Support varieties for rational representations

We introduce support varieties for rational representations of a linear algebraic group $G$ of exponential type over an algebraically closed field $k$ of characteristic $p > 0$. These varieties are closed subspaces of the space $V(G)$ of all 1-parameter subgroups of $G$. The functor $M \mapsto V(G)_M$ satisfies many of the standard properties of support varieties satisfied by finite groups and other finite group schemes. Furthermore, there is a close relationship between $V(G)_M$ and the family of support varieties $V_r(G)_M$ obtained by restricting the $G$ action to Frobenius kernels $G_{(r)} \subset G$. These support varieties seem particularly appropriate for the investigation of infinite dimensional rational $G$-modules.