All Questions
724 questions
42
votes
6
answers
7k
views
An algebra of "integrals"
When discussing divergent integrals with people, I got curious about the following:
Is there an $\mathbb{R}$-algebra $A$ together with a map (could be defined on just a subspace)
$$\int_0^{\infty}: ...
- 3,806
87
votes
5
answers
10k
views
When is $A$ isomorphic to $A^3$?
This is totally elementary, but I have no idea how to solve it: let $A$ be an abelian group such that $A$ is isomorphic to $A^3$. is then $A$ isomorphic to $A^2$? probably no, but how construct a ...
- 63.1k
149
votes
7
answers
23k
views
Homotopy groups of Lie groups
Several times I've heard the claim that any Lie group $G$ has trivial second fundamental group $\pi_2(G)$, but I have never actually come across a proof of this fact. Is there a nice argument, ...
- 4,014
28
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Codimension of the range of certain linear operators
Added:8/15/2024 What about holomorphic or real analytic version? Please see the comment discussions on this post.
Assume that $P(x,y), Q(x,y) \in \mathbb{R}[x,y]$ are two polynomials. We ...
- 356
94
votes
2
answers
7k
views
$A$ is isomorphic to $A \oplus \mathbb{Z}^2$, but not to $A \oplus \mathbb{Z}$
Are there abelian groups $A$ with $A \cong A \oplus \mathbb{Z}^2$ and $A \not\cong A \oplus \mathbb{Z}$?
- 63.1k
48
votes
7
answers
15k
views
Classification of (compact) Lie groups
I would like to study/understand the (complete) classification of compact lie groups. I know there are a lot of books on this subject, but I'd like to hear what's the best route I can follow (in your ...
12
votes
1
answer
978
views
How are Sheffer polynomials related to Lie theory?
Sheffer polynomials $\{P_n(x)\}$ have generating function $P(x,t) = \sum_{n=0}^{\infty}P_n(x)t^n=A(t)e^{xu(t)}$.
This form reminds me of the Lie group–Lie algebra correspondence. Is there any ...
123
votes
18
answers
14k
views
How do you decide whether a question in abstract algebra is worth studying?
Dear MO-community, I am not sure how mature my view on this is and I might say some things that are controversial. I welcome contradicting views. In any case, I find it important to clarify this in my ...
78
votes
7
answers
8k
views
Example of a manifold which is not a homogeneous space of any Lie group
Every manifold that I ever met in a differential geometry class was a homogeneous space: spheres, tori, Grassmannians, flag manifolds, Stiefel manifolds, etc. What is an example of a connected smooth ...
- 8,559
64
votes
4
answers
8k
views
What is the current status of the Kaplansky zero-divisor conjecture for group rings?
Let $K$ be a field and $G$ a group. The so called zero-divisor conjecture for group rings asserts that the group ring $K[G]$ is a domain if and only if $G$ is a torsion-free group.
A couple of good ...
- 1,065
36
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Whence “homomorphism” and “homomorphic”?
Today homomorphism (resp. isomorphism) means what Jordan (1870) had called isomorphism (resp. holoedric isomorphism). How did the switch happen?
“Homomorphic” (and “homomorphism” as “property of being ...
- 31.5k
25
votes
6
answers
7k
views
prime ideals in C([0,1])
It is clear that each maximal ideal in ring of continuous functions over $[0,1]\subset \mathbb R$ corresponds to a point and vice-versa.
So, for each ideal $I$ define $Z(I) =\{x\in [0,1]\,|\,f(x)=0, ...
- 5,053
12
votes
1
answer
2k
views
unitary irreps of O(p,q)
I am interested in the irreducible unitary representations of the orthogonal groups $O(p,q)$. By $O(p,q)$ I mean the real Lie groups which preserve the quadratic form of signature $(p,q)$ in $\mathbb{...
- 295
5
votes
1
answer
243
views
Terminology for a monoid $H$ s.t. $xy \in H^\times$ only if $x, y \in H^\times$
The title has it all. Is there any consolidated terminology for referring to a (multiplicative) monoid $H$ such that $xy \in H^\times$ (if and) only if $x, y \in H^\times$? Here is a short list of ...
- 10.5k
3
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Are there infinitely many L-rigs?
$\DeclareMathOperator{\Q}{\mathbb{Q}}$Call "L-rig" any class $\mathcal{L}$ of L-functions of automorphic representations of $\operatorname{GL}_{n}(\mathbb{A}_{\Q})$ for some $n$ belonging to ...
- 6,974
95
votes
11
answers
6k
views
Can a non-surjective polynomial map from an infinite field to itself miss only finitely many points?
Is there an infinite field $k$ together with a polynomial $f \in k[x]$ such that the associated map $f \colon k \to k$ is not surjective but misses only finitely many elements in $k$ (i.e. only ...
- 2,600
39
votes
5
answers
5k
views
When does a ring surjection imply a surjection of the group of units?
