All Questions
74 questions
24
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Spin group as an automorphism group
Consider the real algebraic group $SO(p,q)$, this is the automorphism group of the vector space $\mathbb{R}^n$ of dimension $n=p+q$ over $\mathbb{R}$, endowed with the diagonal quadratic form with $p$...
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/...
15
votes
2
answers
613
views
Existence of a regular semisimple element over $\mathbb{F}_{q}$
This is probably old, a Chevalley level of old, but I'm not at all an expert in this field so I need help.
Let $G$ be a simply connected (almost) simple linear algebraic group defined over $K=\mathbb{...
11
votes
2
answers
934
views
Non-isomorphic complex Lie groups with the same exceptional Lie algebra for $\mathfrak{g_2,f_4,e_6,e_7,e_8}$?
An exceptional complex Lie algebra is a simple Lie algebra whose Dynkin diagram is of exceptional (nonclassical) type. There are exactly five such Lie algebras: $\mathfrak{g}_{2}$, ${\mathfrak {f}}_{4}...
11
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Finite subgroups of $PGL(3,K)$
It is well-known that finite subgroups of $PGL_2(\mathbb{C})$ are cyclic groups, dihedral groups, A4, S4 and A5 and each of these groups occurs exactly once (up to conjugacy). These facts are ...
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
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 ...
9
votes
2
answers
865
views
Multiplication in Peter-Weyl theorem
$\DeclareMathOperator\SL{SL}$It is known that the coordinate algebra $\mathcal O(\SL_n(\mathbb C))$ decomposes as direct sum of $V \otimes V^*$ for $V$ finite-dimensional irreducible representations ...
8
votes
1
answer
534
views
Representation theory of $\mathrm{GL}_n(\mathbb{Z})$
I want to understand the (complex) representation theory of $\mathrm{GL}_n(\mathbb{Z})$, the general linear group of the integers. I have gone through several representation theory texts but all of ...
8
votes
1
answer
337
views
What is the subgroup of $\mathrm{SL}(n,\mathbb{C})$ which preserves the discriminant?
$\DeclareMathOperator{\SL}{\operatorname{SL}}$Let $\mathcal{P}_{n-1}$ be the space of complex polynomials in one variable, say $z$, of degree at most $n-1$. As a complex vector space, it is clearly $n$...
8
votes
2
answers
482
views
Parabolics and simple roots for a special unitary group: reference request
I am looking for a reference where the relative root system, the relative system of simple roots, and parabolic $\Bbb R$-subgroups for the real algebraic group ${\rm SU}(p,q)$ are explicitly computed.
...
7
votes
1
answer
442
views
Does every cocompact lattice admit a homomorphism (with infinite image) into a compact Lie group?
Let $\Gamma$ be a cocompact arithmetic lattice in a semisimple algebraic group. Does it admit a homomorphism $\Gamma \to K$ with infinite image into a compact real Lie group $K$?
7
votes
1
answer
467
views
Finite index subgroup of $\mathrm{GL}_n(\Bbb C)$ and Chevalley groups
I'm trying to show that if $G$ is a Chevalley group, then every finite index subgroup of $G(\Bbb Z)$ is Zariski dense in $G(\Bbb C)$. ($G(\Bbb Z)$ is the Chevalley group over $\Bbb Z$ and similarly ...
7
votes
2
answers
231
views
Non-semisimple symmetric subgroups of simply connected simple algebraic groups
Let $G$ be a simply connected simple algebraic group over the field of complex numbers $\mathbb C$. Let $H$ be a symmetric subgroup of $G$. This means that there exists an automorphism of order 2 $\...
6
votes
1
answer
352
views
All surjections onto trivial irrep split equivalent to being reductive
$\DeclareMathOperator\Hom{Hom}$Let $ G $ be linear algebraic group over a field $ k $. Is it true that every short exact sequence of algebraic $ G $-representations
$$
0 \to W \to V \to k \to 0
$$
...
6
votes
1
answer
390
views
Can these two irreducible $GL_n \mathbb Z$-representations be isomorphic?
Fix $n\in \mathbb N$ and a partition $\lambda$ with at most $n-1$ parts (of length at most $n-1$). Let $V$ be the irreducible $GL_n \mathbb R$-representation with highest weight $\lambda$ and $D$ the ...
6
votes
1
answer
214
views
Are the integer matrices in SO(3,2) "boundedly generated"?
Let $G$ be the subgroup of integer matrices in $\mathrm{SO}(3,2)$.
(The invertible linear maps from a $5$ dimensional real vector space to itself which leave invariant a nondegenerate symmetric ...
6
votes
1
answer
658
views
Anti-holomorphic involutions of a complex linear algebraic group
Let $G$ be a connected linear algebraic group over the field of complex number ${\Bbb C}$.
Let $G({\Bbb C})$ denote the complex Lie group of ${\Bbb C}$-points of $G$.
