All Questions
2,543 questions
10
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Reference request: expository text on the structure of reductive groups over non-archimedean local fields
I am interested in an expository text in English, which summarizes the main results and aspects of the structure theory of reductive groups over local fields, in a hopefully not very technical manner (...
- 2,027
10
votes
1
answer
719
views
what is the intersection of all congruence subgroups of the profinite completion of SL(2,Z)?
Let $\widehat{SL(2,\mathbb{Z})}$ be the profinite completion of $SL(2,\mathbb{Z})$. Let $\Gamma(N)$ denote the typical principal congruence subgroup of $SL(2,\mathbb{Z})$ (ie, all matrices congruent ...
- 10.7k
10
votes
3
answers
2k
views
How do I describe the GL_n torsor attached to a smooth morphism of relative dimension n?
Edit: It seems I had two different constructions mixed up in my head, namely the frame torsor and the automorphism bundle of a vector bundle. This made the main question a bit confusing. The first ...
- 45.7k
10
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Connected components of the orthogonal group O(2n) in characteristic 2.
I am looking for a reference for the following fact:
The orthogonal group $O_{2n}$ over an algebraically closed field of characteristic 2
has exactly two connected components.
To be more precise, let ...
- 14.2k
10
votes
1
answer
625
views
Can a division algebra have degree divisible by its characteristic?
I apologize in advance if this is easy, but I've tried Googling, and had no luck.
I'm currently working on a proof, and I realized in the course of writing that this proof will break if out there ...
- 44.7k
10
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Clebsch–Gordan decomposition formula for algebraic groups
$\DeclareMathOperator\SL{SL}$There is a well-known Clebsch–Gordan decomposition formula for irreducible representations of $\SL_2$. If $V_n$ denotes the unique $n+1$-dimensional irreducible ...
- 370
10
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Tensor products of two irreducible representations of reductive groups and their inclusions
Let $G$ be a reductive group and $\lambda$, $\mu$ and $\nu$ be dominant weights of $G$. Denote by $V_\lambda$ the irreducible representation of $G$ of highest weight $\lambda$. It seems to be true ...
- 103
10
votes
2
answers
782
views
Equivariant normalization?
Let $G=\mathrm{Gl}_n\mathbb C$ and let $X$ be an affine $G$-variety. Let $\phi:\tilde X\to X$ be the normalization of $X$, i.e. the spectrum of the integral closure of $\mathbb C[X]$ in its fraction ...
- 4,902
10
votes
1
answer
886
views
Definition of an arithmetic subgroup of an algebraic group
I'm struggling with the definition of an arithmetic subgroup of an algebraic group defined over $\mathbb{Q}$.
In Wikipedia you can read:
If $\mathrm G$ is an algebraic subgroup of $\mathrm{GL}_n(\...
- 563
10
votes
1
answer
286
views
Longest subgroup chain in $\mathrm{SL}_n(\mathbb{F}_p)$?
What is the length $\ell$ of longest chain of subgroups
$$\{e\} \lneq H_1 \lneq \dotsc \lneq H_\ell = G$$
in $\mathrm{SL}_n(\mathbb{F}_p)$?
- 20.2k
10
votes
1
answer
381
views
About the paper by Buekenhout, Delandtsheer, Doyen, Kleidman, Liebeck and Saxl
The paper by Buekenhout, Delandtsheer, Doyen, Kleidman, Liebeck and Saxl called Linear spaces with flag transitive automorphism groups (Geom. Dedicata) from 1990 annonces a very powerful ...
- 2,287
10
votes
2
answers
461
views
Presentation of special linear group over localizations of the integers
I am looking (for $n,k\in{\mathbb Z}$) for a presentation (in the best of all worlds concretely, as a list of relators) for the group ${\rm SL}_n(R)$ for $R={\mathbb Z}[\frac{1}{k}]=\{\frac{a}{k^l}\...
- 1,210
10
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What are the basic possibilities for a tensor product of two fields?
