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Let us assume that $\pi: G\to Aut(V)$ and $\rho : K\to Aut(W)$ are two finite-dimensional representations of two Lie groups $G$ and $K$, and consider the representation
$\pi\hat{\otimes}\rho : G\times K\to Aut(V\otimes W)$, the so called external tensor product of $\pi$ and $\rho$, given by

$$ (\pi\hat{\otimes}\rho)(g, k)(v\otimes w):= \pi(g)v\otimes \rho(k)w, $$

for any $g\in G$, $k\in K$, $v\in V$ and $w\in W$. For the second exterior power of the representation $\pi\hat{\otimes}\rho$ is known the following isomorphism:

$$ \Lambda^{2}(\pi\hat{\otimes}\rho)=(\Lambda^{2}\pi \ \hat{\otimes}\ Sym^{2}\rho) \ \oplus (Sym^{2}\pi \ \hat{\otimes} \ \Lambda^{2}\rho). $$ Similarly, for the second symmetric power it holds that

$$ Sym^{2}(\pi\hat{\otimes}\rho)=(Sym^{2}\pi \ \hat{\otimes}\ Sym^{2}\rho) \ \oplus (\Lambda^{2}\pi \ \hat{\otimes} \ \Lambda^{2}\rho). $$

I would like to understand how these formulas can be generalized for exterior and symmetric powers of bigger degree. For example, what we can say about

$$ \Lambda^{3}(\pi\hat{\otimes}\rho), \ \Lambda^{4}(\pi\hat{\otimes}\rho), \ Sym^{3}(\pi\hat{\otimes}\rho), \ Sym^{4}(\pi\hat{\otimes}\rho), \ \dots \ ? $$

For the isomorphisms above, you can see for example the link

An isomorphism of 2-Schur modules

Thank you!

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    $\begingroup$ I don't think you can say much. Determining these relationships boils down to determining some symmetric function identities (by looking at characters), and I don't expect there to be nice corresponding identities in general. $\endgroup$ Apr 2, 2013 at 2:01
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    $\begingroup$ why is this in CW mode? $\endgroup$
    – Marc Palm
    Apr 2, 2013 at 7:29

1 Answer 1

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One has $$ Sym^k(\pi\otimes\rho) = \bigoplus_{|\alpha|=k} \Sigma^\alpha(\pi)\otimes\Sigma^\alpha(\rho), $$ the sum is over all Young diagrams with $k$ boxes, $\Sigma^\alpha$ is the Schur functor. Similarly, $$ \Lambda^k(\pi\otimes\rho) = \bigoplus_{|\alpha|=k} \Sigma^\alpha(\pi)\otimes\Sigma^{\alpha^T}(\rho), $$ where $\alpha^T$ is the transposed diagram.

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    $\begingroup$ Is there a convenient reference for it? And maybe divided powers version in finite characteristic? $\endgroup$ Apr 9, 2013 at 3:17
  • $\begingroup$ I learned this from Kapranov's papers, and if I remember right he referred to the book of Barut and Ronchka. But I guess you can find this in many places. For example I would try Weyman's book (Cohomology of vector bundles and syzygies). In finite characteristic I don't know the answer (why don't you ask this as a question?), but definitely you have to be more careful. $\endgroup$
    – Sasha
    Apr 9, 2013 at 5:38
  • $\begingroup$ Apparently, if we don't insist on direct sums but are OK with a filtration, then it also works in finite characteristic as well (except that the second factor in the formula for $\Lambda$ is "the other $\Sigma$ which generalizes divided powers). This is explained in Theorem 2.3.2 of Weyman's book. $\endgroup$ Apr 11, 2013 at 17:40

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