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0 votes
1 answer
203 views

Equivalence of dihedral and symmetric group actions on a specialized real algebra

Edit: fixed misaligned indentation for "Update x and y by", below. I also had two little ideas that might help. consider first the case where the digit 7 is not allowed, simplifying the ...
4 votes
1 answer
378 views

Where to begin in Computational Group Theory?

I'm coding a small application that looks for periodic solutions to the gravitational n-body problem. I'm trying to better understanding the symmetries of solutions, which is made up of the product of ...
0 votes
0 answers
95 views

Class multiplication coefficients of symmetric groups

My question is that I was working with some counting problems, and finally the answer should be $$ \nu_{\mu_1,\mu_2,\mu_3}=\#\{(\sigma_1,\sigma_2,\sigma_3): \sigma_1\sigma_2\sigma_3=1, \sigma_1\in C_{\...
16 votes
3 answers
1k views

Conjectures in the representation theory of the symmetric group

Question: What are current open conjectures about the representation theory of the symmetric group? I am interested mostly in the characteristic 0 case, but conjectures for the modular case can also ...
25 votes
6 answers
3k views

What is the standard 2-generating set of the symmetric group good for?

I apologize for this question which is obviously not research-level. I've been teaching to master students the standard generating sets of the symmetric and alternating groups and I wasn't able to ...
4 votes
1 answer
593 views

Commutativity of the wreath product

(Cross-posted from MSE, with isomorphism replaced by conjugate: https://math.stackexchange.com/questions/4928697/commutativity-of-the-wreath-product?noredirect=1#comment10531931_4928697 ) Let $G$ be a ...
3 votes
1 answer
182 views

Schur cover of alternating groups

Wilson's book "The finite simple groups" gives (in section 2.7) a description of the double cover of the alternating groups. First, one constructs a double cover $2S_n$ of the symmetric ...
0 votes
1 answer
205 views

Hyperoctahedral group, preliminaries [closed]

I am looking for information on the hyperoctahedral group From what I understand, the hyperoctahedral group is 'the generalized symmetric group' in the case where $m=2$. That is, the hyperoctahedral ...
12 votes
2 answers
882 views

H^2 of symmetric group

I'm a number theorist in need of some group cohomology lemmas, and I'm rather bewildered by the level of generality used in the literature. Specifically, the result I need is as follows: the ...
1 vote
0 answers
130 views

Relationship between the symmetric group representation (Specht module) of a Young diagram and the Young diagram obtained by deleting one row

Suppose $\lambda$ is a Young diagram, and $\lambda'$ is obtained by deleting one particular row of $\lambda$. Is there any relationship between the symmetric group representation (Specht module) ...
9 votes
0 answers
254 views

An identity for characters of the symmetric group

I am looking for a reference for the identity $$\chi_\lambda(C)=\frac{\dim(V_\lambda)}{|C|}\sum_{p\in P_\lambda,\,q\in Q_\lambda,\,pq\in C}\operatorname{sgn}(q)$$ for the irreducible characters of the ...
5 votes
1 answer
212 views

What is the effect of tensoring with the sign representation on irreducible modules for a Type D Weyl group?

Given an integer $n \geq 4$, consider the Weyl groups $W(B_n)$ and $W(D_n)$ of types $B_n$ and $D_n$, respectively, and consider their representation theory over the field of complex numbers. The Weyl ...
2 votes
1 answer
145 views

When are these irreducible complex representations for the Type D Weyl group self-dual?

Given an integer $n \geq 4$, consider the Weyl groups $W(B_n)$ and $W(D_n)$ of types $B_n$ and $D_n$, respectively, and consider their representation theory over the field of complex numbers. The Weyl ...
25 votes
3 answers
4k views

Simplicity of alternating group $A_n$

I am teaching an introductory group theory course, and it has come to the inevitable proof that $A_n$ is simple for $n\geq 5$. Now, there seem to be a number of proofs that I can find – one the "...
5 votes
0 answers
200 views

Subgroups of the symmetric group and binary relations

Motivation The following came up in my work recently. (NB this is the motivation, not the question I'm asking. You can skip to the actual question below, which is self-contained, but not self-...
5 votes
1 answer
247 views

Maximal subgroup in $S_{10}$

Consider the set of unordered pairs $\{(i,j)\}$, $i<j, i=1,2, \ldots, 2k+1$, $j=i+1, \dots, 2k+2$, and the group $G=S_{k(2k+1)}$ of all permutations of those pairs. Is the subgroup of the ...
3 votes
0 answers
121 views

Twisted permutations

We consider a set $E$ with an involution (having perhaps fixed points). We denote orbits by $\lbrace x,\overline{x}\rbrace$ (with $\overline{x}=x$ in the case of a fixed point). We consider sequences $...
2 votes
0 answers
184 views

The canonical automorphism of the symmetric group

Let $S_n$ be the symmetric group of order $n$. Denoting simple transpositions by $\sigma_i$ the collection $\sigma_1, \dots, \sigma_{n-1}$ generates $S_n$ subject to the following relations: $$ \sigma ...
2 votes
2 answers
210 views

is the embedding $\mathrm{Sp}_{2m}(p)\leqslant S_{p^m-1}$ possible?