Let $k$ be a field, with $F,k'$ field extensions of $k$. The ring $k' \otimes_k F$ is denoted by $F_{k'}$. In Borel's Linear Algebraic Groups, it is claimed (I believe erroneously) that "each ...
- 6,180
10
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Is there a way to see a topological group as the "Cayley graph" of its "infinitesimal generators"?
At the time of writing, the most recent blog post over at What's new by Terrence Tao is Cayley graphs and the geometry of groups, and that (excellent, as with most of Tao's writing) post most ...
- 54.6k
10
votes
1
answer
636
views
Killing form: clean proof that two spaces are orthogonal?
Let $G$ be a linear algebraic group whose Lie algebra $\mathfrak{g}$ is semisimple. Let $x$ be a regular semisimple element of $G$. Write $\mathfrak{t}$ for the Lie algebra of the maximal torus $T = C(...
- 20.2k
10
votes
1
answer
262
views
What is the hidden symmetry behind four generic planes in $\mathbb{R}^4$?
Consider the action of $\operatorname{GL}(\mathbb{R}^4)$ on the Grassmannian of 2-dimensional subspaces of $\mathbb{R}^4$. In experiments, I observe that four randomly drawn points in this space are ...
- 7,633
10
votes
2
answers
2k
views
A reductive group has a quasi-split inner form
Let $G$ be a connected, reductive group over a field $k$. Let $\Gamma = \textrm{Gal}(k_s/k)$. I think my question is better suited using the classical language: think of $G$ as an affine $\overline{...
- 6,180
10
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Parahoric Group Scheme
I am looking for the definition of a parahoric group scheme in the sense of Bruhat and Tits? I couldn't find a reference for that? at least a "clear" reference!
thanks
- 307
10
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Pullback along Frobenius morphism
Let $X$ be a scheme over a finite field $\mathbb{F}_q$ and let $F : X \to X$ be the absolute Frobenius morphism. If $\mathcal{L}$ is an invertible $\mathcal{O}_X$-module, then there is a natural ...
- 63.1k
10
votes
3
answers
581
views
Is there a generalization of the "characteristic polynomial" to other split/quasi-split algebraic groups?
Let $G = GL_n$ over a field $F$, and let $\gamma \in G(F)$ be a semisimple element. The characteristic polynomial $c_\gamma(t)$ of $\gamma$ encodes a fair bit of information about $\gamma$. ...
- 1,453
10
votes
2
answers
761
views
Applications of alterations
In 1995, de Jong proved the existence of regular alterations in arbitrary characteristic. I would like to have a little survey of important applications of this theorem, e.g. things you could do if ...
- 1,072
10
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Algebraicity of holomorphic representations of a semisimple complex linear algebraic group
Let $G$ be a complex linear algebraic group, given to us as a closed subgroup of some $\mathrm{GL}(n,\mathbb{C})$. Suppose moreover that $G$ is semisimple. Then it's a fact that every finite-...
- 2,713
10
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Number of connected components of the intersection of two maximal tori
Let $G$ be a connected complex semisimple Lie group and $S$, $T$ two maximal tori in $G$. Is there a known upper bound on the number of connected components of $S\cap T$? For example, is it bounded by ...
- 103
10
votes
1
answer
655
views
Embedding linear algebraic groups of a given dimension into a fixed $\mathrm{GL}_N$
Given $n$, can $n$-dimensional linear algebraic groups over $\mathbb{C}$ be embedded into $\mathrm{GL}(N,\mathbb{C})$ for a uniformly bounded $N$?
Thanks so much for your reply!
- 301
10
votes
2
answers
393
views
Counting points on varieties of low codimension
The graduate students here at MIT have been thinking about questions like the following: Over $\mathbb{F}\_q$, how many symmetric matrices are there with nonzero determinant and $0$'s on the diagonal? ...
- 156k
10
votes
1
answer
454
views
What does the $p$-adic closure of an arithmetic lattice look like?
Let $\Gamma$ be an arithmetic lattice in a linear algebraic $\mathbb{Q}$-group $\mathbf{G}$, that is, $\Gamma$ is a subgroup of $\mathbf{G}(\mathbb{Q})$ that is commensurable with $\mathbf{G}(\mathbb{...
