TITLE: A question about quotient singularity
QUESTION [6 upvotes]: If a finite group G acts on a smooth variety X over complex number field and the fixed locus of G is smooth subvariety of codimension 1, will the resulting quotient variety be smooth? What will happen if the fixed locus has lager codimension ? thanks.

REPLY [9 votes]: In general, for a finite group $G$ acting faithfully on a smooth variety $X$, whether or not the quotient is smooth is determined by the 
Chevalley-Shephard-Todd theorem:
For $x \in X$, let $G_x\subset G$ be the stabilizer of $x$. Then a necessary and sufficient condtion for the quotient to be smooth is that each $G_x$ should be generated by pseudoreflections i.e. elements which fix pointwise a codimension $1$ subvariety of $X$ containing $x$.
In particular, one cannot just look at the fixed locus of $G$ to determine whether the quotient is smooth. It could well be empty but the quotient could still be singular.