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4 votes
0 answers
120 views

Why are all "non-swinging" representations self-dual?

Let $\mathfrak{g}$ be a semisimple (say complex) Lie algebra, and $V$ an irreducible finite-dimensional representation of $\mathfrak{g}$. Denote by $w_0$ the longest element of the Weyl group, i.e. ...
7 votes
1 answer
741 views

Infinite dimensional representations of $\frak{sl}_2$

The finite-dimensional representations of a complex semisimple Lie algebra $\frak{g}$ are well known to be classifiable by their highest weight vectors, giving a convenient countable indexing set. I ...
3 votes
1 answer
221 views

Cartan subspace of graded Lie algebras

Suppose $\mathfrak{g}$ is a complex reductive Lie algebra and $\theta$ is an automorphism of order $2$. Let $\mathfrak{g} = \mathfrak{g_0} \oplus \mathfrak{g}_1$ be the corresponding $\mathbb Z_2$-...
3 votes
1 answer
280 views

Decomposition of tensor powers of the vector representation of $\frak{sl}_n$

Let $V(\pi_1)$ be the usual vector/matrix representation of the Lie algebra $\frak{sl}_n$, for $n > 2$. A basic fact is the tensor product $V(\pi_1) \otimes V(\pi_1)$ decomposes as $$ V(\pi_1) \...
1 vote
1 answer
189 views

Tensoring irreducible representations corresponding to root lattice elements

Let $\frak{g}$ be a complex semisimple Lie algebra with root lattice $Q$ and positive weight space $P^+$. Let $\lambda, \mu \in Q \cap P^+$, with corresponding respective fin-dim irreducible ...
0 votes
1 answer
130 views

Non-trivial weight spaces of finite-dimensional irreducible $\frak{g}$-modules

Let $\lambda \in \mathcal{P}^+$ be a dominant weight for $\frak{sl}(n,\mathbb{C})$. When does it hold that the zero weight space, of the associated finite-dimensional $L(\lambda)$, is non-trivial? ...
4 votes
1 answer
239 views

Number of representations of a semisimple Lie algebra of any given dimension

For a semisimple complex Lie algebra $\frak{g}$ it is well known that irreducible finite-dimensional representation are not characterised by their dimension. More formally, let us define an ...
4 votes
1 answer
278 views

Complexification of a Lie subalgebra of a compact real form

I'm currently reading the paper Lie algebra Cohomology and the Generalized Borel–Weil theorem written by B. Kostant, and I have a question about Remark 3.9 he made. In this paper, $\mathfrak{g}$ is a ...
3 votes
1 answer
147 views

Does every nilpotent orbit have an element supported on the simple root spaces?

Let $G$ be a connected reductive algebraic group (over $\mathbb{C}$) and $\mathfrak{g}$ its Lie algebra. Let $O \subset \mathfrak{g}$ be an orbit of a nilpotent element. Let $\Pi = \{\alpha_1, \dots ,\...
2 votes
1 answer
357 views

Tensor product of fundamental representations

Let $\mathfrak{g}$ be a simple complex Lie algebra. Let $V_1,\cdots, V_n$ be the fundamental representations (the irreducible ones with fundamental weights $\omega_1,\cdots,\omega_n$). Take a $k$-...
3 votes
1 answer
1k views

Highest weight orbit characterization (reformulated and extended)

Edit 1: I think that the question was not stated clearly enough so modified it a little. Edit 2: I thought over the physics that lies behind this question which led me to reformulation of the original ...
5 votes
3 answers
2k views

Complete classification of six dimensional non-semi simple Lie algebra

I would aim to know the complete classification of 6 dimensional non-semi simple Lie algebra (here the dimension stands for the generators; or the dimension $\leq 6$). In this paper, in page 7, it ...
4 votes
0 answers
111 views

How many diagrams interlace a given Young diagram?