Is the following embedding possible? $\mathrm{Sp}_{2m}(p)\leqslant S_{p^m-1}$ where $S_{p^m-1}$ is a symmetric group and $p$ is prime. I see that when $p=3$ and $m=3$, the order of the former does ...
21 votes
8 answers
15k views

"Natural" generating sets for symmetric groups

The symmetric group on $n$ letters has many sets of generators. Some of them are more natural than others, eg the set $(i,i+1)$ of adjacent transpositions (natural with respect to the type A Weyl ...
0 votes
1 answer
661 views

How does Sage order the elements of the symmetric group?

In Sage, the symmetric group is a list. For instance if G = SymmetricGroup(3), we have \begin{align*} G[0] & = e \\ G[1] & = (1,3,2)\\ G[2] & = (1,2,3) \\ G[3] &= (2,3)\\ G[4] &= (...
8 votes
2 answers
282 views

One element commutation classes of reduced decompositions of the longest element of the Weyl group

For the symmetric group on $n$ objects $S_n$ the question of how to write its longest element $w_0$ as a reduced decomposition is an important combinatorical problem. As example, in this question the ...
2 votes
0 answers
220 views

Characters of alternating groups

I am studying certain properties of characters of alternating groups and I have found precisely three characters not satisfying it up to $A_{15}$. These are: A character of dimension $3.696$ of $A_{...
2 votes
0 answers
132 views

Need for "minimal representation" of a symmetric group

I need to construct a representation of a symmetric group $S_n$, in which a character of the conjugacy class $(n)$ (a class of permutations, which are cycles of a maximal possible length $n$) would be ...
11 votes
1 answer
550 views

Probability of words summing to $1$ in $S_n$ or $\mathrm{PGL}_2(n)$

$\DeclareMathOperator\PGL{PGL}\DeclareMathOperator\Conj{Conj}$Let $G$ be the symmetric group $S_n$ or the projective general linear group $\PGL_2(n)$. Let $X$ be a cyclically reduced word in the ...
0 votes
1 answer
302 views

Lower bound of the largest irreducible character degree of alternating group $A_n$

$\newcommand\cd{\mathrm{cd}}$Let $A_m$ and $A_n$ be two alternating groups and $15\le m+2 \le n$. Denote $\cd_m$ and $\cd_n$ as the largest irreducible character degree of $A_m$ and $A_n$, ...
15 votes
1 answer
639 views

What is the centralizer of a Young subgroup of $S_n$?

In their celebrated paper "A new approach to the representation theory of the symmetric group. II", Okounkov and Vershik prove that $Z(n-1,1)$, the centralizer of $\mathbb{C}[S_{n-1}]$ in $\...
7 votes
2 answers
421 views

3-coloring the alternating group graph

Consider the alternating group graph, here defined as a Cayley graph on the alternating group $A_n$ using the generating set $\{(1,2,3),(1,2,4),\dotsc,(1,2,n),(1,n,2),\dotsc,(1,4,2),(1,3,2)\}$. Note ...
1 vote
1 answer
210 views

Words representations of elements of a symmetric group

Let $S=\{(1,2),(1,2,\ldots,n),(1,n,,n-1,\ldots,2)\}$ be a subset of the symmetric group $S_n$. Let $a=(1,2),b=(1,2,\ldots,n),c=(1,n,n-1\ldots,2)$ be the elements of $S$. My question is, since $S$ is a ...
1 vote
0 answers
103 views

Are there standard short notations for ascending and descending cyclic permutations?

In a paper I am currently writing I use cyclic permutations of the form $$ (k,k+1,\dots,\ell) $$ and $$ (\ell,\ell-1,\dots,k) $$ of consecutive elements quite a lot (I added the commas to avoid ...
6 votes
1 answer
542 views

Is there a classification of homomorphisms $S_n \to S_{n+k}$ for small $k$?

Homomorphisms $B_n \to B_{2n}$ and $B_n \to S_{2n}$ have been classified in Chen–Kordek–Margalit - Homomorphisms between braid groups and Lin - Braids and permutations respectively. I am interested in ...
20 votes
0 answers
451 views

Row of the character table of symmetric group with most negative entries

The row of the character table of $S_n$ corresponding to the trivial representation has all entries positive, and by orthogonality clearly it is the only one like this. Is it true that for $n\gg 0$, ...
6 votes
2 answers
325 views

Is there a combinatorial interpretation of this array in terms of $S_{2n+1}$?

I have recently encountered a triangular array $(a_{i,j})_{0\le i\le j}$, each line of which might (should?) have a combinatorial interpretation in terms of $S_{2n+1}$. Here it is (the first entry of ...
9 votes
2 answers
762 views

Solutions of $x^d=1$ in the symmetric group

L Moser and M Wyman, On solutions of $x^d = 1$ in symmetric groups, Canad. J. Math., 7 (1955), pages 159-168, explored asymptotic behavior of the cardinality of such permutations: $$f_d(n):=\#\{\pi\in\...
31 votes
2 answers
1k views

Does the symmetric group $S_{10}$ factor as a knit product of symmetric subgroups $S_6$ and $S_7$?

