The well-known fiber dimension theorem in algebraic geometry says that for every morphism f:X→Y of integral schemes of finite type the dimension of every fiber of f is at least dim X−dim Y. This has recently been generalized by Brosnan, Reichstein and Vistoli to certain morphisms of algebraic stacks f:𝒳→𝒴, where the usual dimension is replaced by essential dimension. We will prove a general version for morphisms of categories fibered in groupoids. Moreover, we will prove a variant of this theorem, where essential dimension and canonical dimension are linked. These results let us relate essential dimension to canonical dimension of algebraic groups. In particular, using the recent computation of the essential dimension of algebraic tori by MacDonald, Meyer, Reichstein and the author, we establish a lower bound on the canonical dimension of algebraic tori.

Let k be a field of characteristic zero, let G be a connected reductive algebraic group over k and let 𝔤 be its Lie algebra. Let k(G), respectively, k(𝔤), be the field of k-rational functions on G, respectively, 𝔤. The conjugation action of G on itself induces the adjoint action of G on 𝔤. We investigate the question whether or not the field extensions k(G)/k(G)G and k(𝔤)/k(𝔤)G are purely transcendental. We show that the answer is the same for k(G)/k(G)G and k(𝔤)/k(𝔤)G, and reduce the problem to the case where G is simple. For simple groups we show that the answer is positive if G is split of type An or Cn, and negative for groups of other types, except possibly G2. A key ingredient in the proof of the negative result is a recent formula for the unramified Brauer group of a homogeneous space with connected stabilizers. As a byproduct of our investigation we give an affirmative answer to a question of Grothendieck about the existence of a rational section of the categorical quotient morphism for the conjugating action of G on itself.