Quotients of Spheres By Linear Actions of Tori

Abstract: We consider quotients of spheres by linear actions of real tori. To each quotient we associate a matroid built out of a diagonalization of the torus action. We find the integral homology groups of the resulting quotient spaces in terms of the Tutte polynomial of the matroid. We also find the homotopy type and homology of the singular space of such an action. Lastly, we consider the circumstances under which the orbit space is a manifold or, more specifically, a (homology) sphere.