Conjugacy classes of commuting nilpotents

We consider the space $\mathcal M_{q,n}$ of regular $q$-tuples of commuting nilpotent endomorphisms of $k^n$ modulo simultaneous conjugation. We show that $\mathcal M_{q,n}$ admits a natural homogeneous space structure, and that it is an affine space bundle over $\mathbb P^{q-1}$. A closer look at the homogeneous structure reveals that, over $\mathbb C$ and with respect to the complex topology, $\mathcal M_{q,n}$ is a smooth vector bundle over $\mathbb P^{q-1}$. We prove that, in this case, $\mathcal M_{q,n}$ is diffeomorphic to a direct sum of twisted tangent bundles. We also prove that $\mathcal M_{q,n}$ possesses a universal property and represents a functor of ideals, and use it to identify $\mathcal M_{q,n}$ with an open subscheme of a punctual Hilbert scheme. By using a result of A. Iarrobino, we show that $\mathcal M_{q,n} \to \mathbb P^{q-1}$ is not a vector bundle, hence giving a family of affine space bundles that are not vector bundles.