Newton-Okounkov bodies and normal toric degenerations

Abstract: Anderson proved that the finite generation of the value semigroup $\Gamma_{Y_\bullet}(D)$ in the construction of the Newton-Okounkov body $\Delta_{Y_\bullet}(D)$ induces a toric degeneration of the corresponding variety $X$ to some toric variety $X_0$. In this case the normalization of $X_0$ is the normal toric variety corresponding to the rational polytope $\Delta_{Y_\bullet}(D)$. Since $X_0$ is not normal in general this correspondence is rather implicit. In this article we investigate in conditions to assure that $X_0$ is normal, by comparing the Hilbert polynomial with the Ehrhart polynomial. In the case of del Pezzo surfaces this will result in an algorithm which outputs for a given divisor $D$ a flag $Y_\bullet$ such that the value semigroup in question is indeed normal. Furthermore, we will find flags on del Pezzo surfaces and on some particular weak del Pezzo surfaces which induce normal toric degenerations for all possible divisors at once. We will prove that in this case the global value semigroup $\Gamma_{Y_\bullet}(X)$ is finitely generated and normal.