All Questions
2,543 questions
24
votes
2
answers
2k
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Have we ever proved any non-solvable case of reciprocity without the Langlands program ?
The reciprocity of the title is the following not completely well-posed problem:
Fix $P(X)$ a monic irreducible polynomial of degree $n$, with coefficients in $\mathbb Z$. "Describe"
(in some sense) ...
- 26.1k
24
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Real Lie groups versus real linear algebraic groups: differences in connexity and fundamental group
There are many introductory texts on real Lie groups, and many on linear algebraic groups in general, but fewer on the specific case of linear algebraic groups over the reals, and even fewer that try ...
- 32.5k
23
votes
2
answers
969
views
Solvable groups that are linear over $\mathbb{C}$ but not over $\mathbb{Q}$?
Let $\Gamma$ be a finitely generated finitely presented virtually solvable group. Assume that there exists an injective representation $\Gamma \to \operatorname{GL}_n(\mathbb{C})$. Is it true that ...
- 1,170
23
votes
1
answer
3k
views
What is the status of the Friedlander-Milnor conjecture today?
For the purposes of this question, the Friedlander-Milnor (FM) conjecture asserts an equality of the group homology for algebraic groups, and their discretizations in the following sense:
Conjecture ...
- 231
23
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Relation between Hecke Operator and Hecke Algebra
In the study of number theory (and in other branches of mathematics) presence of Hecke Algebra and Hecke Operator is very prominent.
One of the many ways to define the Hecke Operator $T(p)$ is in ...
23
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Why are Tamagawa numbers equal to Pic/Sha?
For a connected algebraic group $G$ over a global field $K$ with adeles $A$, the Tamagawa number of $G$ is the volume of $G(A)/G(K)$. It is conjectured (and often known) to be rational, namely the ...
- 8,727
23
votes
1
answer
2k
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Wanted: Quadratic Space in Characteristic 2 as a Counterexample to a Theorem of Arf
Hi. Peter Roquette sent me an email asking for an example of a quadratic space in characteristic 2 having certain features. I have no idea on this, but maybe someone reading this does.
He would ...
- 50.7k
23
votes
3
answers
2k
views
How bad can $\pi_1$ of a linear group orbit be?
Let $G$ be a simply connected Lie group and $\mathcal O= G(v)=G/G_v$ a $G$-orbit in some finite-dimensional $G$-module $V$. By the homotopy exact sequence, its fundamental group $\Gamma$ is the ...
- 31.5k
22
votes
3
answers
6k
views
The algebraic fundamental group of a reductive algebraic group
For a connected reductive algebraic group $G$ over a field $k$, other than the \'etale fundamental group of $G$ (regarded just as a scheme), there seems to be another notion, usually called the ...
- 4,265
22
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Is SL(2,C)/SL(2,Z) a quasi-projective variety?
Consider the complex 3-fold $SL(2,\mathbb C)/SL(2,\mathbb Z)$ (just for clarity: note that $SL(2,\mathbb Z)$ acts without stabilizers, so this is a complex manifold, not a complex orbifold).
Is $SL(...
- 18.7k
22
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Is there a "universal group object"? (answered: yes!)
I want to say that a group object in a category (e.g. a discrete group, topological group, algebraic group...) is the image under a product-preserving functor of the "group object diagram", $D$. One ...
- 11.3k
22
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Do semisimple algebraic groups always have faithful irreducible representations?
For simplicity, I will be talking only about connected groups over an algebraically closed field of characteristic zero.
The basic theorem of affine algebraic groups is that they all admit faithful, ...
- 7,273
22
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Hasse principle for rational times square
Does a Hasse principle hold for the property of being a rational times a square ?
Let $a \in \mathbb{K}$ be an element of a number field. Assume that at every place $\mathbb{K}_v$ of $\mathbb{K}$, $a$...
