All Questions
2,633 questions
26
votes
2
answers
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Cohomology of Lie groups and Lie algebras
The length of this question has got a little bit out of hand. I apologize.
Basically, this is a question about the relationship between the cohomology of Lie groups and Lie algebras, and maybe ...
- 23.5k
26
votes
1
answer
2k
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Does the quantum subgroup of quantum su_2 called E_8 have anything at all to do with the Lie algebra E_8?
The ordinary McKay correspondence relates the subgroups of SU(2) to the affine ADE Dynkin diagrams. The correspondence is that the vertices correspond to irreducible representations of the subgroup, ...
- 28.1k
25
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Is the sequence of partition numbers log-concave?
Let $p(n)$ denote the number of partitions of a positive integer $n$. It seems to me that we have for all $n>25$
$$
p(n)^2>p(n-1)p(n+1).
$$
In other words, the sequence $(p(n))_{n\in \mathbb{N}}$...
- 12.1k
25
votes
3
answers
2k
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product of all F_p, p prime
Let $R$ be the ring $$R = \prod_{p\ \text{prime}} \mathbb{F}_p$$ where $\mathbb{F}_p$ is the field having $p$ elements.
Is it true that $R$ has a quotient by a maximal ideal which is a field of ...
- 5,163
25
votes
1
answer
702
views
The de Rham complex of the octonionic projective spaces
The complex projective space $\mathbb{CP}^n$ is a complex manifold, and hence its de Rham complex carries a representation of the complex numbers in the form of its complex structure. The quaternionic ...
- 835
25
votes
0
answers
1k
views
Status of the Euler characteristic in characteristic p
In the introduction to the Asterisque 82-83 volume on `Caractérisque d'Euler-Poincaré, Verdier writes:
Enfin signalons que la situation en caractéristique positive est loin
d'être aussi ...
- 8,723
24
votes
6
answers
5k
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Pythagorean 5-tuples
What is the solution of the equation $x^2+y^2+z^2+t^2=w^2$ in polynomials over C ("Pythagorean 5-tuples")?
There are simple formulas describing Pythagorean n-tuples for n=3,4,6:
n=3. The formula ...
- 1,488
24
votes
6
answers
7k
views
Introduction to W-Algebras/Why W-algebras?
Does anyone know of an introduction and motivation for W-algebras?
Edit: Okay, sorry I try to add some more background. W algebras occur, for example when you study nilpotent orbits: Take a nice ...
- 13.2k
24
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Lie groups generated by finitely many Lie algebra elements
Let $G$ be a connected Lie group with Lie algebra $\mathfrak{g}$. A standard fact is that $G$ is generated by $\exp(\mathfrak{g})$, i.e. every $g \in G$ can be written as $g=\exp(x_1)\cdots\exp(x_n)$ ...
- 443
24
votes
5
answers
6k
views
Wild Ramification
The question is, loosely put, what is known about wild ramification?
Is there a semi-well-established theory of wild ramification that can be furthered in various specific situations? Or maybe there ...
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
5
answers
2k
views
Lie groups vs Lie monoids
Does there exist a well developed theory of a class of objects which might rightfully be called Lie monoids? By this I mean with axioms similar to those of Lie groups, but with the axiomatic existence ...
- 2,099
24
votes
4
answers
7k
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Formal geometry
[Edit (June 20, 2010): I posted an answer to this which summarizes one that I received verbally a few weeks after posting this question. I hope it is useful to someone.]
I am presently seeking ...
- 6,131
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 ...
- 50.6k
22
votes
6
answers
2k
views
About the definition of E8, and Rosenfeld's "Geometry of Lie groups"
I've been searching the literature for a direct definition of the group $E_8$ (over a general field, but even a definition of just one incarnation would be great). I knew (from talking to people) that ...
- 2,287
22
votes
5
answers
8k
views
The Jacobi Identity for the Poisson Bracket
It is well known that if $M, \Omega$ is a symplectic manifold then the Poisson bracket gives $C^\infty(M)$ the structure of a Lie algebra. The only way I have seen this proven is via a calculation in ...
- 29.2k
22
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Number of triples of roots (of a simply-laced root system) which sum to zero
In a paper 1105.5073, the authors took a simply-laced root system $\Delta$ of type $G=A,D,E$, and then counted the number of unordered triples $(\alpha,\beta,\gamma)$ of roots which sum to zero: $\...
- 6,133
22
votes
6
answers
3k
views
Automorphism group of real orthogonal Lie groups
I would like to understand what is the "outer-automorphism group" $Out$ of $SO(p,q)$ and $O(p,q)$, where $p+q >0$ and $pq \neq 0$. My working definition of $Out$ is as follows:
Let us denote by $...
- 2,818
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
1
answer
2k
views
Reference request: a tale of two mathematicians
I've heard tell the following anecdote involving Pierre Gabriel and Jacques Tit at least twice in a lapse of four years or so:
When P. Gabriel presented the theorem in a conference [sometime around ...
- 8,842
22
votes
1
answer
2k
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Modern reference for maximal connected subgroups of compact Lie groups
What's the nicest place to see a list of the maximal connected subgroups of compact Lie groups? Is there anything on-line?
I looked at Tits' Bourbaki talk on Dynkin's and others' work, but he admits ...
- 27.9k
22
votes
2
answers
2k
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"isotropic" subspaces of a simple Lie algebra
Let $\bf g$ be a finite-dimensional real simple Lie algebra of compact type and let $\left<-,-\right>$ denote the positive-definite inner product induced from the negative of the Killing form. ...
