**Question:** Let $X$ be a scheme separated and of finite type over $\mathbb C$ with a $\mathbb C^\*$-action. Suppose that 


1. The fixed point locus is proper.
2. Each orbit has proper closure.


Does this imply that $X$ is proper? Proper means proper over $\mathbb C$, of course.


**Some comments:** It would be handy if we had this criterion for properness. I have been trying to find a counterexample but did not succeed. I tried to start with a proper scheme and then throw away some non-constant orbits. But it seems that this will always give us something like $\{(x,y)\in \mathbb A^2, y= 0 \text{ when }x=0\}$, which is not a scheme. I am not sure if this picture is correct in general, especially when $X$ is highly singular. Also there could (a priori) be examples which can not be compactified respecting the $\mathbb C^\*$-action.



Properness of schemes with $\mathbb C^*$-action via properness of orbits and fixed points locus
**Edit.** I am making the answer shorter by eliminating the repeated argument.


Let $k$ be a perfect field. Let $X$ be a finite type, separated $k$-scheme. Let $$m:\mathbb{G}\_m \times\_{\text{Spec}\ k} X \to X$$ be a $k$-action of $\mathbb{G}\_m$ on $X$. Since $k$ is perfect, $m$ induces a $k$-action of $\mathbb{G}\_m$ on $X\_{\text{red}}$, the reduced scheme of $X$. By the universal property of the normalization, this in turn induces an action of $\mathbb{G}\_m$ on the normalization, $X^{\text{nor}}\_{\text{red}}$. The $k$-scheme $X$ is proper if and only if $X^{\text{nor}}\_{\text{red}}$ is proper. Thus, without loss of generality, assume that $X$ is integral and normal. 


For every $k$-scheme, $q:T\to \text{Spec}\ k$, and for every $k$-morphism to $X$, $f:T\to X$, as in Geometric Invariant Theory, denote by $$\psi\_f:\mathbb{G}\_m\times\_{\text{Spec}\ k} T \to X\times\_{\text{Spec}\ k} T$$ the $T$-morphism whose projection to $X$, $\text{pr}\_X\circ f\_m$, equals the composition, $$\mathbb{G}\_m\times\_{\text{Spec}\ k} T \xrightarrow{(\text{Id}\_{\mathbb{G}\_m},f)} \mathbb{G}\_m\times\_{\text{Spec}\ k} X \xrightarrow{m} X.$$ Let $\mathbb{G}\_m\times\_{\text{Spec}\ k} \mathbb{P}^1 \to \mathbb{P}^1$ be the standard extension to $\mathbb{P}^1$ of the regular action of $\mathbb{G}\_m$ on the dense open $\mathbb{G}\_m = \mathbb{P}^1\setminus\{0,\infty\}$. Then the morphism $\psi\_f$ is a $T$-rational transformation, $$\psi\_f:\mathbb{P}^1\times\_{\text{Spec}\ k} T \dashrightarrow X\times\_{\text{Spec}\ k} T.$$


**Closed Orbit Hypothesis.** For every morphism $f$ with $T = \text{Spec}\ K$ for $K$ a field extension of $k$, the morphism $\psi\_f$ extends to a regular morphism $\mathbb{P}^1\times\_{\text{Spec}\ k} \text{Spec}\ K \to X\times\_{\text{Spec}\ k} \text{Spec}\ K$.


Assume the closed orbit hypothesis. Then when $T$ is Spec of a DVR, say $R$ with residue field $\text{Spec}\ \kappa$ and with fraction field $\text{Spec}\ K$, then the rational transformation $\psi\_f$ is regular on the generic fiber $\mathbb{P}^1\times\_{\text{Spec}\ k}\text{Spec}\ K$. In particular, restricting this regular morphism to $\{0\}\times\_{\text{Spec}\ k} \text{Spec}\ K$ gives a $k$-morphism, $$\psi\_{f,0}: \text{Spec}\ K \to X\times\_{\text{Spec}\ k} \text{Spec}\ R.$$ Since $0\in \mathbb{P}^1$ is a $\mathbb{G}\_m$-invariant point, also $\psi\_{f,0}$ maps into the fixed locus $X^{\mathbb{G}\_m}$.


**Fixed Locus Hypothesis.** For every morphism $f$ with $R$ a DVR containing $k$, the associated regular morphism $\psi\_{f,0}:\text{Spec}\ K \to X\times\_{\text{Spec}\ k} \text{Spec}\ R$ extends to a regular morphism on $\text{Spec}\ R$.