- 474
22
votes
3
answers
2k
views
One dimensional (phi,Gamma)-modules in char p
I would like to better understand the simplest case of the correspondence between Galois representations and (phi,Gamma)-modules. Namely, consider 1-dimensional Galois representations of $G_{Q_p}$ ...
- 1,680
22
votes
2
answers
1k
views
$GL_n(\Bbb Z_p)$ conjugacy classes in a $GL_n(\Bbb Q_p)$ conjugacy class
It is easy to classify conjugacy classes in $GL_n(\mathbb Q_p)$ by linear algebra. How to classify $GL_n(\Bbb Z_p)$ conjugacy classes in a $GL_n(\Bbb Q_p)$ conjugacy class? For example, for general ...
- 6,622
21
votes
2
answers
5k
views
State of resolution in positive characteristic?
Heisuke Hironaka's coming talk makes me wonder how the state of the work on that theme is. So far, I noticed (but didn't read) these papers:
Kawanoue, Hiraku, Toward resolution of singularities over ...
- 10.8k
21
votes
5
answers
5k
views
Mirror symmetry mod p?! ... Physics mod p?!
In his answer to this question, Scott Carnahan mentions "mirror symmetry mod p". What is that?
(Some kind of) Gromov-Witten invariants can be defined for varieties over fields other than $\mathbb{C}$...
- 21k
21
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Simplest example of jumping of cohomology of structure sheaf in smooth families?
Using Hodge theory (and the ill-defined Lefschetz principle), one can show that in characteristic 0, given a proper smooth family $X \rightarrow B$, the cohomology groups of the structure sheaf of the ...
- 3,857
21
votes
1
answer
2k
views
When does the relative differential $df=0$ imply that $f$ comes from the base?
Let $A \to B$ be a map of commutative rings, and $d : B \to I/I^2$ be
defined by $df = f\otimes 1 - 1\otimes f$, where $I$ is the kernel of
$B \otimes_A B \to B$, as in [Hartshorne II.8].
If $df=0$,...
- 27.9k
21
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Simple Tamagawa number calculations
As is well known, Euler proved the Basel identity $\displaystyle\sum\limits_{i=0}^{\infty} \frac{1}{n^2} = \frac{{\pi}^2}{6}$. By far the most illuminating explanation of this fact that I've seen is ...
- 7,072
21
votes
6
answers
2k
views
How do I stop worrying about root systems and decomposition theorems (for reductive groups)?
I apologize for this being a very very vague question.
Just as personal experience, I never feel that I fully grasped the theory of root systems in Lie algebras and Lie/algebraic groups (I shall ...
- 229
21
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Computing the Zariski closure of a subgroup of SL(n,Z)
Suppose $\Gamma$ is a finitely generated subgroup of $SL(n,\mathbb{Z})$, given as a list of generators. We would like to (somewhat efficiently) try to compute the Zariski closure of $\Gamma$, which is ...
- 3,201
21
votes
2
answers
945
views
Which p-adic algebraic groups are type I?
It was proved by Jacques Dixmier (Sur les représentations unitaires des groupes de Lie algébriques, Annales de l'institut Fourier, 7 (1957), p. 315-328, doi: 10.5802/aif.73, MR 20 #5820, Zbl 0080....
- 11.1k
21
votes
1
answer
324
views
How many ways can I factor a matrix (over $\mathbb{Z}$)?
Let $A$ be a fixed matrix in $M_2\mathbb{Z}$ with determinant $n \neq 0$.
Question 1 How many ways can I write $A = XY$ for $X, Y \in M_2\mathbb{Z}$?
The answer to this question is pretty clearly ...
- 6,290
21
votes
0
answers
588
views
p-groups as rational points of unipotent groups
Is it true that every finite p-group can be realized as the group of rational points over $\mathbb{F_p}$ of some connected unipotent algebraic group defined over $\mathbb{F_p}$? For abelian p-groups, ...
