All Questions
Tagged with reference-request gr.group-theory
700 questions
9
votes
1
answer
271
views
Original references for the Hall - Witt identity
The group identity
$$
[[a,b^{-1}],c]^b \cdot [[b,c^{-1}],a]^c \cdot [[c,a^{-1}],b]^a = 1
$$
is commonly attributed to Hall and Witt (here $x^y:=y^{-1}xy$ and $[x,y]:=x^{-1}y^{-1}xy$). However, ...
- 17k
6
votes
1
answer
556
views
If G is an almost simple group, then Aut(G) is complete?
If G is an almost simple group, then Aut(G) is complete?
Apologies - I meant to post this on Stack Exchange
Just wondering if anyone has a reference to the above - it's quoted on Wikipedia (so ...
- 63
4
votes
2
answers
378
views
Splitting field for $\mathrm{GL}(2,p)$ - reference request
It seems to me from a quick glance at several sources describing the complex and modular irreducible representations of $\mathrm{GL}(2,p)$ that any field $K$ containing a primitive $(p-1)$-root of ...
- 38.6k
1
vote
0
answers
110
views
Character table of $\mathrm{P\Gamma L}_2(q)$ with $q$ even
Let $q = 2^f$ for some integer $f\geqslant 3$. The character table of $\mathrm{SL}_2(q)\cong\mathrm{PSL}_2(q)$ can be deduced from the character table of $\mathrm{GL}_2(q)$ (see, for example, Exercise ...
- 379
12
votes
2
answers
926
views
Finite groups with integral character table
The character table of a finite group will be called integral if all its entries are integers. There are $11$ such groups up to order $16$, namely $C_1$, $C_2$, $C_2^2$, $S_3$, $D_8$, $Q_8$, $C_2^3$, $...
9
votes
1
answer
409
views
The maximum order of torsion elements in ${\rm GL}_n(\mathbb{Z}_p)$ or ${\rm GL}_n(\mathbb{F}_p[[T]])$
This question is inspired by Upper bound on order of finite subgroups of GL_n(Z_p)?. It's showed that the supremum of orders of finite subgroups of ${\rm GL}_n(\mathbb{Z}_p)$ is finite and can be ...
- 863
2
votes
0
answers
137
views
$p$-adic Banach group algebra
Let $G$ be a discrete group. Consider the Banach $\mathbb{Z}_p$-algebra: $$c_0(G, \mathbb{Z}_p) = \{ F : G \to \mathbb{Z}_p \mid \lim_{g \to \infty} |F(g)|_p = 0 \}$$ with the product given by the ...
- 1,485
5
votes
1
answer
342
views
Product of all conjugacy classes
Related to this post of my coauthor Sebastien, I should also mention that one can also prove the following dual result:
For any finite group G, the following identity holds:
$$
\left(\prod_{j=0}^m \...
- 887
2
votes
0
answers
106
views
Hereditarily just-infinite pro-$2$ groups
An infinite profinite group $G$ is called just-infinite if all non-trivial closed normal subgroups of $G$ have finite index. A profinite group is called hereditarily just-infinite if every open ...
- 667
18
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Has anyone seen this construction of the Weil representation of $\mathrm{Sp}_{2k}(\mathbb{F}_p)$?
$\def\FF{\mathbb{F}}\def\CC{\mathbb{C}}\def\QQ{\mathbb{Q}}\def\Sp{\text{Sp}}\def\SL{\text{SL}}\def\GL{\text{GL}}\def\PGL{\text{PGL}}$Let $p$ be an odd prime. The Weil representation is a $p^k$-...
- 156k
11
votes
2
answers
523
views
Moments of character degrees - is this result new or folklore?
Context
$\DeclareMathOperator\cp{cp}\DeclareMathOperator\AM{AM}\DeclareMathOperator\A{A}$For a finite group $G$ and $k\in\mathbb R$, define
$$
m_k(G) = \frac{1}{|G|} \sum_{\pi\in\widehat{G}} (d_\pi)^{...
- 25.8k
52
votes
14
answers
14k
views
Introductory text on geometric group theory?
Can someone indicate me a good introductory text on geometric group theory?
16
votes
3
answers
2k
views
What are the main open problems in the theory of amenability of groups?
I have read the Paterson and Runde books about amenability of groups, but I do not know what are the most intriguing questions in this area today.
A survey or a list of questions would be welcome.
3
votes
1
answer
271
views
Passing to normal forms in graphs of groups
Given a word $w \in X^{\pm 1}$ representing an element of the free group $F(X)$ there is a (usually non-unique) sequence $w=w_0 \to w_1 \to \cdots \to w_r$ with $|w_i|>|w_{i+1}|$ where $w_r$ is the ...
