl}_2$-triple. We prove an algebraic criterion, characterizing under which conditions the fundamental pair $(D,U)$ resp. the triple $(D,U,E)$ is compatible in a technical sense that allows us to construct many vector fields on the spectrum of $B$ from the complete ones. This criterion enables us to prove the algebraic density property for the following widely studied classes of $\mathrm{SL}_2$-varieties arising in physics: Classical Calogero--Moser spaces, Calogero--Moser spaces with "inner degrees of freedom'' and smooth cyclic quiver varieties., Comment: 26 pages

We prove a parametric jet interpolation theorem for symplectic holomorphic automorphisms of $\mathbb{C}^{2n}$ with parameters in a Stein space. Moreover, we provide an example of an unavoidable set for symplectic holomorphic maps.

We generalize a criterion for the density property of Stein manifolds. As an application, we give a new, simple proof of the fact that the Danielewski surfaces have the algebraic density property. Furthermore, we have found new examples of Stein manifolds with the density property.

We prove that any null-homotopic special holomorphic vector bundle automorphisms of a rank 2 vector bundle E over a Stein space X can be written as a finite product of unipotent holomorphic vector bundle automorphism as well as a finite product of exponentials.

In this article we deduce some algebraic properties for the group $\mathrm{Sp}_{2n} (\mathcal{O}(X))$ of holomorphic symplectic matrices on a Stein space $X$: holomorphic factorization, exponential factorization, and Kazhdan's property (T). In holomorphic factorization we combine a recent result of the third author and K-theory tools to give explicit bounds for the case when $X$ is one-dimensional or two-dimensional. Next we use them to find bounds for exponential factorization. As a further application, we show that the elementary symplectic group $\mathrm{Ep}_{2n}(\mathcal{O}(X))$ admits Kazhdan's property (T).

We prove that any Lie subgroup $G$ (with finitely many connected components) of an infinite-dimensional topological group $\mathcal G$ which is an amalgamated product of two closed subgroups, can be conjugated to one factor. We apply this result to classify Lie group actions on Danielewski surfaces by elements of the overshear group (up to conjugation)., Comment: 15 pages

We survey recent work, published since 2015, on equivariant Oka theory. The main results described in the survey are as follows. Homotopy principles for equivariant isomorphisms of Stein manifolds on which a reductive complex Lie group $G$ acts. Applications to the linearisation problem. A parametric Oka principle for sections of a bundle $E$ of homogeneous spaces for a group bundle $\mathscr G$, all over a reduced Stein space $X$ with compatible actions of a reductive complex group on $E$, $\mathscr G$, and $X$. Application to the classification of generalised principal bundles with a group action. Finally, an equivariant version of Gromov's Oka principle based on a new notion of a $G$-manifold being $G$-Oka., Comment: arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1612.07372

In this paper we expose the impact of the fundamental discovery, made by Erik Anders\'en and L\'aszl\'o Lempert in 1992, that the group generated by shears is dense in the group of holomorphic automorphisms of complex Euclidean spaces of dimensions $n>1$. In three decades since its publication, their groundbreaking work led to the discovery of several new phenomena and to major new results in complex analysis and geometry involving Stein manifolds and affine algebraic manifolds with many automorphisms. The aim of this survey is to present some focal points of these developments, with a view towards the future.

Let $G$ be a reductive complex Lie group acting holomorphically on $X=\mathbb{C}^n$. The (holomorphic) Linearization Problem asks if there is a holomorphic change of coordinates on $\mathbb{C}^n$ such that the $G$-action becomes linear. Equivalently, is there a $G$-equivariant biholomorphism $\Phi \colon X\to V$ where $V$ is a $G$-module? There is an intrinsic stratification of the categorical quotient $X /\!/G$, called the Luna stratification, where the strata are labeled by isomorphism classes of representations of reductive subgroups of $G$. Suppose that there is a $\Phi$ as above. Then $\Phi$ induces a biholomorphism $\phi\colon X/\!/G\to V/\!/G$ which is stratified, i.e., the stratum of $ X/\!/G$ with a given label is sent isomorphically to the stratum of $V/\!/G$ with the same label. The counterexamples to the Linearization Problem construct an action of $G$ such that $X/\!/G$ is not stratified biholomorphic to any $V/\!/G$. Our main theorem shows that, for a reductive group $G$ with $G^0=\mathbb{C}^*$, the existence of a stratified biholomorphism of $X/\!/G$ to some $V/\!/G$ is not only necessary but also sufficient for linearization. In fact, we do not have to assume that $X$ is biholomorphic to $\mathbb{C}^n$, only that $X$ is a Stein manifold., Comment: 10 pages, changes made following suggestions of referees. To appear in IMRN