Via the valuative criterion of properness, this is equivalent to properness of the fixed locus $X^{\mathbb{G}\_m}$. It is convenient to modify $\psi\_f$ a bit. Denote by $\phi\_f$ the unique morphism, $$(\text{pr}\_{\mathbb{P}^1},\psi\_f):\mathbb{P}^1 \times\_{\text{Spec}\ k} \text{Spec}\ K \to \mathbb{P}^1\times\_{\text{Spec}\ k} X\times\_{\text{Spec}\ k} \text{Spec}\ K.$$
This is a locally closed immersion. Denote by $W\_f$ the Zariski closure of the image of $\phi\_f$. This is a finite type, separated, integral $R$-scheme, but it may be that $W\_f$ is not normal. Thus, denote by $W\_f^{\text{nor}}\to W\_f$ the normalization. By the fixed locus hypothesis, $W\_f$ contains the image of the regular morphism, '$$\phi\_{f,0}:\text{Spec}\ R \to X\times\_{\text{Spec}\ k} \text{Spec}\ R =\{0\} \times X\times\_{\text{Spec}\ k} \text{Spec}\ R.$$ Thus the closed fiber of $W\_f^{\text{nor}}$ is not empty. 


**Claim.** After a finite sequence of blowings up of $\mathbb{P}^1\times\_{\textbf{Spec}\ k}\text{Spec}\ R$ at $\mathbb{G}\_m$-fixed closed points, the rational transformation $\phi\_f$ extends to a regular $\mathbb{G}\_m$-equivariant morphism to $W\_f^{\text{nor}}$. In particular, the strict transform of $\{1\}\times \text{Spec}\ R$ gives an extension of $f$ to a regular morphism $\text{Spec}\ R \to X$.


Altogether, the projection, $$\text{pr}\_{\mathbb{P}^1,R}:W\_f^{\text{nor}} \to \mathbb{P}^1\times\_{\text{Spec}\ k} \text{Spec}\ R,$$ is a finite type, separated, $\mathbb{G}\_m$-equivariant $R$-morphism that is an isomorphism on $\text{Spec}\ K$-fibers. The remainder of the argument is an analysis of this morphism. However, to prove boundedness, it is convenient to use an ad hoc, auxiliary morphism. Since $W\_f^{\text{nor}}\to \text{Spec}\ R$ is a flat, separated, finite type morphism of relative dimension $1$, it is a quasi-projective relative curve. Thus, there exists a dense open $R$-immersion, $\iota\_f:W\_f^{\text{nor}} \to \overline{W}\_f$ where $\overline{W}\_f\to \text{Spec}\ R$ is a projective curve. Denote by $\mathcal{L}$ a very ample invertible sheaf on $\overline{W}\_f$. Moreover, let $s:R^{\oplus 3} \to H^0(\overline{W}\_f,\mathcal{L})$ be global sections that generate $\mathcal{L}$. Denote by $d$ the degree of $\mathcal{L}$ on the fibers of $\overline{W}\_f\to \text{Spec}\ R$. 


By the valuative criterion of properness, the $R$-rational transformation, $$\phi\_f:\mathbb{P}^1\times\_{\text{Spec}\ k}\text{Spec}\ R \dashrightarrow \overline{W}\_f,$$ extends to a regular morphism away from finitely many points.
The pullback of $\mathcal{L}$ by this regular morphism extends to an invertible sheaf on all of $\mathbb{P}^1\times\_{\text{Spec}\ k} \text{Spec}\ R$, and the global sections $s$ generate the extension away from the finitely many indeterminacy points. The degree of the extension of $\mathcal{L}$ equals $d$ since $\phi\_f$ is an isomorphism of $\text{Spec}\ K$-fibers.


The restriction of $\phi\_f$ to the $\text{Spec} \ \kappa$-fiber is an $R$-rational transformation $\mathbb{P}^1\times\_{\text{Spec}\ k} \text{Spec}\ \kappa \to \overline{W}\_f$. By the valuative criterion, this extends to a regular morphism. The pullback of $\mathcal{L}$ is a globally generated invertible sheaf. Thus the degree $d\_0$ of this invertible sheaf satisfies $0\leq d\_0\leq d$. The number of blowings up necessary to regularize $\phi\_f$ is $\leq d - d\_0$.


We will iteratively blow up the $\mathbb{G}\_m$-invariant closed points in the indeterminacy locus of $\phi\_f$ over $0$. Thus, let 
$$P\_m \xrightarrow{\nu\_m} P\_{m-1} \xrightarrow{\nu\_{m-1}} \dots \xrightarrow{\nu\_1} \mathbb{P}^1 \times\_{\text{Spec}\ k} \text{Spec}\ R$$ be a sequence of blowings up of a single $\mathbb{G}\_m$-fixed point that maps to $\{0\}\times \text{Spec}\ \kappa$ and that is in the indeterminacy locus of $\phi\_f$. By Zariski's Main Theorem, each exceptional divisor $E\_i$ of $\nu\_i$ is mapped quasi-finitely to $\overline{W}\_f$. By the valuative criterion of properness, the restriction to $E\_i$ of $\phi\_f$ extends to a regular morphism, and this is finite to its image. Thus, the pullback of $\mathcal{L}$ on $E\_i$ by this regular, finite morphism has degree $\geq 1$. Since the sum of $d\_0$ and the degrees of the exceptional divisors is $\leq d$, the number $m$ of such blowings up is $\leq d-d\_0$. So for some $m\leq d-d\_0$, the associated rational transformation $$\phi\_f:P\_m \dashrightarrow \overline{W}\_f$$ is regular at every $\mathbb{G}\_m$-equivariant point lying over $0$. 