- 1,033
7
votes
2
answers
917
views
Is this exact sequence known?
$\newcommand{\Tors}{{\rm Tors}}
\newcommand{\tf}{{\rm\, t.f.}}
\newcommand{\Gt}{{\Gamma\!,\,\Tors}}
\newcommand{\Gtf}{{\Gamma\!,\tf}}
\newcommand{\Q}{{\mathbb Q}}
\newcommand{\Z}{{\mathbb Z}}
\...
- 14.2k
6
votes
0
answers
236
views
Group homomorphism from $\mathrm{GL}_p$ to $\mathrm{SL}_p$ in characteristic $p$
If $k$ is a commutative field of characteristic $p>0$, then the map
$$ \theta \colon \mathrm{GL}_p(k) \to \mathrm{SL}_p(k) \colon A = (a_{ij}) \mapsto (\det A)^{-1} (a_{ij}^p) $$
is a group ...
- 6,614
11
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Classification of (not necessarily connected) compact Lie groups
I am looking for a classification of compact (not necessarily connected) Lie groups. Clearly, all such groups are extensions of a finite "component group" $\pi_0(G)$ by a compact connected ...
- 473
12
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Is there an eigenvalue of modulus larger than 1?
Given a matrix $A\in \operatorname{SL}_d(\mathbb{Z})$ (the special linear group) satisfying the two conditions: (1) no eigenvalue of $A$ is a root of unity, (2) the characteristic polynomial of $A$ is ...
- 43.2k
4
votes
1
answer
326
views
Is a Lie subgroup whose center is closed, a closed subgroup itself?
I want to show that a certain Lie subgroup (i.e. generated by the exponential of elements in some Lie subalgebra) of a Lie group is closed. My knowledge of the subject of Lie groups is rudimentary, ...
- 4,304
5
votes
0
answers
351
views
Adjoint identity on finite nilpotent groups
Let $G$ be a finite nilpotent group. Consider the following (adjoint) identity from [BuPa, Theorem 9.6]:
$$\left(\prod_{\chi \in \mathrm{Irr}(G)} \frac{\chi}{\chi(1)} \right)^2 =\frac{|Z(G)|}{|G|}\...
3
votes
1
answer
248
views
Identifying group extension from cohomology class of $D_8$
I have the following problem. It is well known that $H^\ast(D_8,\mathbb{Z}/2)\cong \mathbb{F}_2[x,y,w]/(xy=0)$ with $|x|=|y|=1$ and $|w|=2$ (see Adem,Milgram "Cohomology of finite groups"). ...
- 1,759
9
votes
3
answers
548
views
Spectral radius of a finitely generated group
Let $G$ be a finitely generated group and $\Gamma$ be its Cayley graph with the usual word metric. Let $\mu$ be a symmetric non-degenerate measure on $G$ (maybe with finite support or smooth), and ...
- 1,407
2
votes
0
answers
88
views
Simple modules and trivial source modules
Let $(K,\mathcal{O},k)$ be a large enough $p$-modular system.
In this context, I would like to ask what is known about the following question:
when are simple $kG$-modules trivial source modules?
So ...
- 1,755
1
vote
0
answers
83
views
$p$-modular splitting systems and the characteristic of the ring $\mathcal{O}$
Let $k=\overline{k}$ be a field of characteristic $p$.
Let $(K,\mathcal{O},k)$ be a $p$-modular system.
Let both $k$ and $K$ be splitting fields for $G$ and its subgroups.
The ring $\mathcal{O}$ can ...
- 311
11
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Are groups determined by their morphisms from solvable groups?
$\newcommand{\Grp}{\mathrm{Grp}}$Consider the category of groups $\Grp$, and within it we have the solvable groups $S$. Then any group $G$ determines the functor from solvable groups: $$h_G:=\text{hom}...
- 1,949
8
votes
1
answer
319
views
"Novelty" maximal subgroups in $S_n$
What are the maximal subgroups $M < S_n$ such that $M \cap A_n$ is not maximal in $A_n$?
Maximal subgroups of $S_n$ are described by the O'Nan-Scott theorem and very extensively studied in many ...
- 2,821
35
votes
7
answers
4k
views
Paradoxical Mathematical Objects Pending for Construction [duplicate]
The possible properties and applications of some mathematical objects have been described far before their rigorous mathematical definition. Some of them even had a seemingly paradoxical description ...
