All Questions
75 questions
79
votes
12
answers
13k
views
Is there a high-concept explanation for why characteristic 2 is special?
The structure of the multiplicative groups of $\mathbb{Z}/p\mathbb{Z}$ or of $\mathbb{Z}_p$ is the same for odd primes, but not for $2.$ Quadratic reciprocity has a uniform statement for odd primes, ...
- 118k
51
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Which philosophy for reductive groups?
I am just beginning to look further into trace formulas and automorphic forms in a quite general setting. For long I have noticed that the natural assumption on the group $G$ we work on is to be ...
- 5,424
34
votes
2
answers
3k
views
The work of E. Artin and F. K. Schmidt on (what are now called) the Weil conjectures.
I was reading Dieudonne's "On the history of the Weil conjectures" and found two things that surprised me. Dieudonne makes some assertions about the work of Artin and Schmidt which are no doubt ...
- 41.4k
5
votes
1
answer
444
views
An example of a Deligne–Lusztig variety for a general linear group
Take $G=\operatorname{GL}_3$, defined over the algebraic closure of a finite field $\mathbb{F}_q$ and let $X$ be the set of Borel subgroups of $G$.
The Frobenius morphism $F:G\to G$ induces a map $F:...
- 153
33
votes
3
answers
3k
views
What is the defining property of reductive groups and why are they important?
Having read (skimmed more like) many surveys of the Langlands Program and similar, it seems the related ideas apply exclusively to groups that are "reductive".
But nowhere, either in these surveys or ...
- 1,545
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
9
votes
3
answers
677
views
Are all irreducible supercuspidal representation induced from compact-mod-center subgroups?
Let $G$ be a reductive group over a local non-archimedean field $F$.
Can every irreducible supercuspidal representation of $G(F)$ be realized as the induction from an open subgroup, which is compact ...
- 11.2k
8
votes
3
answers
701
views
Centralizers of subtori in reductive groups, derived subgroups
Let $G$ be a split, almost-simple connected reductive group over a field $F$ with split maximal torus $T$. I am trying to understand precisely the groups $[G_{\alpha}, G_{\alpha}]$, where $\alpha$ is ...
- 123
8
votes
1
answer
747
views
Deligne's exterior power
In "Catégories Tannakiennes", Deligne defines the $n$th exterior power of an object $A$ of an abelian tensor category $\mathcal{C}$ as the image of the morphism
$$p : A^{\otimes n} \to A^{\otimes n}, ...
- 63.1k
7
votes
1
answer
5k
views
Chevalley's Theorem on Constructible Sets
I'm having a hard time understanding the theorem in the title, more specifically the proof of the related fact that the image of a dominant morphism contains a dense open set of it's closure. (My ...
- 75
6
votes
0
answers
343
views
Are all stabilizer groups of the co-adjoint action smooth?
Let $k$ be a (non-archimedean) local field of positive characteristic $p$ and $\mathfrak{n}$ be any finite-dimensional nilpotent Lie algebra over $k$ with nilpotence length $l<p$. It is well-known ...
- 1,702
1
vote
1
answer
241
views
locally closed orbits in metric Hausdorff topology
I learned the following fact from Bruhat and Tits's paper "Homomorphismes “abstraits” de groupes algebriques simples" Section 3.18 that
Let $k$ be a local field. Suppose that a $k$-group $H$ acts $k$...
- 1,702
37
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Is there a nice proof of the fact that there are (p-1)/24 supersingular elliptic curves in characteristic p?
If $k$ is a characteristic $p$ field containing a subfield with $p^2$ elements (e.g., an algebraic closure of $\mathbb{F}_p$), then the number of isomorphism classes of supersingular elliptic curves ...
- 45.7k
28
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Intuitive pictures in characteristic p
This is a tough one, but does anyone know of any images that recall characteristic p geometry (over algebraically closed fields) in some sense? It is not enough if it is some picture that can be also ...
- 2,215
27
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Reference for de Rham cohomology in positive characteristic
It is known in characteristic $0$ that (algebraic) de Rham cohomology is a Weil cohomology theory. However, in characteristic $p > 0$ it isn't, if only because it has mod $p$ coefficients, whereas ...
- 28.8k
27
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Reconciling Lusztig's results with the Langlands philosophy
Let $\boldsymbol{G}$ be a reductive group over a finite field $\mathbb{F}_q$, $G = \boldsymbol{G}(\mathbb{F}_q)$, $W = \mathrm{W}(\mathbb{F}_q)$ the Witt vectors over $\mathbb{F}_q$, and $K = \mathrm{...