Let $\sigma$ be an anti-...
6
votes
1
answer
255
views
Which Lie groups are a central extension of an algebraic group?
Suppose $G$ is a connected real Lie group. The quotient $G/Z(G)$ is the image of the adjoint representation, so a linear group. Is it known for which groups this quotient is Lie isomorphic to an ...
6
votes
0
answers
200
views
Why should Serre's conjecture on congruence subgroup property hold?
There seem to be several related properties of an algebraic group, exhibiting the dichotomy between rank 1 and rank $\ge2$.
Whether a lattice in the group satisfies the congruence subgroup property,
...
5
votes
2
answers
504
views
A finiteness property for semi-simple algebraic groups
Let $G$ be a semi-simple algebraic group over a field $K$, I am considering a question about whether there exists a finite set of semi-simple $K$-subgroups, say $H_1,...,H_r$, such that for any semi-...
5
votes
1
answer
420
views
Analogue of the special orthogonal group for singular quadratic forms
The special orthogonal group $SO(n)$ is the subgroup of the special linear group $SL(n)$ of $n\times n$ matrices with determinant one that preserve a non-degenerate symmetric bilinear form. If such a ...
5
votes
1
answer
729
views
The normalizer of block diagonal matrices
Let $G=\mathrm U_n$ or $\mathrm{GL}_n(\mathbf C)$ and $H$ the subgroup of block diagonal matrices respecting a partition $n=n_1+\dots+n_k$. Is the normalizer $N=N_G(H)$ computed anywhere in the ...
5
votes
0
answers
298
views
What are the matrix coefficients associated with the irreducible representations of compact real linear algebraic groups?
What are the matrix coefficients associated with the irreducible representations of a compact real linear algebraic group $G$?
Peter-Weyl tells us that $L^2(G)$ is the (closure of) $\bigoplus_\pi A_{\...
5
votes
0
answers
123
views
Conjugacy classes of plane k-jet group
Define $G(n, k)$ as a subgroup of $\rm{Aut}(\Bbb C[[x_1, \dots, x_n]]/\mathfrak m^{k+1})$ with identity linear part (so, group of $k$-jets of selfmaps of $\Bbb C^n$). I'm interested in the map from $G(...
5
votes
0
answers
140
views
Intermediate subgroups between $H(\mathbb{Z})$ and $H(\mathbb{Z}[\sqrt{2}])$, for anisotropic form of $SL_2$
Let $H$ be an anisotropic $\mathbb{Q}$-form of $SL_2$, with $H(\mathbb{R}) = SL_2(\mathbb{R})$.
Are there any results or conjecture regarding the existence, or non-existence of intermediate subgroups ...
4
votes
2
answers
578
views
Proper compact connected subgroup of $Spin(n)$
What are the proper compact connected subgroups of $Spin(n)$ of maximal rank where $Spin(n)$ is the spin group, that is, the universal cover of the special orthogonal group $SO(n)$?
In fact, I am ...
4
votes
1
answer
615
views
About the conjugation of semi-simple subgroups
Let $G$ be a semi-simple algebraic group over $\mathbb{Q}$, I would like to find an integer $d>0$ only depending on $G$ with the following property. For any two semi-simple $\mathbb{Q}$-subgroups $...
4
votes
1
answer
1k
views
How to think about the simple reflection $s_0$ in the affine Weyl group?
Let $G$ be a simply connected algebraic group over $\mathbb{C}$, $W$ be the Weyl group for $G$ and $W_{aff}$ be the affine Weyl group for the loop group $G(\mathbb{C}((t)))$, $\Phi$ be the coweight ...
4
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Center of the algebraic group $G_{\mathbb{R}}$ for a centerless $G$
This must be an easy question but I don't have a good argument for it and have not found a counterexample: Let $G$ be a connected semisimple algebraic group over $\mathbb{Q}$ such that the center of $...
4
votes
2
answers
181
views
The orbits of an algebraic action of a semidirect product of a unipotent group and a compact group are closed?
We consider real algebraic groups and real algebraic varieties. It is known that the orbits of an algebraic action of a unipotent algebraic group $U$ on an affine variety are closed. The orbits of an ...
4
votes
1
answer
436
views
Universal covering groups of simple linear algebraic group schemes
Let $R$ be a Dedekind domain with fraction field $K$, and let $G$ be a smooth affine group scheme over $S = \text{Spec }R$ whose geometric fibers are connected and simple linear algebraic groups (i.e.,...
4
votes
1
answer
119
views
Reference for nonquasi-split groups of type $E_6$ and $E_7$ over local fields
The semisimple groups over a local field have been classified by Tits, cf. [1] "Classification of algebraic semisimple groups" in Boulder and [2] "Reductive groups over local fields" in Corvallis.
In ...
4
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Dimension of Unipotent Radicals
A parabolic subgroup of a linear algebraic group $G$ defined over a field $k$ is a subgroup $P\subseteq G$, closed in the Zariski topology, for which the quotient space $G/P$ is a projective algebraic ...