By knit product (alias: Zappa-Szép product), I mean a product $AB$ of subgroups for which $A\cap B=1$. In particular, note that neither subgroup is required to be normal, thus making this a ...
1 vote
2 answers
513 views

What are all the transitive extensions of cyclic groups?

"Let $G$ be a transitive group of permutations on a given set of letters. Let a new fixed letter be adjoined to every permutation of $G$. Then a transitive group $H$ of permutations on the ...
4 votes
1 answer
214 views

A transitive action on a specific set

Let $G$ be a finite group and $\lambda\in G$, consider a set $$D^{p+*}_{G}(\lambda):=\{P\in S^{p+*}_G|P^{\lambda}=P=[P,\lambda]\}$$ where: $S^{p+*}_{G}$ denotes the set consisting of all non-trivial $...
3 votes
0 answers
155 views

Braid 2-groups, symmetric 2-groups

Is there an object which can be called a "braid 2-group"? Or a "symmetric 2-group"? (Note: not a braided 2-group) I am ignorant about 2-categories but I hope that a good candidate ...
4 votes
1 answer
324 views

What is the $p$-regular partition corresponding to the sign representation of $S_{n}$ over a field of characteristic $p$?

I'm now interested in the modular representation of symmetric groups. It is well-known that for a fixed prime $p$, there is a bijection between the irreducible representations of $S_{n}$ over a field ...
3 votes
2 answers
448 views

Is there any simple formula for the character of $S_{n}$ represented by the set of $k$-tuples of $\{1,2,...,n\}$?

I'm interested in the representation theory of symmetric groups. I'm now trying to search for the formula for the characters of $\Omega^{k}$, the set of $k$-tuple of elements of $\Omega$ a set of $n$ ...
3 votes
0 answers
115 views

Reference for the Netto's theorem on the permutation groups which was mentioned in the paper of Frobenius

I'm trying to read 'Uber die Charaktere der mehrfach transitiven Gruppen' written by Frobenius. There he mentioned some theorems of Netto. I'm depending on the Google translator. and the translation ...
1 vote
0 answers
207 views

Irreducible representation of transposed Young diagram of $\mathfrak{S}_n$ [closed]

For a Young diagram $\lambda$, let $V_\lambda$ be an irreducible representation of $\mathfrak{S}_n$ corresponding to $\lambda$ (over $\mathbb{C}$). And denote the transpose of $\lambda$ by $\lambda^T$....
7 votes
1 answer
344 views

For which $n$ can $S_n$ act transitively on $n+k$ elements?

It is known that the symmetric group $S_n$ can act transitively on $n+1$ elements if and only if $n=5$. Are there similar classifications for $S_n$ acting transitively on $n+k$ elements, where $k$ is ...
10 votes
2 answers
547 views

Arbitrarily large finite irreducible matrix groups in odd dimension?

I consider a finite irreducible matrix group $\Gamma\subseteq\mathrm{GL}(\Bbb R^d)$. I am interested in the maximal size of $\Gamma$ depending on $d$. But this question makes only sense if there is an ...
1 vote
0 answers
213 views

Is there any research on the action of a subgroup on the whole finite group by conjugation?

I want to know whether there are any research on the orbits of the action of a subgroup by conjugation on the whole group, when the group is finite. (Especially whole symmetric group.) I'm especially ...
2 votes
1 answer
656 views

Combinatorial problem in $\mathsf{S}_4$

I am working on a problem in Combinatorial Group Theory related to a construction in Algebraic Geometry, and I would like to have a conceptual proof of the fact described below. I am looking for ...
3 votes
0 answers
157 views

Faithful representation into $\operatorname{GL}(9,3)$

Take $T=\big(\left< (123) \right> \times \left< (456) \right> \times \left< (789) \right>\big) \rtimes \left< (147)(258)(369) \right> \leq S_9$. Does there exist an injective ...
4 votes
0 answers
111 views

Question about generalizing Cauchy identity

One of the Cauchy identities says that $$\prod_{i,j}(1+x_iy_j) = \sum_\lambda s_\lambda (x_1, \cdots,x_m) s_{\lambda'} (y_1, \cdots,y_n) $$ Where $\lambda$ is a Young diagram, $\lambda'$ is the ...
3 votes
0 answers
400 views

Character table of the symmetric group $S_n$ according to James

In James, "The representation theory of the symmetric groups" an algorithm is described to produce the character table of a symmetric group. The proof involves the equation (pp. 22,23) $$\...
8 votes
2 answers
464 views

Faithful projective representations of symmetric groups

This is a reference request. Do you know where I can find the dimensions of the faithful projective representations of $S_n$ and $A_n$ for $n\ge 5$? Thank you in advance.