- 221
20
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Small-index subgroups of SL(3,Z)
I would like to know the smallest-index subgroups of ${\rm SL}(3,\mathbb{Z})$.
The smallest I could find has even entries $a_{3,1}$ and $a_{3,2}$,
along the bottom row. I could not figure out ...
- 743
20
votes
7
answers
9k
views
Elementary reference for algebraic groups
I'm looking for a reference on algebraic groups which requires only knowledge of basic material on the theory of varieties which you could find in, for example, Basic Algebraic Geometry 1 by ...
- 15.4k
20
votes
5
answers
4k
views
Equivalent statements of the Riemann hypothesis in the Weil conjectures
In the cohomological incarnation, the Riemann hypothesis part of the Weil conjectures for a smooth proper scheme of finite type over a finite field with $q$ elements says that: the eigenvalues of ...
- 671
20
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Is there a scheme parametrizing the closed subgroups of an algebraic group?
In the following, let $G=\operatorname{GL}_n(\mathbb{C})$ or $G=\operatorname{\mathbb PGL}_n(\mathbb{C})$, depending on whichever has a better chance of yielding an affirmative answer. One could more ...
- 4,902
20
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Solving equations in SO(3) : an open problem by Jan Mycielski
I am interested in a problem closely related to a problem stated by Jan Mycielski in his paper Can One Solve Equations in Group? (The American Mathematical Monthly, 1977, http://www.jstor.org/stable/...
- 383
20
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Frobenius splitting and derived Cartier isomorphism
Let $X$ be a smooth algebraic variety over an algebraically closed field $k$ of characteristic $p>\dim X$. The motivation for my question comes from the following results.
1. If $X$ is Frobenius ...
- 16.2k
20
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Does the ring $R = \mathbb{Z}[X^{\pm1}]$ of Laurent polynomials over $\mathbb{Z}$ satisfy $SL_2(R) = E_2(R)$?
Let $R = \mathbb{Z}[X^{\pm1}]$ be the ring of Laurent polynomials on one indeterminate over $\mathbb{Z}$. Let $E_2(R)$ be the subgroup of $GL_2(R)$ generated by the matrices that differ from the ...
- 7,893
20
votes
1
answer
909
views
Semisimplicity for tensor products of representations of finite groups
Let $G$ be a group and $k$ a field of characteristic $p>0$. Let $$\rho_i: G\to GL(V_i),~ i=1,2$$ be two finite-dimensional semisimple $k$-representations of $G$, with $\dim(V_1)+\dim(V_2)<p+2.$ ...
- 23k
20
votes
0
answers
408
views
Ado's theorem and the reduction to positive characteristic
The synopsis: proofs of Ado theorem in positive characteristic are simple, and in characteristic $0$ are difficult. Can one infer the characteristic $0$ case from the positive characteristic case?
The ...
- 2,934
20
votes
0
answers
764
views
Should the Dynkin diagrams of types $A_1$ and $B_2$ be labelled $C_1$ and $C_2$?
The labels $A$--$G$ attached to connected Dynkin diagrams are of course arbitrary,
the result of historical accidents. In order to avoid repetitions, the four infinite
families $A_\ell, B_\ell, C_\...
- 52.9k
19
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Elkies' supersingularity theorem in higher dimension
The following is a theorem of Elkies:
Let $X$ be an elliptic curve over $\mathbb{Q}$. Then there are infinitely many primes $p$ such that the action of Frobenius on $H^1(\mathcal{O}, X)$ is zero.
...
- 156k
19
votes
1
answer
758
views
What are the equations for $SL_3/SL_2$?
Consider $SL_2$ embedded into $SL_3$ as upper left block matrices. The quotient $SL_3/SL_2$ is an affine variety, as is any quotient of reductive groups. How does one describe $SL_3/SL_2$? What are ...
- 407
19
votes
1
answer
2k
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The Infinitesimal topos in positive characteristic
This question was inspired by and is somewhat related to this question.