For a fixed partition $\lambda=(\lambda_1\geq\dots\geq \lambda_n)$ we say $\mu=(\mu_1\geq \dots \geq \mu_{n-1})$ $\textit{interlaces}$ $\lambda$ iff $$\lambda_1\geq \mu_1\geq \dots \geq \mu_{n-1}\geq \...
12 votes
4 answers
1k views

Real and quaternionic representations according to weights

According to this question, it is easy to know whether a (complex, finite-dimensional) representation is self-dual or not: just check if the weight distribution in space is symmetric about the origin. ...
5 votes
1 answer
310 views

Non-standard partial orders on root systems

Let $\frak{g}$ be a semisimple complex Lie algebra and let $\Delta$ be its associated root system with $\{\alpha_1, \dotsc, \alpha_l\}$ a choice of positive roots. As we all know - $\Delta$ admits a ...
4 votes
1 answer
348 views

Verma modules and Borel–Weil

Let $\mathfrak{g}$ be a semisimple Lie algebra and fix a root system. Let $\mathfrak{b}:=\mathfrak{h}\oplus\bigoplus_{\alpha\in R^+}\mathfrak{g}_\alpha$. The complex irreducible representation of $\...
10 votes
0 answers
293 views

Each simple real Lie algebra as a representation of its maximal compact subalgebra

I am interested in a detailed description of the Cartan decomposition of each type of simple, real, finite-dimensional Lie algebra. (This is essentially a question about the classification of simple, ...
2 votes
2 answers
353 views

Particular reduced expression of the longest element of Weyl group

Let $I$ be the Dynkin diagram vertex set and $K$ be a proper nonempty subset of it. Let $w_0^K$ be the longest word of the Dynkin subdiagram $K$, which might be a disjoint union of connected Dynkin ...
2 votes
1 answer
219 views

Are finite-dimensional real representations of semisimple real Lie algebras completely reducible?

Suppose $\mathfrak{g}$ is a real form of a semisimple Lie algebra $\mathfrak{g}_\mathbb{C} = \mathfrak{g} \otimes_\mathbb{R} \mathbb{C}$. Then we have the following: There is an equivalence of ...
3 votes
1 answer
242 views

Notions of integrability for affine Lie algebras and positive energy representations

Let $\mathfrak{g}$ be a simple (complex) Lie algebra. Given an invariant bilinear form $\kappa : \mathfrak{g} \otimes \mathfrak{g} \to \mathbb{C}$, we can form the central extension $\hat{\mathfrak{g}}...
8 votes
2 answers
619 views

Relationship between $q$-Weyl dimension formula and $q$-analog of weight multiplicity?

$\DeclareMathOperator\dim{dim}$For a dominant (integral) weight $\lambda$ and any (integral) weight $\mu$ of a simple Lie algebra $\mathfrak{g}$, Lusztig's $q$-analog of weight multiplicty $K_{\lambda,...
0 votes
0 answers
132 views

Lie algebra action Whittaker model

Let $(\pi, H)$ be an irreducible unitary generic representation of $G=\operatorname{GL}(r,\mathbb{C})$ and let $H^{\infty}$ be its subspace of smooth vectors. Let $W :G\to\mathbb{C} $ be the Whittaker ...
2 votes
1 answer
160 views

Is the restriction of the Cartan 3-form on conjugacy classes exact?

Let $G$ be a complex semisimple group and $\mathcal{O} \subset G$ a conjugacy class, i.e. $\mathcal{O} = \{gag^{-1} : g \in G\}$ for some $a \in G$. Let $\Omega$ be the Cartan 3-form on $G$ defined by ...
4 votes
0 answers
128 views

Real Representation ring of $U(n)$ and the adjoint representation

I have two questions: It is well known that the complex representation ring $R(U(n))=\mathbb{Z}[\lambda_1,\cdots,\lambda_n,\lambda_n^{-1}]$, where $\lambda_1$ is the natural representation of $U(n)$ ...
17 votes
2 answers
2k views

Is every Lie subgroup of GL(V) isomorphic to a (maybe another) closed subgroup of GL(V)?