Let $G$ be a reductive group. We prove that a family of polynomial actions of $G$ on $\mathbb{C}^2$, holomorphically parametrized by an open Riemann surface, is linearizable. As an application, we show that a particular class of reductive group actions on $\mathbb{C}^3$ is linearizable. The main step of our proof is to establish a certain restrictive Oka property for groups of equivariant algebraic automorphisms of $\mathbb{C}^2$., Comment: 14 pages, to appear in Transformation Groups

We prove that any null-homotopic holomorphic map from a Stein space $X$ to the symplectic group $\operatorname{Sp}_{4}(\mathbb{C})$ can be written as a finite product of elementary symplectic matrices with holomorphic entries., Comment: 53 pages

We take the first step in the development of an equivariant version of modern, Gromov-style Oka theory. We define equivariant versions of the standard Oka property, ellipticity, and homotopy Runge property of complex manifolds, show that they satisfy all the expected basic properties, and present examples. Our main theorem is an equivariant Oka principle saying that if a finite group $G$ acts on a Stein manifold $X$ and another manifold $Y$ in such a way that $Y$ is $G$-Oka, then every $G$-equivariant continuous map $X\to Y$ can be deformed, through such maps, to a $G$-equivariant holomorphic map. Approximation on a $G$-invariant holomorphically convex compact subset of $X$ and jet interpolation along a $G$-invariant subvariety of $X$ can be built into the theorem. We conjecture that the theorem holds for actions of arbitrary reductive complex Lie groups and prove partial results to this effect., Comment: Erratum for Lemma 5.4 added in version 2. No other results are affected

We introduce the notion of the algebraic overshear density property which implies both the algebraic notion of flexibility and the holomorphic notion of the density property. We investigate basic consequences of this stronger property, and propose further research directions in this borderland between affine algebraic geometry and elliptic holomorphic geometry. As an application, we show that any smoothly bordered Riemann surface with finitely many boundary components that is embedded in a complex affine surface with the algebraic overshear density property admits a proper holomorphic embedding., Comment: 23 pages; updated article includes an application regarding bordered Riemann surfaces and the overshear density property for algebraic vector bundles over a flexible base

We prove that a symplectic matrix with entries in a ring with Bass stable rank one can be factored as a product of elementary symplectic matrices. This also holds for null-homotopic symplectic matrices with entries in a Banach algebra or in the ring of complex valued continuous functions on a finite dimensional normal topological space., Comment: 9 pages

We show that any element of the special linear group $SL_2(R)$ is a product of two exponentials if the ring $R$ is either the ring of holomorphic functions on an open Riemann surface or the disc algebra. This is sharp: one exponential factor is not enough since the exponential map corresponding to $SL_2(\mathbb{C})$ is not surjective. Our result extends to the linear group $GL_2(R)$., Comment: 9 pages

We overview a number of precise notions for a holomorphic automorphism group to be big together with their implications, in particular we give an exposition of the notions of flexibility and of density property. These studies have their origin in the famous result of Anders\'en and Lempert from 1992 proving that the overshears generate a dense subgroup in the holomorphic automorphism group of $\C^n, n\ge 2$. There are many applications to natural geometric questions in complex geometry, several of which we mention here. Also the Linearization Problem, well known since the 1950 s and considered by many authors, has had a strong influence on those studies. It asks whether a compact subgroup in the holomorphic automorphism group of $\C^n$ is necessarily conjugate to a group of linear automorphisms. Despite many positive results, the answer in this generality is negative as shown by Derksen and the author. We describe various developments around that problem.

Let $R$ be a commutative unital ring. A well-known factorization problem is whether any matrix in $\mathrm{SL}_n(R)$ is a product of elementary matrices with entries in $R$. To solve the problem, we use two approaches based on the notion of the Bass stable rank and on construction of a null-homotopy. Special attention is given to the case, where $R$ is a ring or Banach algebra of holomorphic functions. Also, we consider a related problem on representation of a matrix in $\mathrm{GL}_n(R)$ as a product of exponentials., Comment: 12 pages; minor corrections on pages 1 and 2

We enlarge the class of open Riemann surfaces known to be holomorphically embeddable into the plane by allowing them to have additional isolated punctures compared to the known embedding results.