- 805
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
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
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
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
17
votes
2
answers
3k
views
What's the point of a Whittaker model?
Let $G$ be a quasi-split connected reductive group over a $p$-adic field $F$. Let $B$ be a Borel subgroup which is defined over $F$, with $B = TU$, $T$ defined over $F$. The choice of $T$ and $B$ ...
- 6,180
15
votes
2
answers
814
views
Can the failure of the multiplicativity of Euler factors at bad primes be corrected?
Warning: This one of those does-anyone-know-how-to-fix-this-vague-problem questions, and not an actual mathematics question at all.
If $X$ is a scheme of finite type over a finite field, then the ...
- 9,418
15
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Number of curves over a finite field
Let $K$ be a finite field. Is there a formula for the number of isomorphism classes of genus $g$ smooth curves over $K$?
In other words does there exists a formula for the number of rational points ...
- 8,998
14
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Definition of discrete spectrum and continuous and basic properties
I apologize if this is too basic for MO.
I have an embarrassing admission to make: I don't know the actual definition of the discrete/continuous spectrum of a reductive group $G/\mathbb{Q}$ (in the ...
- 787
14
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Do varieties with ample canonical bundle have finite automorphism group in small characteristic?
Suppose $X$ is a smooth projective variety over a field $k$, with ample canonical bundle. If $\operatorname{char}(k)=0$ or $\operatorname{char}(k)>\dim(X)$ and $X$ lifts to $W_2(k)$ (thanks ...
- 23k
12
votes
2
answers
883
views
Residues of $\frac{1}{\prod_{i=1}^n (x-P_i)^{e_i}}$
This is a problem occurring in my research about deformations of $\mathbb{Z}/p^n$-covers over a ring of power series. Given an algebraically closed field $k$ of characteristic $p>0$, suppose $1< ...
- 245
11
votes
0
answers
1k
views
Do the Standard Conjectures imply parts of the "Weil II" Riemann Hypothesis?
It is known that Grothendieck's Standard Conjectures on algebraic cycles imply the Riemann Hypothesis of the original Weil Conjectures. However, do they also say something about the version of the ...
- 1,764
11
votes
0
answers
576
views
What's known about the mod 2 reduction of the level l Jacobi modular equation?
Motivation:
Let $\ell$ be an odd prime. Let $A$ in ${\mathbb Z}/2[[x]]$ be $x+x^9+x^{25}+x^{49}+...$, and $B=A(x^\ell)$. One can use the level $\ell$ Jacobi modular equation to get a polynomial ...
- 5,422
11
votes
2
answers
918
views
On a proposition in Hartshorne's paper "Ample vector bundles on curves"
In Prop. 4.1, p. 87 of the article "Ample vector bundles on curves" (Nagoya Math. J. 43 [1971], 73--89), R. Hartshorne states the following:
Let $A$ be an abelian variety [over an alg. closed field $...
- 3,076
11
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Are automorphism groups of hypersurfaces reduced ?
In the following article : "H. Matsumura, P. Monsky, On the automorphisms of hypersurfaces, J. Math. Kyoto Univ. 3 (1964) 347-361", it is shown that in finite characteristic, automorphism groups of ...
- 6,543
11
votes
1
answer
675
views
Extended Deformation Theory (dg-Lie algebra principle in positive characteristic?)
Recently, I looked at articles that make use of Deligne's idea that "in characteristic 0 every deformation problem is governed by a differential graded
Lie algebra" as explained first in Goldman-...
- 113
10
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Is $Sym^n (V^*) \cong Sym^n (V)^\ast$ naturally in positive characteristic?
Background/motivation
It is a classical fact that we have a natural isomorphism $Sym^n (V^*) \cong Sym^n (V) ^\ast$ for vector spaces $V$ over a field $k$ of characteristic 0. One way to see this is ...
- 14.8k
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
9
votes
1
answer
833
views
Endomorphism ring of simple ordinary abelian variety
Is there an example of an ordinary and simple abelian variety $A$ over an algebraically closed field $K$ (of characteristic $p>0$) such that ${\rm End}(A)$ is not commutative? Note that the answer ...
- 3,076
9
votes
1
answer
546
views
Showing subgroups with equal Lie algebras are equal
Let $k$ be a field. It might as well be algebraically closed, but I do not want to assume that it has characteristic $0$. I will write "group" for "affine group scheme over $k$", ...
