Polynomially convex orbits of compact lie groups

LetV be a finite dimensional complex linear space and letG be a compact subgroup of GL(V). We prove that an orbitG, V, is polynomially convex if and only ifG is closed andG is the real form ofG . For every orbitG which is not polynomially convex we construct an analytic annulus or strip inG with the boundary inG. It is also proved that the group of holomorphic automorphisms ofG which commute withG acts transitively on the set of polynomially convexG-orbits. Further, an analog of the Kempf-Ness criterion is obtained and homogeneous spaces of compact Lie groups which admit only polynomially convex equivariant embeddings are characterized.Supported by Federal program Integratsiya, no. 586.Supported by INTAS grant 97/10170.