We prove a parametric Oka principle for equivariant sections of a holomorphic fibre bundle $E$ with a structure group bundle $\mathscr G$ on a reduced Stein space $X$, such that the fibre of $E$ is a homogeneous space of the fibre of $\mathscr G$, with the complexification $K^\mathbb C$ of a compact real Lie group $K$ acting on $X$, $\mathscr G$, and $E$. Our main result is that the inclusion of the space of $K^\mathbb C$-equivariant holomorphic sections of $E$ over $X$ into the space of $K$-equivariant continuous sections is a weak homotopy equivalence. The result has a wide scope; we describe several diverse special cases. We use the result to strengthen Heinzner and Kutzschebauch's classification of equivariant principal bundles, and to strengthen an Oka principle for equivariant isomorphisms proved by us in a previous paper.

Gizatullin surfaces of type $[[0,0,-r_2,-r_3]]$ can be described by the equations $yu = x P(x)$, $xv = u Q(u)$ and $yv = P(x) Q(u)$ in $\mathbb{C}^4_{x,y,u,v}$ where $P$ and $Q$ are non-constant polynomials. We establish the algebraic density property for smooth Gizatullin surfaces of this type. Moreover we also prove the density property for smooth surfaces given by these equations when $P$ and $Q$ are holomorphic functions., Comment: 14 pages; changes in introduction, minor calculation error in section 5 corrected

Let $X$ be a connected affine homogenous space of a linear algebraic group $G$ over $\C$. (1) If $X$ is different from a line or a torus we show that the space of all algebraic vector fields on $X$ coincides with the Lie algebra generated by complete algebraic vector fields on $X$. (2) Suppose that $X$ has a $G$-invariant volume form $\omega$. We prove that the space of all divergence-free (with respect to $\omega$) algebraic vector fields on $X$ coincides with the Lie algebra generated by divergence-free complete algebraic vector fields on $X$ (including the cases when $X$ is a line or a torus). The proof of these results requires new criteria for algebraic (volume) density property based on so called module generating pairs., Comment: 21 pages

Let $G$ be a reductive complex Lie group acting holomorphically on Stein manifolds $X$ and $Y$. Let $p_X\colon X\to Q_X$ and $p_Y\colon Y\to Q_Y$ be the quotient mappings. When is there an equivariant biholomorphism of $X$ and $Y$? A necessary condition is that the categorical quotients $Q_X$ and $Q_Y$ are biholomorphic and that the biholomorphism $\phi$ sends the Luna strata of $Q_X$ isomorphically onto the corresponding Luna strata of $Q_Y$. Fix $\phi$. We demonstrate two homotopy principles in this situation. The first result says that if there is a $G$-diffeomorphism $\Phi\colon X\to Y$, inducing $\phi$, which is $G$-biholomorphic on the reduced fibres of the quotient mappings, then $\Phi$ is homotopic, through $G$-diffeomorphisms satisfying the same conditions, to a $G$-equivariant biholomorphism from $X$ to $Y$. The second result roughly says that if we have a $G$-homeomorphism $\Phi\colon X\to Y$ which induces a continuous family of $G$-equivariant biholomorphisms of the fibres $p_X^{-1}(q)$ and $p_Y^{-1}(\phi(q))$ for $q\in Q_X$ and if $X$ satisfies an auxiliary property (which holds for most $X$), then $\Phi$ is homotopic, through $G$-homeomorphisms satisfying the same conditions, to a $G$-equivariant biholomorphism from $X$ to $Y$. Our results improve upon earlier work of the authors and use new ideas and techniques., Comment: 51 pages, minor corrections in section 3. Final version, to appear in Transactions of the AMS

Let $G$ be a reductive complex Lie group acting holomorphically on $X={\mathbb C}^n$. The (holomorphic) Linearisation Problem asks if there is a holomorphic change of coordinates on ${\mathbb C}^n$ such that the $G$-action becomes linear. Equivalently, is there a $G$-equivariant biholomorphism $\Phi\colon X\to V$ where $V$ is a $G$-module? There is an intrinsic stratification of the categorical quotient $Q_X$, called the Luna stratification, where the strata are labeled by isomorphism classes of representations of reductive subgroups of $G$. Suppose that there is a $\Phi$ as above. Then $\Phi$ induces a biholomorphism $\phi\colon Q_X\to Q_V$ which is stratified, i.e., the stratum of $Q_X$ with a given label is sent isomorphically to the stratum of $Q_V$ with the same label. The counterexamples to the Linearisation Problem construct an action of $G$ such that $Q_X$ is not stratified biholomorphic to any $Q_V$. Our main theorem shows that, for most $X$, a stratified biholomorphism of $Q_X$ to some $Q_V$ is sufficient for linearisation. In fact, we do not have to assume that $X$ is biholomorphic to ${\mathbb C}^n$, only that $X$ is a Stein manifold., Comment: 11 pages, minor changes

