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Let us consider a connected and simply connected semisimple algebraic group $G$ over $\mathbb{C}$, $B$ a Borel subgroup and $T$ a maximal torus contained in $B$. Let $P_1$, $P_2$ be two standard parabolic groups, $w\in W$ be an element in the Weyl group.

Question: Is the Levi factor of $P_1\cap wP_{2}w^{-1}$ also simply connected?

Modified Question: Is the derived subgroup of the Levi factor of $P_1\cap wP_{2}w^{-1}$ also simply connected?

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    $\begingroup$ I think it is not good practice to change the question after it has been answered. $\endgroup$ Commented Apr 5 at 16:54
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    $\begingroup$ By the way, taking Levi factor does nothing: unipotent groups are contractible. $\endgroup$ Commented Apr 5 at 17:08
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    $\begingroup$ Dear Kenta, Sorry, this is my fault! And your answer is meaningful for me,anyway! Thanks! Here I give my apology for you, sincerely. $\endgroup$ Commented Apr 5 at 17:22

2 Answers 2

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Let $G=\mathrm{SL}_2$, let $P_1=P_2=B$ be the group of upper triangular matrices, and let $w=\begin{pmatrix}0&1\\-1&0\end{pmatrix}$. Then $P_1\cap wP_2w^{-1}=T\simeq\mathbb G_m$, which is already reductive so the Levi factor is $\mathbb G_m$, which is not simply-connected.

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    $\begingroup$ Thank you! I found I have mistaken something. Maybe my question should be "Is the semisimple part of the Levi factor simply connected?" $\endgroup$ Commented Apr 5 at 16:34
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    $\begingroup$ @foolrabbit perhaps you can ask that as a separate question. Also, by "semisimple part" do you mean the kernel of all homomorphisms to $\mathbb G_m$? $\endgroup$ Commented Apr 5 at 16:52
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This is an answer to the modified question, although, as @KentaSuzuki suggested, it might be better just to ask this question separately (in which case I am happy to move my answer to a different question).

One should be careful about speaking casually of the Levi component of a linear algebraic group, since, over general fields, not all groups have one, and, when a group has one, the various possible components need not be rationally conjugate. (You're working over $\mathbb C$, where this problem doesn't arise, but the same question could be asked over any field $k$, and the answer is the same. I'll work in that generality.) A parabolic subgroup of a reductive group does always have a Levi component, and they're all rationally conjugate, but $P' \mathrel{:=} P_1 \cap w P_2 w^{-1}$ is usually not a parabolic subgroup of $G$.

Of course, in this case, $P'$ does have a Levi component, but it's worth saying why. Probably the easiest way to see why is that $P'\cdot U_1$, where $U_1$ is the unipotent radical of $P_1$, is a parabolic subgroup of $G$ [BT, Proposition 4.4], its Levi component $M$ containing $T$ is also a Levi component of $P'$ [1], and all Levi components of $P'$ arise in this way [BT, Proposition 4.7]. In this context, the derived subgroup of $M$ is simply connected, because the derived subgroup of a Levi component of a parabolic subgroup of a simply connected group is always simply connected [2].

[BT]: Borel and Tits - Groupes réductifs.

[1]: This may be verified over the algebraic closure, so assume that $k$ is algebraically closed. Let $U'$ be the unipotent radical of $P'$. Then $U'\cdot U_1$ is smooth, connected, unipotent, and normal in $P'\cdot U_1$, and $(P'\cdot U_1)/(U'\cdot U_1) \cong P'/U'$ is reductive, so $U'\cdot U_1$ is the unipotent radical of $P'\cdot U_1$. Therefore, the projection from $P'/U' \cong (P'\cdot U_1)/(U'\cdot U_1)$ onto $M$ is an isomorphism, so $M$ is a Levi component of $P'$.

[2]: This is folklore, but I don't know a good published reference. At their answer to Centralizers of subtori in reductive groups, derived subgroups, @nfdc23 points out Corollary 9.5.11 of Conrad - Reductive groups over fields.

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  • $\begingroup$ Thanks for your answer! $\endgroup$ Commented Apr 5 at 17:26
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    $\begingroup$ Ok, I take your suggestion, thanks! $\endgroup$ Commented Apr 5 at 17:38
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    $\begingroup$ @LSpice: "but it's worth saying why". The last paragraph of your answer is cryptic. Could you please add details or references? $\endgroup$ Commented Apr 5 at 17:49
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    $\begingroup$ @LSpice: Thank you for details! $\endgroup$ Commented Apr 5 at 18:51
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    $\begingroup$ Proposition 12.14 in Malle-Testerman states that if $G$ is connected semisimple and $L$ is a Levi factor, then $[L,L]$ is of simply connected type. (This is over any algebraically closed field $K$.) $\endgroup$ Commented Apr 6 at 4:02

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