Projective normality of complete symmetric varieties

Abstract

We prove that in characteristic zero the multiplication of sections of dominant line bundles on a complete symmetric variety $X=\overline{G/H}$ is a surjective map. As a consequence the cone defined by a complete linear system over $X$, or over a closed $G$ stable subvariety of $X$ is normal. This gives an affirmative answer to a question raised by Faltings. A crucial point of the proof is a combinatorial property of root systems.

Proof for E_7, E_8 in Lemma 4.6 added and minor changes