The following might be a very trivial question. If so, I don't mind it being closed, but would appreciate a reference where I could read about it.
Let $R$ and $S$ be commutative rings and let $R^\...
- 33.3k
30
votes
2
answers
3k
views
In any Lie group with finitely many connected components, does there exist a finite subgroup which meets every component?
This question concerns a statement in a short paper by S. P. Wang titled “A note on free subgroups in linear groups" from 1981. The main result of this paper is the following theorem.
Theorem (Wang, ...
- 2,374
22
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Can we realize Weyl group as a subgroup?
Given a semisimple Lie group G, let T be a maximal torus, W be the Weyl group defined as the quotient N(T)/C(T), where N(T) denotes the normalizer of T and C(T) denotes the centralizer.
Two ...
- 2,709
17
votes
1
answer
502
views
Irreducibility of root-height generating polynomial
The height $ht(\alpha)$ of a positive root $\alpha$ in a (finite, crystallographic) root system $\Phi$ is $\sum_{i=1}^n c_i$ where $\alpha = \sum_{i=1}^n c_i \alpha_i$ is its decomposition as a sum of ...
- 2,753
16
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Are there non-reflexive modules isomorphic to their bi-dual?
Let $M$ be an $R$-module. We say that $M$ is reflexive if the natural map $M\rightarrow M^{**}$ is an isomorphism.
I'd like to know if there exists a module isomorphic to its bi-dual but not ...
- 279
14
votes
2
answers
2k
views
If compact connected Lie groups are homeomorphic as topological space, are they isomorphic as Lie groups?
Let $G_{1}$ and $G_{2}$ be compact connected Lie groups.
If $G_{1}$ and $G_{2}$ are homeomorphic as topological spaces, are
they isomorphic as Lie groups?
- 491
14
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Finite dimensional real division algebras
A celebrated theorem of Milnor and Kervaire asserts that any finite dimensional (not necessarily associative, unital) division algebra over the real numbers has dimension 1,2,4 or 8. This result is ...
- 2,550
10
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Left invariant metric on ${\rm SL}_n(\mathbb{R})$
I am looking for a left invariant metric on $SL_n(\mathbb{R})$. If this is not possible, it would be acceptable to have a metric on $SL_n(\mathbb{R})/SO_n(\mathbb{R})$ or something like that. Is there ...
- 109
7
votes
1
answer
566
views
Is there an integral fusion ring which is not of Frobenius type?
Combinatorially, a fusion ring $\mathcal{F}$ is nothing but a finite set $B=\{b_1, \dots, b_r\}$ (generating the $\mathbb{Z}$-module $\mathbb{Z} B$) together with fusion rules: $$ b_i \cdot b_j = \...
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-...
- 199
2
votes
1
answer
211
views
Terminology for a monoid $(H, \cdot)$ s.t. $ax=a$ or $xa =a$ only if $x$ is a unit
Let $(H, \cdot)$ be a (multiplicative) monoid. Is there any consolidated name for the following Property $\text{(P)}$, or for the class of monoids for which it is satisfied?
$$\text{(P) If }\,xy = x\...
- 10.5k
77
votes
7
answers
21k
views
What is the symbol of a differential operator?
I find Wikipedia's discussion of symbols of differential operators a bit impenetrable, and Google doesn't seem to turn up useful links, so I'm hoping someone can point me to a more pedantic discussion....
- 54.6k
53
votes
5
answers
8k
views
Beautiful descriptions of exceptional groups
I'm curious about the beautiful descriptions of exceptional simple complex Lie groups and algebras (and maybe their compact forms). By beautiful I mean: simple (not complicated - it means that we need ...
- 1,422
52
votes
2
answers
5k
views
Is there a good mathematical explanation for why orbital lengths in the periodic table are perfect squares doubled?
$\DeclareMathOperator\SO{SO}\newcommand{\R}{\mathbb{R}}\newcommand{\S}{\mathbb{S}}$The periodic table of elements has row lengths $2, 8, 8, 18, 18, 32, \ldots $, i.e., perfect squares doubled. The ...
- 541
33
votes
2
answers
7k
views
Dimension of infinite product of vector spaces
This question is motivated by the question link text, which compares the infinite direct sum and the infinite direct product of a ring.
It is well-known that an infinite dimensional vector space is ...
- 20.8k
31
votes
6
answers
2k
views
Bass' stable range of $\mathbf Z[X]$
Let $n$ be a positive integer and $A$ be a commutative ring. The ring $A$ is said to be of Bass stable range $\mathrm{sr}(A)\leq n$ if for $a, a_1, \dots, a_n \in A$ one has the following implication:
...
- 2,521
28
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Does GL_n(Z) have a noetherian group ring?
Has the (left, right, 2-sided) noetherian property of the integral group ring of arithmetic groups like $GL_n(Z)$ been considered in the literature?