I am gathering material for an exposition and I note that some texts (e.g. Ise and Takeuchi, "Lie Groups I & II", Stillwell, "Naive Lie Theory", Hall, "Lie Groups, Lie Algebras, and ...
3 votes
1 answer
195 views

A representation of $\frak{sl}_n$ as partial derivatives on polynomials

As is known to all, the Lie algebra $\frak{sl}_2$ admits a very nice representation on $$ \mathbb{K}[X,Y] $$ the polynomials in two variables, given by $$ E \mapsto X\frac{\partial }{\partial Y}, ~~ F ...
4 votes
1 answer
230 views

Are isotypic components of $S(\mathfrak{g})$ finite-dimensional?

Let $\mathfrak{g}$ be a complex simple Lie algebra. Let $S(\mathfrak{g})$ be the algebra of polynomial functions on $\mathfrak{g}$, viewed as a $\mathfrak{g}$-representation. Are the isotypic ...
4 votes
0 answers
147 views

Is the homogeneous coordinate ring of a flag variety a UFD?

I was wondering if $G$ is a semisimple complex algebraic group, then is the homogeneous coordinate ring of a flag variety a UFD or not?
2 votes
0 answers
82 views

Question on a remark in Speh's paper

I am reading Birgit Speh's paper entitled "Unitary representations of Gl(n,R) with nontrivial (g,K)-cohomology" in Invent. Math. 71 (1983), no. 3, 443–465. In Remark 1.2.2.(b), it says that &...
1 vote
0 answers
138 views

When is the zero weight space of an irreducible $\frak{sl}_{n+1}$-module non-trivial?

Take the complex semisimple Lie algebra $\frak{sl}_{n+1}$, with space of dominant integral weights $P(\frak{sl}_{n+1})$. For $V(\lambda)$ the irreducible representation corresponding to $\lambda \in P(...
2 votes
1 answer
90 views

Non-isomorphic direct products of a solvable and a semisimple Lie algebra

Given a solvable Lie algebra $\frak{a}$ and a semisimple Lie algebra $\frak{g}$ we can take their semidirect product $\frak{a} \rtimes \frak{g}$, with respect to a Lie algebra map $\frak{g} \to \...
2 votes
0 answers
135 views

Fusion rules for the Lie algebra $\frak{so}_{2n+1}$

For the Lie algebra $\mathfrak{so}_{2n+1}$ where can I find a description of the fusion rules of it fundamental representations? In more detail: For $\pi_i$ and $\pi_j$ two fundamental weights of $\...
1 vote
0 answers
133 views

Irreducible unitary representations of $\mathrm{SL}(n,\mathbb R)$ from those of $\mathrm{GL}(n,\mathbb R)$

$\DeclareMathOperator\SL{SL}\DeclareMathOperator\GL{GL}$In the case of a non-Archimedean local field $\mathbb F$, one may reduce the representation theory of $\SL(n,\mathbb F)$ to that of $\GL(n,\...
2 votes
3 answers
367 views

Invariant subbundles of tangent bundle of flag variety

Suppose that $G$ is a complex semisimple Lie group, $P$ a parabolic subgroup of $G$. What are all of the $P$-invariant subspaces of $\mathfrak{g}/\mathfrak{p}$? In various low dimensional examples, I ...
5 votes
2 answers
849 views

Stabilizers for nilpotent adjoint orbits of semisimple groups

Let $G$ be a connected, simply-connected, complex, semisimple Lie group with Lie algebra $\frak{g}$. Suppose that $X\in\frak{g}$ is a nilpotent element (i.e. that $ad_X:\frak{g}\rightarrow\frak{g}$ is ...
5 votes
3 answers
1k views

Reg the motivation behind Lusztig-Vogan bijection

Let $G$ be an algebraic group. Choose a Borel subgroup $B$ and a maximal Torus $T \subset B$. Let $\Lambda$ be the set of weights wrt $T$ and let $\mathfrak{g}$ be the lie algebra of $G$. Now, ...
3 votes
0 answers
167 views

The subalgebras of $\mathfrak{su}(2^n)$

$\DeclareMathOperator\su{\mathfrak{su}}$I want to find out all the subalgebras of $\su(N)$, in particular, $N=2^n$, which is the Lie algebra of $n$-qubits. I don't know whether this is a hard question ...
0 votes
0 answers
228 views

How do I detect whether a representation is (or is not) the adjoint representation?