- 33.3k
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
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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
2
answers
730
views
On a drawing in Dixmier's Enveloping Algebras
This image
comes from Dixmier's book, 'Enveloping Algebras' ('Algèbres enveloppantes').
Dixmier writes that
The curves shown on p. XIV have their origin in the study of U(sl(3)).
They are due ...
- 443
21
votes
4
answers
1k
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Can one show the equivalence of the abstract and classical Jordan decompositions for simple Lie algebras without complete reducibility?
The following fact is basic in the theory of complex Lie algebras:
Theorem. Let ${\mathfrak g} \subset {\mathfrak gl}_n({\bf C})$ be a simple Lie algebra, and let $x \in {\mathfrak g}$. Let $x = ...
- 114k
21
votes
1
answer
2k
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Why are affine Lie algebras called affine?
Hi. I was wondering if someone could explain why we call affine Lie algebras affine. Thanks!
Oliver
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
2
answers
3k
views
Is every finite-dimensional Lie algebra the Lie algebra of a closed linear Lie group?
This question is closely related to this one.
Ado's theorem states that given a finite-dimensional Lie algebra $\mathfrak g$, there exists a faithful representation $\rho\colon\mathfrak g \to \...
- 1,050
21
votes
3
answers
2k
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Invariants for the exceptional complex simple Lie algebra $F_4$
This is an edited version of the original question taking into account the comments below by Bruce. The original formulation was imprecise.
Let $\mathfrak{g}$ denote a complex simple Lie algebra of ...
- 33.3k
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
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Where do root systems arise in mathematics?
One often hears that root systems are ubiquitous in mathematics and physics. The most obvious occurrence of root systems is in the classification of complex simple Lie algebras. Where else do they ...
20
votes
6
answers
4k
views
Polynomial invariants of the exceptional Weyl groups
Let $\mathfrak{g}$ be a simple complex Lie algebra, and let $\mathfrak{h} \subset \mathfrak{g}$ be a fixed Cartan subalgebra. Let $W$ be the Weyl group associated to $\mathfrak{g}$. Let $S(\mathfrak{h}...
- 2,160
20
votes
2
answers
5k
views
How to interpret the Sugawara construction from a physical or mathematical viewpoint?
In theoretical physics, the Sugawara theory is a set of formulae and theorems that allow one to construct a stress-energy tensor of a specific type of conformal field theory from a bilinear expression ...
- 787
20
votes
4
answers
3k
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homotopy type of connected Lie groups
Is there a simple proof (short and low-tech) of the following fact:
(E. Cartan) A connected real Lie group $G$ is diffeomorphic (as a manifold) to
$K\times\mathbb{R}^n$ where $K$ is a maximal ...
- 7,609
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
983
views
Curious fact about number of roots of $\mathfrak{sl}_n$
The Lie algebra $\mathfrak{sl}_n $ has many special features which are not shared by other simple Lie algebras, for example all of its fundamental representations are minuscule.
I recently discovered ...
- 4,612
20
votes
1
answer
3k
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Motivation for Hall-Witt identity
I've wondered for a while about the (Hall-)Witt identity in group theory:
$[[a,b^{-1}],c]^b \cdot [[b,c^{-1}],a]^c \cdot [[c,a^{-1}]],b]^a = 1$.
(Here, $x^y$ means $y^{-1}xy$ and $[x,y]$ means $...
- 489
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
19
votes
5
answers
4k
views
Matrix representation for $F_4$
Has anyone ever bothered to write down the 26-dimensional fundamental representation of $F_4$? I wouldn't mind looking at it. Is it in $\mathfrak{so}(26)$?
I'm familiar with the construction of the ...
- 2,123
19
votes
5
answers
4k
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Understanding moment maps and Lie brackets
I'm trying to learn about moment maps in symplectic topology (suppose our Lie group is $G$ with Lie algebra $\mathfrak g$, acting on the symplectic manifold $(M,\omega)$ by symplectomorphisms). I'm ...
- 1,129
19
votes
5
answers
2k
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Is there a formula for the Frobenius-Schur indicator of a rep of a Lie group?
Let $G$ be a simple algebraic group group over $\mathbb C$.
Let $V$ be a self-dual representation of $G$.
Let $\lambda$ be the highest weight of $V$.
Write $\lambda$ as a sum of fundamental weights: $...
- 43.2k
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
2
answers
4k
views
What does the nilpotent cone represent?
Notation
Let $\mathfrak g$ be a the Lie algebra of an algebraic group $G\subseteq GL(V)$ over a(n algebraically closed) field $k$ (I'm actually thinking $G=GL_n$, so $\mathfrak g=\mathfrak{gl}_n$). ...
- 24.1k
19
votes
2
answers
998
views
Who originated the standard symbols for Lie groups GL, SL, SU, etc.?
Who was first to use symbols GL, SL, O, SO, U, SU, Sp and their projective versions, and how did this notation become standard?
The notation appears in fairly modern form in Weyl's "The Classical ...
- 3,761
19
votes
1
answer
832
views
What is the homomorphism between the third exterior and third symmetric power of the adjoint representation of a simple Lie algebra?
Let $\mathfrak{g}$ be the adjoint representation of a simple Lie algebra (which is not of type $A$). Then the space of intertwiners between the third exterior power of $\mathfrak{g}$ and the third ...
- 488
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
2
answers
898
views
Lie algebra automorphisms and detecting knot orientation by Vassiliev invariants
Recall that there are knots in $\mathbf{R}^3$ that are not invertible, i.e. not isotopic to themselves with the orientation reversed. However, it is not easy to tell whether or not a given knot is ...
- 23.5k