Wonderful models for generalized Dowling arrangements

Abstract

For any triple given by a positive integer n, a finite group G, and a faithful representation V of G, one can describe a subspace arrangement whose intersection lattice is a generalized Dowling lattice in the sense of Hanlon. In this paper we construct the minimal De Concini-Procesi wonderful model associated to this subspace arrangement and give a description of its boundary. Our aim is to point out the nice poset provided by the intersections of the irreducible components in the boundary, which provides a geometric realization of the nested set poset of this generalized Dowling lattice. It can be represented by a family of forests with leaves and labelings that depend on the triple (n,G,V). We will study it from the enumerative point of view in the case when G is abelian.