Motivation: a recent trend has been to study "...
- 10.7k
26
votes
7
answers
5k
views
Commutative subalgebras of M_n
For a given $n$, is there any characterization for the commutative subalgebras of $M_n(\Bbb{C})$? I would like to know how many commutative subalgebras there are for each possible dimension.
In view ...
- 397
23
votes
1
answer
3k
views
What is the status of the Friedlander-Milnor conjecture today?
For the purposes of this question, the Friedlander-Milnor (FM) conjecture asserts an equality of the group homology for algebraic groups, and their discretizations in the following sense:
Conjecture ...
- 231
22
votes
1
answer
2k
views
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 ...
- 27.8k
22
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Weyl group actions on 0-weight spaces
For a complex simple Lie group G with a maximal torus T, we can take a highest-weight representation V of G and look at the 0-weight space, i.e. the subspace of V of elements invariant under T. This ...
- 301
19
votes
3
answers
5k
views
What is the outer automorphism group of SU(n)?
All the automorphisms of $SU(2)$ seem to be inner, which would mean that $\mathrm{Out}$ $SU(2)$ is trivial. Is that correct? Is this true in general $SU(n)$? I can't quite see -- any thoughts would be ...
- 657
19
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Exotic smooth structures on Lie groups?
If a topological group $G$ is also a topological manifold, it is well-known (Hilbert's 5th Probelm) that there is a unique analytic structure making it a Lie group.
However, for a compact Lie group $...
- 783
18
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Finite non-commutative ring with few invertible (unit) elements
for a ring $R$ with unity , let $U(R)$ denote the group of units of $R$ . Now there are lots of finite commutative rings, of arbitrarily high order, with exactly one unit ; indeed $U(R)=1$ for a ...
user111524
17
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Characterising categories of vector spaces
Consider the category $FdVect_k$ of finite dimensional $k$-vector spaces, for some given field. It is abelian, semisimple, in that each object is a finite sum of simple objects (of which there is only ...
- 35.5k
13
votes
3
answers
950
views
Nearby homomorphisms from compact Lie groups are conjugate
I'm looking for a proof (that I can understand) of the following fact: If $K$ and $G$ are Lie groups, and $K$ is compact, then nearby homomorphisms $K\to G$ are conjugate.
That is, if $\mathrm{Hom}(...
- 27.2k
13
votes
3
answers
678
views
IBN for algebraic theories
Let us say that a finitary algebraic theory $\tau$ has IBN (invariant basis number) if the free functor $F : \mathsf{Set} \to \mathsf{Mod}(\tau)$ reflects the isomorphism relation: If $S,T$ are sets ...
- 63.1k
13
votes
4
answers
5k
views
Fundamental group of Lie groups
Let $T$ be a torus $V/\Gamma$, $\gamma$ a loop on $T$ based at the origin. Then it is easy to see that $$2 \gamma = \gamma \ast \gamma \in \pi_1(T).$$
Here $2 \gamma$ is obtained by rescaling $\gamma$...
- 14.7k
13
votes
1
answer
5k
views
What are tame and wild hereditary algebras?
What are tame and wild hereditary algebras?
Are they related to hereditary rings? (Those are rings for which every left (resp. right) ideal is projective, equivalently, for which every left (resp. ...
- 2,992
12
votes
1
answer
922
views
Does this algebra have finite global dimension ? (Human vs computer)
Usually computers can calculate the global dimension of a finite dimensional quiver algebra much faster than humans. But in this case a high end computer (calculating for 3 weeks) was not able to ...
- 26.5k
12
votes
2
answers
2k
views
A decomposition of the "spin representation" of SL(2)
Let us take an N-dimensional (N odd) irreducible representation V of SL(2,R).
It is known that (e.g., Lie groups and Lie algebras III by Vinberg and Onischik, 1994 p. 94) in V there is an invariant ...
- 1,765
12
votes
5
answers
5k
views
reduced ⊗ reduced = reduced; what about connected?
Several questions actually.
All rings and algebras are supposed to be commutative and with $1$ here.
(1) Let $k$ be a field, and let $A$ and $B$ be two $k$-algebras. I need a proof that if $A$ and $...
- 33.8k
10
votes
3
answers
1k
views
About the classification of commutative and of cocommutative, fin. dim. Hopf algebras
I want to prove that the cocommutative finite dimensional Hopf algebras over an algebraically closed field of characteristic zero are group algebras (for some finite group) and that the commutative f....
- 7,746
10
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Quotient space of $\mathbb{C}^5$ under the action of $SL(2,\mathbb{C})$
One sees that given the $SL(2,\mathbb{C})$ action on $\mathbb{C}^5$, thought of as the space of polynomials of the form,
$$a_0 x^4 + 4a_1 x^3 y + 6a_2x^2y^2 + 4a_3xy^3 + a_4 y^4$$
the ring of ...
- 3,541