- 517
10
votes
1
answer
2k
views
commutators in upper triangular matrices
Consider the group $T_p(n)$ of all non-singular upper triangular matrices with entries in $\mathbb{F}_p.$ Its commutator subgroup is $U_p(n)$ (all elements in $T_p(n)$ with $1$s on the main diagonal). ...
- 96.4k
10
votes
1
answer
570
views
Commutativity of the Chow ring in positive characteristic
I was looking in Ravi Vakil's notes on Intersection Theory, Class 20, where he introduces the bivariant intersection theory, in particular the Chow ring $A^\ast (X)$.
On p. 2, he writes the following ...
- 40.3k
10
votes
1
answer
966
views
Littlewood-Richardson rule and commutativity morphism
Background
Irreducible finite dimensional representations
of the group $GL_n$ are parameterized by the highest weights,
that is by nonincreasing sequences of integers
$$
\lambda_1 \ge \lambda_2 \ge \...
- 39.3k
10
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Is there a non-smooth algebraic group scheme in char $p$, all of whose defining relations have degree less than $p$?
Let $k$ be an algebraically closed field of characteristic $p>0$.
All the examples of non-smooth algebraic group schemes over $k$ that
I have seen (apart from "artificial" examples; see below) have ...
- 3,823
10
votes
2
answers
812
views
Cohomology vanishing for tensor powers of tangent bundle on the flag variety
Let $X$ denote the flag variety of a semi-simple group $G$ (in characteristic 0)
and let $T_X$ denote its tangent bundle. I would like to ask the following question(s):
1) Is it true that for any $n\...
- 7,037
10
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Gelfand's trick (Gelfand's lemma) in positive characteristic?
I came across this preprint that claims in Lemma 1.1 that Gelfand's trick (also known as Gelfand's lemma) only works in characteristic zero:
Let $H < G$ be finite groups. Suppose we have an anti-...
- 121
10
votes
2
answers
783
views
Software for Borel-Weil-Bott in positive characteristic?
I am interested in calculating cohomology of line bundles on flag varieties $G/B$ in positive characteristic. But I really just have a bunch of scattered examples. Does there exist some kind of ...
- 10.7k
10
votes
2
answers
1k
views
For what reductive groups $G$ over $K$ are the inner forms classified by $H^1(K, G^{ad})$?
Suppose $G$ is a connected reductive algebraic group over an arbitrary field $K$; let $Z$ be the center of $G$. The inner automorphisms of $G$ are given by $\operatorname{Inn}(G) = G / Z = G^{\...
- 506
10
votes
1
answer
564
views
How is the sheaf defined for $G/H$ where $G$ is an algebraic group and $H$ is a normal closed subgroup?
I have learned that if $G$ is an algebraic group and $H$ is a normal closed subgroup then $G/H$ is also an algebraic group satisfying:
for any morphisms $\phi : G \rightarrow X$ constant on the ...
- 3,625
10
votes
1
answer
368
views
Bounds on Tamagawa numbers of reductive groups
Let $G$ be a reductive algebraic group over a number field $k$. Weil's conjecture on Tamagawa numbers (now a theorem) tells us that the Tamagawa number $\tau(G)$ of $G$ is 1 if $G$ is semisimple and ...
- 3,799
10
votes
1
answer
355
views
Is Zariski closure of finitely generated matrix semigroup computable?
In general, can the Zariski closure of the semigroup of matrices $\langle M_1, \ldots, M_k \rangle$ be algorithmically computed (at least in theory)?
For this purpose I'm happy to assume the ...
- 163
10
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Does a universal Frobenius map exist?
For any prime p, one has the Frobenius homomorphism Fp defined on rings of characteristic p.
Is there any kind of object, say U, with a "universal Frobenius map" F such that for any prime p and any ...
