Okounkov bodies for ample line bundles with applications to multiplicities for group representations

Abstract: Let $\mathscr{L} \rightarrow X$ be an ample line bundle over a complex normal projective variety $X$. We construct a flag $X_0 \subseteq X_1 \subseteq \cdots \subseteq X_n=X$ of subvarieties for which the associated Okounkov body for $\mathscr{L}$ is a rational polytope. In the case when $X$ is a homogeneous surface, and the pseudoeffective cone of $X$ is rational polyhedral, we also show that the global Okounkov body is a rational polyhedral cone if the flag of subvarieties is suitably chosen. Finally, we provide an application to the asymptotic study of group representations.