We generalize the notion of the density property for complex manifolds to holomorphic fibrations, and introduce the notion of the fibred density property. We prove that the natural fibration of the spectral ball over the symmetrized polydisc enjoys the fibred density property and describe the automorphism group of the spectral ball., Comment: 23 pages; major changes in Section 5 concerning the dimension estimates of the kernel of homogeneous derivations

Let $\AAutH (X)$ be the subgroup of the group $\AutH (X)$ of holomorphic automorphisms of a normal affine algebraic surface $X$ generated by elements of flows associated with complete algebraic vector fields. Our main result is a classification of all normal affine algebraic surfaces $X$ quasi-homogeneous under $\AAutH (X)$ in terms of the dual graphs of the boundaries $\bX \setminus X$ of their SNC-completions $\bX$., Comment: 44 pages

In this paper we generalize the algebraic density property to not necessarily smooth affine varieties relative to some closed subvariety containing the singular locus. This property implies the remarkable approximation results for holomorphic automorphisms of the Anders\'en-Lempert theory. We show that an affine toric variety X satisfies this algebraic density property relative to a closed T-invariant subvariety Y if and only if X-Y is different from T. For toric surfaces we are able to classify those which posses a strong version of the algebraic density property (relative to the singular locus). The main ingredient in this classification is our proof of an equivariant version of Brunella's famous classification of complete algebraic vector fields in the affine plane., Comment: 15 pages. Minor corrections. To appear in Journal of Pure and Applied Algebra

We approximate smooth maps defined on non-compact totally real manifolds by holomorphic automorphisms of $\mathbb C^n$.

It is an elementary fact that the action by holomorphic automorphisms on C^n is infinitely transitive, i.e., m-transitive for any m in N. The same holds on any Stein manifold with the holomorphic density property X. We study a parametrized case: we consider m points on X parametrized by a Stein manifold W, and seek a family of automorphisms of X, parametrized by W, putting them into a standard form which does not depend on the parameter. This general transitivity is shown to enjoy an Oka principle, to the effect that the obstruction to a holomorphic solution is of a purely topological nature. In the presence of a volume form and of a corresponding density property, similar results for volume-preserving automorphisms are obtained., Comment: Corrected minor imprecisions notably in prop 2.3, 2.4, made lemma 4.2 more precise, added interpretation of the result as a generalization of Grauert's Oka principle to principal bundles, section 5

We give a full description of the Lie algebra generated by locally nilpotent derivations (short LNDs) on smooth Danielewski surfaces $D_p$ given by $xy=p(z)$. In case $\mathrm{deg}(p)\geq 3$ it turns out to be not the whole Lie algebra $\mathrm{VF}_{alg}^\omega(D_p)$ of volume preserving algebraic vector fields, thus answering a question posed by Lind and the first author. Also we show algebraic volume density property (short AVDP) for a certain homology plane, a homogeneous space of the form $SL_2 (\mathbb{C}) /N$, where $N$ is the normalizer of the maximal torus and another related example. At the end of the paper we show by example that for the group of holomorphic automorphisms of a Stein manifold (endowed with c.-o. topology) the connected component and the path-connected component of the identity may not coincide., Comment: 20 pages

In the last decades affine algebraic varieties and Stein manifolds with big (infinite-dimensional) automorphism groups have been intensively studied. Several notions expressing that the automorphisms group is big have been proposed. All of them imply that the manifold in question is an Oka-Forstneri\v{c} manifold. This important notion has also recently merged from the intensive studies around the homotopy principle in Complex Analysis. This homotopy principle, which goes back to the 1930's, has had an enormous impact on the development of the area of Several Complex Variables and the number of its applications is constantly growing. In this overview article we present 3 classes of properties: 1. density property, 2. flexibility 3. Oka-Forstneri\v{c}. For each class we give the relevant definitions, its most significant features and explain the known implications between all these properties. Many difficult mathematical problems could be solved by applying the developed theory, we indicate some of the most spectacular ones., Comment: thanks added, minor corrections