In his article "Crystals and the de Rham cohomology of schemes" in the collection "Dix exposes sur la cohomologie ...
- 4,450
19
votes
1
answer
977
views
Lang's Jacobian identity: slicker, elementary proof?
In Jeffrey Lang, A Jacobian identity in positive characteristic, J. Commut. Algebra, Volume 7, Number 3 (2015), pp. 393--409, the following result is proven:
Theorem 1. Let $p$ be a prime. Let $\...
- 33.8k
19
votes
1
answer
1k
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Is there a connected $k$-group scheme $G$ such that $G_{red}$ is not a subgroup?
I've been trying a learn a little more about group schemes by working through a set of exercises on Brian Conrad's website. Exercise 8.3 of http://math.stanford.edu/~conrad/papers/gpschemehw1.pdf ...
- 3,625
19
votes
1
answer
2k
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Perfectoid approach to resolution of singularities in char $p$
Since perfectoid techniques have built a bridge between char $0$ and char $p$ worlds, it is conceivable that they can be applied to resolution of singularities in char $p$ using their successful ...
- 199
19
votes
2
answers
1k
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Hopf algebra reference
I was talking this morning to a colleague who thinks about combinatorial Hopf algebras. He mentioned several rings, which are of interest in combinatorics, for which he didn't know whether a Hopf ...
- 156k
19
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Bertini theorems for base-point-free linear systems in positive characteristics
Suppose that $X$ is a smooth algebraic variety over an algebraically closed (uncountable if it helps) field of characteristic $p > 0$. Suppose that $L$ is a line bundle, probably ample or at least ...
- 20.5k
18
votes
7
answers
6k
views
Langlands Dual Groups
Can someone explain, explicitly, how to, given a reductive complex algebraic group construct the Langlands dual group? I know it is a group with the cocharacters of G as its characters, but how does ...
- 16k
18
votes
5
answers
2k
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Comparing algebraic group orbits over big and small algebraically closed fields
For an affine algebraic group $G$ it's often convenient (and harmless) to work concretely over an algebraically
closed field of definition $k$ while identifying $G$ with its group of rational points ...
- 52.9k
18
votes
4
answers
9k
views
Longest element of Weyl groups
What is a reduced expression of the longest element of each type of Weyl group. For type $A_n$ it is just $s_n(s_ns_{n-1})...(s_n...s_1)$. I know for type $B_n,C_n,E_7,E_8$,$G_2$ and $D_n$ (n even) it ...
- 181
18
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Lifting varieties to characteristic zero.
If you want to compute crystalline cohomology of a smooth proper variety $X$ over a perfect field $k$ of characteristic $p$, the first thing you might want to try is to lift $X$ to the Witt ring $W_k$ ...
- 4,015
18
votes
1
answer
1k
views
A linear algebra problem in positive characteristic
Let $A$ be a symmetric square matrix with entries in $\mathbb{Z}/p\mathbb{Z}$ for a prime $p$ such that all of its diagonal entries are nonzero. Does there exists always a vector $x$ with all ...
- 4,484
18
votes
3
answers
574
views
Does there exist something like an $H_3$ and $H_4$ (icosahedral) Lie algebra or algebraic group?
The (finite-dimensional) complex simple Lie algebras have been classified by Killing and Cartan a long time ago in the $\mathsf{A}_n,\mathsf{B}_n,\mathsf{C}_n,\mathsf{D}_n$ families and $\mathsf{G}_2,\...
- 32.5k
18
votes
1
answer
566
views
Subgroup $\mathrm{E}_6$ generated by $\mathrm{Spin_7}$ and $\mathrm{SL}_3$
Let $\mathbb{O}$ be the octonion algebra (say over $\mathbb{R}$) and let $J_{3}(\mathbb{O})$ be the set of $3 \times 3$ hermitian matrices with octonion coefficients, that is:
$$ J_3(\mathbb{O}) = \...
- 7,320