2010 Mathematics Subject Classification: 14L99, 14R10, 20B27.If F is a polynomial automorphism over a finite field Fq in dimension n, then it induces a permutation pqr(F) of (Fqr)n for every r О N*. We say that F can be “mimicked” by elements of a certain group of automorphisms G if there are gr О G such that pqr(gr) = pqr(F). Derksen’s theorem in characteristic zero states that the tame automorphisms in dimension n і 3 are generated by the affine maps and the one map (x1+x22, x2,ј, xn). We show...

In this paper we prove the Knop conjecture asserting that two smooth affine spherical varieties with the same weight monoid are equivariantly isomorphic. We also state and prove a uniqueness property for (not necessarily smooth) affine spherical varieties.

Let $k$ be a field of characteristic $p\>0$. Let $D_m$ be a ${BT}_m$ over $k$ (i.e., an $m$-truncated Barsotti–Tate group over $k$). Let $S$ be a $k$-scheme and let $X$ be a ${BT}_m$ over $S$. Let $S_{D_m}\left(X\right)$ be the subscheme of $S$ which describes the locus where $X$ is locally for the fppf topology isomorphic to $D_m$. If $p\ge 5$, we show that $S_{D_m}\left(X\right)$ is pure in $S$, i.e. the immersion $S_{D_m}\left(X\right)\hookrightarrow S$ is affine. For $p\in \{2,3\}$, we prove purity if $D_m$ satisfies a certain technical property depending only on its $p$-torsion $D_m\left[p\right]$. For $p\ge 5$, we apply the developed techniques to show that all level $m$...