Let $G$ be a reductive complex Lie group acting holomorphically on normal Stein spaces $X$ and $Y$, which are locally $G$-biholomorphic over a common categorical quotient $Q$. When is there a global $G$-biholomorphism $X\to Y$? If the actions of $G$ on $X$ and $Y$ are what we, with justification, call generic, we prove that the obstruction to solving this local-to-global problem is topological and provide sufficient conditions for it to vanish. Our main tool is the equivariant version of Grauert's Oka principle due to Heinzner and Kutzschebauch. We prove that $X$ and $Y$ are $G$-biholomorphic if $X$ is $K$-contractible, where $K$ is a maximal compact subgroup of $G$, or if $X$ and $Y$ are smooth and there is a $G$-diffeomorphism $\psi:X\to Y$ over $Q$, which is holomorphic when restricted to each fibre of the quotient map $X\to Q$. We prove a similar theorem when $\psi$ is only a $G$-homeomorphism, but with an assumption about its action on $G$-finite functions. When $G$ is abelian, we obtain stronger theorems. Our results can be interpreted as instances of the Oka principle for sections of the sheaf of $G$-biholomorphisms from $X$ to $Y$ over $Q$. This sheaf can be badly singular, even for a low-dimensional representation of $\mathrm{SL}_2(\C)$. Our work is in part motivated by the linearisation problem for actions on $\C^n$. It follows from one of our main results that a holomorphic $G$-action on $\C^n$, which is locally $G$-biholomorphic over a common quotient to a generic linear action, is linearisable., Comment: Version 2: Minor improvements to the exposition. Version 3: A few typos corrected. To appear in Crelle's Journal

We investigate when the group $SL_n(\mathcal{O}(X))$ of holomorphic maps from a Stein space $X$ to $SL_n (\C)$ has Kazhdan's property (T) for $n\ge 3$. This provides a new class of examples of non-locally compact groups having Kazhdan's property (T). In particular we prove that the holomorphic loop group of $SL_n (\C)$ has Kazhdan's property (T) for $n\ge 3$. Our result relies on the method of Shalom to prove Kazhdan's property (T) and the solution to Gromov's Vaserstein problem by the authors., Comment: 5 pages

We apply Nevanlinna theory for algebraic varieties to Danielewski surfaces and investigate their group of holomorphic automorphisms. Our main result states that the overshear group which is known to be dense in the identity component of the holomorphic automorphism group, is a free amalgamated product., Comment: 24 pages

We estimate the number of unipotent elements needed to factor a null-homotopic holomorphic map from a finite dimensional reduced Stein spaces $X$ into $\text{SL}_2(\mathbb{C})$., Comment: 14 pages

We construct holomorphic families of proper holomorphic embeddings of $\C^k$ into $\C^n$ ($0

In this survey of the Andersen-Lempert theory we present the state of the art in the study of the density property (which means that the Lie algebra generated by completely integrable holomorphic vector fields on a given Stein manifold is dense in the space of all holomorphic vector fields). There are also two new results in the paper one of which is the theorem stating that the product of Stein manifolds with the volume density property possesses such a property as well. The second one is a meaningful example of an algebraic surface without the algebraic density property. The proof of the last fact requires Brunella's technique., Comment: 40 pages

We introduce the notion of algebraic volume density property for affine algebraic manifolds and prove some important basic facts about it, in particular that it implies the volume density property. The main results of the paper are producing two big classes of examples of Stein manifolds with volume density property. One class consists of certain affine modifications of $\C^n$ equipped with a canonical volume form, the other is the class of all Linear Algebraic Groups equipped with the left invariant volume form., Comment: 35 pages

We solve Gromov's Vaserstein problem. Namely, we show that a null-homotopic holomorphic mapping from a finite dimensional reduced Stein space into SL_n(C) can be factored into a finite product of unipotent matrices with holomorphic entries., Comment: 18 pages

In this paper we suggest new effective criteria for the density property. This enables us to give a trivial proof of the original Anders\'en-Lempert result and to establish (almost free of charge) the algebraic density property for all linear algebraic groups whose connected components are different from tori or $\C_+$. As another application of this approach we tackle the question (asked among others by F. Forstneri\v{c}) about the density of algebraic vector fields on Euclidean space vanishing on a codimension 2 subvariety., Comment: to appear in Invent. Math

For any closed analytic set X in C^2 there exists a proper holomorphic embedding of the unit disk into C^2 such that the image avoids X.

We formalize a technique for embedding Riemann sufraces properly into \C^2, and we generalize all known embedding results to allow interpolation on prescribed discrete sequences., Comment: 10 pages

Given a Stein manifold X of dimension n>1, a discrete sequence a_j in X, and a discrete sequence b_j in C^m where m > [3n/2], there exists a proper holomorphic embedding of X into C^m which sends a_j to b_j for every j=1,2,.... This is the interpolation version of the embedding theorem due to Eliashberg, Gromov and Schurmann. The dimension m cannot be lowered in general due to an example of Forster.

We investigate algebraic and analytic subvarieties of C^n with automorphisms which can not be extended to the ambient space., Comment: 22 pages, LaTeX