Let $(\mathfrak{g},[\cdot,\cdot])$ be a Lie algebra. There is a God-given representation of $\mathfrak{g}$, namely, the adjoint representation $\operatorname{ad} : \mathfrak{g} \to \operatorname{Der}(\...
2 votes
0 answers
69 views

Abelian category for $(\mathfrak{g},T)$ modules with nontrival Grothendieck group

Let $G$ be a reductive Lie group over $\mathbb{C}$, and write $\mathfrak{g}$ for its Lie algebra. Let $T\subseteq B\subseteq G$ be a maximal torus and Borel subgroup, where $\operatorname{Lie}B=\...
1 vote
1 answer
207 views

Character formula for the fundamental representations of $\frak{sl}_n$

For the Lie algebra $\frak{sl}_{n+1}$ we denote its fundamental irreducible representations by $V(\pi_i)$, with $i=1, \dots, n$. Where can I find a table of the character formula (in other words a ...
0 votes
1 answer
169 views

Representations of simply connected Lie groups [closed]

Let $G$ be a simply connected Lie group. Is it true that any finite dimensional representation of its Lie algebra is the differential of a representation of $G$? A reference would be helpful. Sorry if ...
3 votes
2 answers
649 views

Representations of $\mathrm{SO}_n$ versus representations of $\mathrm{Spin}_n$ [duplicate]

$\DeclareMathOperator\SO{SO}\DeclareMathOperator\Spin{Spin}$Since $\Spin_n$ is a compact simply connected simple Lie group, its irreducible representations are equivalent to the irreducible ...
2 votes
1 answer
261 views

Semisimple Lie algebra modules with $1$-dimensional weight spaces

Given a semisimple complex Lie algebra $\frak{g}$ of rank $r$, with Chevally generators $E_i,F_i,K_i$. Let $V$ be a finite dimensional representation of $\mathfrak{g}$ such that each weight space of $...
6 votes
2 answers
380 views

Rank one adjoint operators on a Lie algebra

Let $\mathfrak{g}$ be a (finite dimensional) semi-simple Lie algebra over a field $k$ and let $x \in \mathfrak{g}$. By definition, we have the equivalence: $$ \mathrm{rk}(\mathrm{ad}_x) = 0 \iff x = 0,...
6 votes
1 answer
1k views

Centralizers of nilpotent elements in semisimple Lie algebras

Let $G$ be a connected, simply-connected, complex, semisimple Lie group with Lie algebra $\frak{g}$, and let $\xi\in\frak{g}$ be a nilpotent element. I am interested in understanding the structure of $...
6 votes
1 answer
351 views

Necessary and sufficient conditions for Littlewood Richardson coefficients to be non zero

Is there any necessary and sufficient conditions for $V(\tau)$ to be an irreducible component of the tensor product of two irreducible representations $V(\lambda)$ and $V(\mu)$ of a simple lie algebra ...
7 votes
2 answers
775 views

Why is the generalized flag variety a “variety”?

In several places (for example, Chriss & Ginzburg’s book “Representation Theory and Complex Geometry”), the author says that the set $X$ of Borel subalgebras of a semi-simple Lie algebra $\...
0 votes
1 answer
187 views

Matrix representations of Lie groups of type $B_n$

For the Lie algebra $\mathfrak{so}(2n+1, \mathbb{C})$, there is a matrix representation given by the following matrices: \begin{align} \left( \begin{matrix} 0 & x & y \\ -y^T & A & B \\...
3 votes
1 answer
484 views

Relationship between the representation theory of $\operatorname{Spin}(n)$ and $\operatorname{SO}(n)$

$\DeclareMathOperator\SO{SO}\DeclareMathOperator\Spin{Spin}$What is the exact relationship between the finite dimensional representations of the group $\SO(n)$ and its covering group $\Spin(n)$? More ...
3 votes
1 answer
176 views

Example of a supersolvable Lie group/algebra whose nilradical does not have a complement

What is an example of a real solvable simply-connected Lie group $G$ whose nilradical does not have a complement (that is, $G$ is not a semidirect product of the nilradical and another subgroup)? Is ...