4
votes
1
answer
171
views
Which Lie groups admit finite generation by a set of Lie algebra elements? And what are some known choices of generators which realize this?
Consider a (finite-dimensional) real connected Lie group $G$ with Lie algebra $\frak{g}$. Take a generating set $\mathcal{G} = \{ X_1, \cdots X_n \} $ of $\frak{g}$, i.e. such that any element of $\...
4
votes
1
answer
701
views
Centralizers of semisimple subgroups
$\DeclareMathOperator\GL{GL}$If $G$ is a simple Lie group, and $\rho: G \to \GL(V)$ is a representation, then by Schur's lemma, the group of automorphisms of $\rho$ is a reductive subgroup of $\GL(V)$....
4
votes
1
answer
350
views
A generalization of Siegel property
In reduction theory of arithmetic groups, one has the following finiteness property.
Proposition 1 (Siegel property). Let $G$ be a reductive group over $\mathbb{Q}$ and let $\Gamma\subset G(\mathbb{...
4
votes
1
answer
633
views
Homomorphisms from binary polyhedral group to compact Lie groups
Are homomorphisms from binary polyhedral groups to (simple and simply connected) compact Lie groups classified?
For cyclic groups, the result is well known (see e.g. Kac's "Infinite dimensional Lie ...
4
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Reductive Lie Groups and Complexification
Let $G$ be a complex Lie group (not necessarily connected) with reductive Lie algebra $\frak{g}$. (We may assume that $G$ has finitely many connected components and is linear-algebraic.) Of course, $G$...
4
votes
0
answers
93
views
Homomorphism from a product of spin groups to a bigger spin group
In the paper "Essential dimension of spinor and clifford groups" by Chernousov and Merkurjev, it says that there is a natural homomorphism
$\operatorname{Spin}(n)\times \operatorname{Spin}(m)...
4
votes
0
answers
180
views
Zariski density for certain subsemigroups
$\DeclareMathOperator\GL{GL}$Suppose that we have a Zariski-dense subgroup $\Gamma$ of $\GL(d,\mathbb{R})$. Let $\delta$ be the abscissa of convergence of the series
$$
\sum_{x \in \Gamma} e^{-s \log\|...
4
votes
0
answers
68
views
The weak restriction of the Jacquet module
Let $P= MN$ be a parabolic subgroup of a reductive p-adic group $G$, and $(\pi, V)$ is an irreducible, admissible representation of $G$. The Jacquet module is the representation $(\pi_N, V_N)$, where $...
3
votes
1
answer
276
views
For $G$ an adjoint Chevalley group, are all of $G(\mathbb Z)$'s finite-index subgroups congruence subgroups?
Let $G$ be an adjoint Chevalley group. Are all of $G(\mathbb Z)$'s finite-index subgroups congruence subgroups?
I read a theorem that states: When $G$ is the universal Chevalley group and it's not of ...
3
votes
2
answers
555
views
Counterexamples to Margulis Normal subgroup theorem in rank 1
Margulis' normal subgroup theorem states that any normal subgroup of a higher rank irreducible lattice is either finite or of finite index.
What are the known counter-examples in rank $1$ ?
I am ...
3
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Is there an almost-direct product decomposition for disconnected reductive algebraic groups?
$\textbf{Some definitions:}$
Let $G$ be an algebraic group (for me that is the complex points of an affine algebraic group). We say $G$ is reductive if its unipotent radical (maximal connected normal ...
3
votes
1
answer
2k
views
center of the centralizer of semisimple element
Let $G$ be an adjoint group over an algebraically closed field $k$ and $s\in G$ a semisimple element.
Let $H=C_{G}(s)^{0}$ the neutral component of the centralizer of $s$. Do we have that the center ...
3
votes
1
answer
269
views
A more precise description of conjugation of semi-simple subgroups
Let $G$ be a semi-simple algebraic group over $\mathbb{Q}$, I would like to find an integer $d>0$ only depending on $G$ with the following property. For any two semi-simple $\mathbb{Q}$-subgroups $...
3
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Examples of groups for which Margulis superrigidity theorem applies
I am not an expert at all in the subject of Lie groups, lattices, arithmetic groups and rigidity. But, lately I am interested in Margulis superrigidity theorem, which in most versions can be stated as ...
3
votes
0
answers
237
views
Centralizers and algebraic groups
Suppose $G$ is a linear algebraic group - I am also happy to assume $G$ is a simple algebraic group over an algebraically closed field of characteristic zero, but the question won't require this.
The ...
3
votes
0
answers
71
views
Conjugacy classes in reductive group under adjoint action of parabolic subgroup
Given a reductive group $G$ over a finite field and a parabolic subgroup $P$ , I wonder what are the orbits in $G$ under the adjoint action of $P$. This should be standard, but I can only find results ...