# 1-dimensional representations of the affine Hecke algebra for $SL_2$

Kazhdan-Lusztig theory gives a correspondence between irreducibles of the affine Hecke algebra for a simply connected linear algebraic group $G$ and certain homological data extracted from the Steinberg variety (for $q$ not a root of unity). I want to see this correspondence explicitly for $SL_2$ by (1) looking at generators and relations for the Hecke algebra $H$ and (2) looking at the geometric data. My problem is that for the 1-dimensional representations I can't get them to match up. I expect it's a somewhat silly error but I can't find it, in any case.

Edit: The sources I'm relying on Criss/Ginzburg (paper version here: http://arxiv.org/abs/math/9802004). The affine Hecke algebra in this case I think is some deformation of the group algebra of the affine Weyl group. On the geometric side it's $G \times \mathbb{C}^*$-equivariant K-theory on the Steinberg variety.

Method 1: The affine Hecke algebra for $SL_2$ is an algebra $H$ with generators $T, X, X^{-1}$ and relations $$(T + 1)(T - q) = 0$$ $$TX^{-1} - X^1 T = (1-q)X^1$$ $$X X^{-1} = X^{-1}X = 1$$ It's not too hard to compute the one-dimensional representations. For central character $\sqrt{q} + 1/\sqrt{q}$ (the scalar which $X + X^{-1}$, the generator for $\mathcal{O}(T//W)$, acts by), one has the representations $$(T, X) \mapsto (-1, 1/\sqrt{q}), (q, \sqrt{q})$$ and for central character $-\sqrt{q} - 1/\sqrt{q}$ $$(T, X) \mapsto (-1, -1/\sqrt{q}), (q, -\sqrt{q})$$

In total, giving four representations, two for each central character.

Method 2: We should be able to read off the irreducibles by Kazhdan-Lusztig theory. Namely, for generic $q$, fix $g$ with desired central character, and take the $g$-fixed locus of the Springer resolution $\mu^g: \tilde{\mathcal{N}}^g \rightarrow \mathcal{N}^g$. The total Borel-Moore homology of $\mu^{g, -1}(x)$, choosing representatives $x$ in each $C(g)$-orbit of $\mathcal{N}^g$, is a representation of $H$ specialized at this central character.

For $g = \pm \text{diag}(\sqrt{q}, 1/\sqrt{q})$ one has $\mathcal{N}^g = \mathbb{A}^1$ the nilpotent radical of the usual Borel. It has two $C(g)$ orbits: $x = 0$ and $x \in \mathbb{A}^1 - 0$.

(1) For $x = 0$, the fiber has two-dimensional homology. The double centralizer $C(g, 0) = T$, which is connected, so we don't have to worry about isotypical components of $A(g, 0) = C(g, 0)/C(g, 0)^\circ$.

(2) For $x = \left(\begin{array}{cc}0&1\\0&0\end{array}\right)$, the fiber is a point, so we have a one-dimensional homology. The component group isn't relevant here.

So here, we only find two 1-dim representations, one for each central character. I must have misunderstood something.

• It's essential to distinguish carefully between the "affine Weyl group" (or Hecke algebra) and the "extended" version, both of which enter into the work of Kazhdan-Lusztig and others influenced by them. (In this direction, it would also be very helpful to indicate which sources you are primarily relying on.) – Jim Humphreys Jul 25 '15 at 14:12
• I'm relying on Criss/Ginzburg (paper version here: arxiv.org/abs/math/9802004). The affine Hecke algebra in this case I think is some deformation of the group algebra of the affine Weyl group. On the geometric side it's $G \times \mathbb{C}^*$-equivariant K-theory on the Steinberg variety. I'll add this to the main body too. – Harrison Chen Jul 25 '15 at 14:51
• Specifically, pp40 second definition 11.3 is the first method I am using, and theorem 11.8 is the second method – Harrison Chen Jul 25 '15 at 15:04

It turns out I was confused about the statement on the geometric side. I'm using Ginzburg's paper as a reference. One doesn't just take the (co)homology of the fibers for each orbit representative. The statement (page 44) is really that the irreducibles (for a given central character) are the summands we get by applying the decomposition to the map $\mu$: $$\mu_* \mathbb{C}_{\tilde{\mathcal{N}}^a} = \bigoplus_{\phi} L_\phi(k) \otimes IC(k)$$

In our case, the map is $\mu: \mathbb{A}^1 \cup \text{pt} \rightarrow \mathbb{A}^1$. The cohomology upstairs is $\mathbb{C}^2$, and decomposes into two one-dimensional representations. So for each central character has two one-dimensional representations as expected; one for each $C(g) = \mathbb{G}_m$ orbit in $\mathbb{A}^1$.

ADDED DETAILS: Looking further at how both versions (lecture notes and book) are structured, I'm more convinced that the source of your problem is the shift in the literature toward the convention that the term "affine Hecke algebra" refers mainly to the algebra coming from the extended affine Weyl group (denoted $\widetilde{W}$ in the lecture notes). Indeed, in Section 7.1 of the Chriss-Ginzburg book the "affine Weyl group" (there denoted $W_{aff}$) refers to the extended version which is not usually a Coxeter group, as explained in Remark 7.1.3. Similarly, the algebra denoted $\textbf{H}$ is the main object of interest (and is called the "affine Hecke algebra" in Definition 7.1.9 of the book): this plays the leading role in the crucial transition to a more geometric viewpoint, worked out more explicitly for $\mathrm{SL}_2$ in Section 7.5.