- 2,399
10
votes
1
answer
292
views
Lagrangian Grassmannian from an Involution
I don't know if this is already answered somewhere in MO. The dynkin involution of $SL_{2n}$ that is $\alpha_i \mapsto \alpha_{2n-i}$ gives an outer automorphism of $SL_{2n}$ and then the maximal ...
- 185
10
votes
1
answer
412
views
Reference for Pic(G) and central extensions.
Let $G$ be a connected reductive group over a (perfect, why not) field $F$. Let $m$, $pr_1$, $pr_2$ denote the multiplication, first, and second projection maps from $G \times G$ to $G$.
Then I'm ...
- 13.3k
10
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Are there "reasonable" criteria for existence/non-existence of Levi factors or their conjugacy in prime characteristic?
Classical theorems attributed to Levi, Mal'cev, Harish-Chandra for a finite
dimensional Lie algebra over a field of characteristic 0 state that it has a Levi decomposition (semisimple subalgebra plus ...
- 52.9k
10
votes
1
answer
864
views
Bialynicki-Birula decompositions and fixed points
I was reading Luna's paper Toute variété magnifique est sphérique and stumbled on a few facts about Bialynicki-Birula decompositions and fixed points that I don't understand.
Here is the setup. Let $...
10
votes
0
answers
274
views
Looking for counterexamples: Are maximal tori in the automorphism groups of smooth complex quasiprojective varieties conjugate?
Let $X$ be a smooth quasiprojective variety over $\mathbb{C}$. It has a group of (algebraic) automorphisms $
\DeclareMathOperator{\Aut}{Aut}
\Aut(X)$.
Define a torus in $\Aut(X)$ to be a faithful ...
- 1,141
10
votes
0
answers
371
views
How large must the characteristic of $k$ be, for the cohomology of the Lie algebra $\mathfrak{sl}_n(k)$ to be exterior as in characteristic zero?
$\DeclareMathOperator\SU{SU}$In this question, all Lie algebra cohomology is of the form $H^*(\mathfrak{g}; k)$, with $k$ the trivial one-dimensional representation of $\mathfrak{g}$. All Lie algebra ...
- 1,335
10
votes
0
answers
295
views
Quotients by algebraic group actions at the level of the Grothendieck ring
$\DeclareMathOperator\SGro{SGro}\DeclareMathOperator\Gro{Gro}\DeclareMathOperator\GL{GL}$For an algebraically closed field $K$, the Grothendieck semiring of $K$ consists of, say, quasi-projective $K$-...
- 63.9k
10
votes
0
answers
529
views
What is the mirror of an algebraic group?
Background: Kontsevich's homological mirror symmetry conjecture posits the existence of pairs $(X,\check X)$ with an equivalence of dg/$A_\infty$-categories
$$\mathcal F(X)=\mathcal D^b(\check X)$$
...
- 18.7k
10
votes
0
answers
343
views
What are the analogs of a Levi/Parabolic/Borel/Bruhat over the field with 1 element?
This is inevitably an imprecise question, but there are already several questions like this on the site so I thought i'd try anyway.
If I understand correctly, for any reductive algebraic group $G$ ...
- 7,799
10
votes
0
answers
323
views
The mod 3 reduction of some powers of delta
Let f in Z/3[[x]] be the mod 3 reduction of the Fourier expansion of the normalized weight 12 cusp form delta for the full modular group. The exponents appearing in f are all 1 mod 3. Fix
k>0 and ...
- 5,422
10
votes
0
answers
424
views
Polynomial function from $S^3$ to $S^3$ and quaternions
I am searching the polynomial functions from $S^3$ to $S^3$.
($S^3$ is the set of vectors $x$ in $\mathbb{R}^4$ such that $\|x\|=1$)
We say $g$ is a polynomial function from $S^3$ to $S^3$, if there ...
- 663
10
votes
0
answers
881
views
Invariance of Euler characteristic under base change for sheaf cohomology of flag varieties
BACKGROUND:
Over an algebraically closed field of arbitrary characteristic, most of the basic structure theory of affine (= linear) algebraic groups can be developed concretely without quoting ...
- 52.9k