- 12.9k
9
votes
1
answer
430
views
Existence of certain endomorphism of supersingular elliptic curve
Let $E$ be a supersingular elliptic curve over an algebraically closed field $K$ of characteristic $p$. Let $R = \operatorname{End}(E)$ be its ring of endomorphisms. Then, it is known $R \otimes_{\...
8
votes
1
answer
774
views
A variant on characteristic $p$ de Rham cohomology
I was thinking about de Rham cohomology in characteristic $p$, and in particular the recent question about Poincare residues, and I came up with the following construction.
Let $k$ be a perfect field ...
- 156k
8
votes
2
answers
959
views
Conjugation in GL(n) (p-adic setting)
In $GL(n, \mathbb{Q}_p)$, what are the orbits under conjugation of $GL(n, \mathbb{Z}_p)$?
- 11.2k
8
votes
2
answers
725
views
Is every connected reductive group over a local field already defined over a global field?
Let $K$ be a local field, e.g. $\mathbb{Q}_p$ or $\mathbb{F}_p((t))$. Let $G$ be a connected reductive group over $K$. Is it true that $G$ is already defined over a global field? More precisely, does ...
- 113
8
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Lefschetz on étale fundamental group for quasi-projective varieties
If $X$ is a smooth projective variety of dimension at least $3$ over $\mathbb{C}$, Lefschetz's Hyperplane theorem says that for every hyperplane section $H$
$$\pi^1(H)\to\pi^1(X)$$
is an isomorphism, ...
- 483
7
votes
1
answer
608
views
$GSp(4)$ vs $PSp(4)$
After some months wandering through examples of algebraic groups in the theory of automorphic forms and number theory, I wonder why so many efforts are spent in understanding $GSp(4)$ (local newforms, ...
- 5,424
7
votes
4
answers
736
views
Simply connected quasi-projective varieties in positive characteristic
I am looking for examples of non-projective (quasi-projective) varieties $X$ defined over a field of positive characteristic, which have trivial étale fundamental group.
It is well known that the ...
- 4,450
7
votes
1
answer
424
views
Open cell decomposition after applying a Weyl group element
Let $G=\operatorname{GL}(n,\mathbb C)$. What follows can be put into a more general context, but I would like to first understand it for this case, the generalization is a second step.
For Zariski-...
- 4,902
6
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Representations of GL(2, Q_p) and GL(2, Z_p)
The cuspidal representations of $\operatorname{GL}_n(F)$ a non archimedean field $F$ with ring of integers $o$ can be classified by inducing irreducible representation from $Z\operatorname{GL}_n(o)$.
...
- 11.2k
6
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Generic Smoothness Type of Results in Positive Characteristic
Let $f:X\to Y$ be a surjective morphism between two projective varieties over a field of characteristic $p>0$. Also assume that $f_*\mathcal{O}_X=\mathcal{O}_Y$, and $X$ is smooth.
We know that ...
- 313
6
votes
1
answer
313
views
Making sense out of intertwining operators defined by a vector valued integral
Let $G$ be the rational points of a connected, reductive group over a $p$-adic field $F$. Let $S$ be a maximal split torus of $G$ with $\Delta$ a set of simple roots corresponding to a minimal ...
- 6,180
6
votes
1
answer
435
views
Dynkin diagram of the centralizer of a semisimple element in a Levi subgroup
Let $G$ be a connected reductive group over an algebraically closed field and consider a semisimple element $s \in G$ and let $L$ be a Levi subgroup containing $s$.
My question is about the two ways ...
- 309
6
votes
1
answer
128
views
Intersection of integral points with a unipotent and its opposite
This is a follow-up to Does the bruhat decomposition induces decomposition on integral points (on an open cell)?
Given a split connected reductive group $G$ over a $p$-adic local field $F$ with ring ...
- 503
6
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Parabolic induction GL(n,Zp)
Let $P$ be a parabolic subgroup of $GL(n)$ with Levi decomposition $P =MN$, where $N$ is the unipotent radical.
Let $\pi$ be an irreducible representation of $M(\mathbf{Z}_p)$ inflated to $P(\mathbf{...
- 11.2k
5
votes
1
answer
344
views
Surjection onto endomorphisms of multiplicative group of a field
Let $k$ be an algebraically closed field of characteristic $p > 0$. Denote by $k^\times$ the multiplicative group of $k$. There is a ring homomorphism given by restriction to $k^\times$
$$
\mathbb{...
- 53