Denote by $P\_m^o\subset P\_m$ the maximal open subscheme on which $\phi\_f$ is regular and maps $P\_m^o$ into the open subset $W\_f^{\text{nor}} \subset \overline{W}\_f$. This is a $\mathbb{G}\_m$-invariant open subset of $P\_m$.
In particular, $\phi\_f$ is regular on the strict transform of $\{0\}\times \text{Spec}\ R$. Since $\phi\_{f,0}$ maps this into $W\_f^{\text{nor}}$, $P\_m^o$ contains the strict transform of $\{0\}\times \text{Spec}\ R$. Thus, $P\_m^o$ also intersects the unique $\nu$-exceptional component $E\_0$ of $P\_m\times\_{\text{Spec}\ R} \text{Spec}\ \kappa$
that intersects this strict transform. The complement of $P\_m^o$ in this component consists of at most $1$ closed point, and this is $\mathbb{G}\_m$-equivariant. By hypothesis, $\phi\_f$ is regular at this closed point. And then, by the closed orbit hypothesis, this closed points is contained in $W\_f^{\text{nor}}$. Now we can repeat this argument with every $\nu$-exceptional irreducible component $E\_{i+1}$ of $P\_m\times \text{Spec}\ \kappa$ that intersects an irreducible component $E\_i$ on which it has already been proved that $\phi\_f$ is regular and maps $E\_i$ into $W\_f^{\text{nor}}$. In particular, since the strict transform of the original closed fiber $\mathbb{P}^1 \times \text{Spec}\ \kappa$ intersects one of these exceptional components, $\phi\_f$ is regular at the unique closed point of the strict transform that maps to $\{0\} \times \text{Spec}\ \kappa$, and this closed point maps into $W\_f^{\text{nor}}$. So, by the same argument, the complement of $P\_m^o$ in this strict transform consists of at most one point, the $\mathbb{G}\_m$-invariant closed point $\infty$, and then $\phi\_f$ is not regular at $\infty$. 


Now we can repeat the argument above with $\infty$ in place of $0$. Instead of using the strict transform of $\{0\}\times \text{Spec}\ R$, use the strict transform of $\mathbb{P}^1\times \text{Spec}\ \kappa$.
Thus, let 
$$P\_n \xrightarrow{\nu\_n} P\_{n-1} \xrightarrow{\nu\_{n-1}} \dots \xrightarrow{\nu\_{m+1}} P\_m$$ be a sequence of blowings up at $\mathbb{G}\_m$-fixed points that map to $\{\infty\}\times \text{Spec}\ \kappa$ and each of which is in the indeterminacy locus of $\phi\_f$. By Zariski's Main Theorem, each exceptional divisor $E\_i$ of $\nu\_i$ is mapped quasi-finitely to $\overline{W}\_f$. Thus, the pullback of $\mathcal{L}$ on $E\_i$ has degree $\geq 1$. Since the sum of $d\_0$ and the degrees of the exceptional divisors is $\leq d$, the number $n$ of such blowings up is $\leq d-d\_0$. So for $n\leq d-d\_0$, the associated rational transformation $$\phi\_f:P\_n \dashrightarrow \overline{W}\_f$$ is regular at every $\mathbb{G}\_m$-equivariant point lying over $\infty$. 


By the same argument as above, the open subset $P\_n^o\subset P\_n$ contains the entire closed fiber $P\_n\times\_{\text{Spec}\ R} \text{Spec}\ \kappa$. Since $P\_n$ is proper over $\text{Spec}\ R$, $P\_n^o$ equals all of $P\_n$. This proves the claim, and this implies that $X$ is proper.


**Comment.** For a product of multiplicative groups, e.g., $G\times H \cong \mathbb{G}\_m\times \mathbb{G}\_m$, the same result holds. The point is that the closed orbit hypothesis for $G\times H$ implies the closed orbit hypothesis for both $G$ and $H$. Thus, for an action of $G\times H$ on $X$, the $G\times H$-closed orbit hypothesis for $X$ implies the $H$-closed orbit hypothesis for the $H$-invariant closed subset $X^G\subset X$. Of course the $H$-fixed locus inside $X^G$ equals the $G\times H$-fixed locus. Thus the $G\times H$-fixed locus hypothesis for $X$ implies the $H$-fixed locus hypothesis for $X^G$. By the argument above, $X^G$ is proper. Therefore $X$ satisfies both the $G$-closed orbit hypothesis and the $G$-fixed locus hypothesis. So by the argument above, $X$ is proper.


Please note, however, that the result does not hold for more general reductive groups. For $G$ a nontrivial semisimple group, for a parabolic subgroup $P$, for the natural action of $G$ on $G/P$, for any separated, finite type $k$-scheme $Y$ that is not proper, the induced action of $G$ on $X=(G/P)\times\_{\text{Spec}\ k} Y$ satisfies the $G$-closed orbit hypothesis. Moreover, it vacuously satisfies the $G$-fixed locus hypothesis since the $G$-fixed locus is empty. Yet $X$ is not proper.