3
votes
0
answers
145
views
Reference showing no proper subgroups of p-adic orthogonal groups surject onto mod p orthogonal groups
I am looking for a reference for the following statement:
Let $O$ be an orthogonal group associated to a nondegenerate quadratic form of rank $r$ over the p-adic integers $\mathbb Z_p$. Suppose $r$ is ...
- 1,308
9
votes
1
answer
309
views
Comparing cohomology of a total complex with the cohomology of semidirect product
$\DeclareMathOperator{\Tot}{Tot}$I have the following problem. Let $H$ and $G$ be groups such that $H$ acts on $G$, i.e., there exists a group homomorphism $H\to \mathrm{Aut}(G)$ and let $M$ be an ...
- 1,759
3
votes
0
answers
233
views
A bridge between the algebraic / differential geometry of $\frak{sl}_2(\mathbb{C})$ and the Sheffer-Appell calculus and combinatorics
In "Four examples of Beilinson-Bernstein localization", Anna Romanov introduces the basis
$m_k = \frac{(-1)^k}{k!} \partial^k \delta $
on p. 9, where $\partial$ is a partial derivative and $\...
- 10.5k
1
vote
0
answers
98
views
Existence of countable dense normal subgroups of global Galois group
Let $K$ be a number field, $S$ a finite set of primes of $K$ and $ G_{K,S} $ the Galois group of the maximal extension of $ K $ (inside a fixed algebraic closure of $K$) unramified outside $ S $. In ...
- 863
41
votes
8
answers
17k
views
What are some good group theory references?
I'm curious about what books people use for a group theory reference. I don't currently own a dedicated group theory book, and I think I'd find such a book very helpful in my research. What is your ...
3
votes
1
answer
216
views
Reference request: Serre's Groupes discrets
I'm reading some articles and at some point they both reference:
J-P. Serre: Groupes discrets (in collaboration with H. Bass),
Collège de France, 1969
However I have trouble finding this reference. ...
- 2,224
4
votes
1
answer
274
views
Wedderburn decomposition of special linear groups
$\DeclareMathOperator\SL{SL}\newcommand\card[1]{\lvert#1\rvert}$I want to study about Wedderburn decomposition of group algebra $k\SL(n,\mathbb{F}_p)$ where $k$ is either an algebraically closed field ...
- 249
2
votes
0
answers
408
views
Conceptual proof of fundamental theorem of finite abelian groups
I'm looking for a conceptual proof of the following statement:
Lemma: Let $G$ be a finite abelian $p$-group. Let $a$ be an element of maximal order. Then $G=\langle a \rangle \times H$ for some ...
- 2,751
9
votes
1
answer
230
views
Yang-Mills algebra and lower central series of surface groups
Here is a connection that I recently noticed, but I haven't quite been able to make sense of. It might follow from well-known facts; apologies, if so. This is quite far from my area.
First, in "...
10
votes
2
answers
932
views
On the Galois group of the compositions of polynomials
We reprint an old math SE question here (see https://math.stackexchange.com/questions/1241224/composition-of-polynomials-and-galois-theory):
"
Let $f(x)$ be a polynomial of degree $n$ over $\...
- 1,755
62
votes
9
answers
9k
views
Fundamental groups of noncompact surfaces
I got fantastic answers to my previous question (about modern references for the fact that surfaces can be triangulated), so I thought I'd ask a related question. A basic fact about surface topology ...
- 44.8k
1
vote
0
answers
203
views
Units in group rings in SAGE
Is there a recorded/known SAGE code to compute units in integral group rings for finite abelian groups ?
I would be happy with a code that only works for cyclic groups. I sort of know how to ...
- 15.9k
22
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Roadmap to learning the classification of finite simple groups
I want to learn the classification of finite simple groups. But it is often commented that it is a theorem spanning tens of thousands of pages of research papers. So it is quite intimidating to an ...
- 820
2
votes
1
answer
554
views
Growth rate of an outer automorphism of a free product
$\DeclareMathOperator\Out{Out}$Let $G=G_1\ast\cdots\ast G_k\ast F_p$ be a Grushko decomposition of a finitely generated group $G$, $\mathcal{O}$ the outer space relative to this decomposition, $[\phi]\...
- 257
1
vote
0
answers
120
views
Multiplicativity of Euler–Poincaré characteristics of cohomology of pro-$p$ groups
While reading a paper, I found a mentioning that for an extension $1 \rightarrow H \rightarrow G \rightarrow N \rightarrow 1$ of pro-$p$ groups, the Euler–Poincaré characteristics $\chi(H)$, $\chi(G)$,...
- 1,013
1
vote
1
answer
260
views
A group-theoretic lemma in a paper by Ershov and He
In the proof of Lemma 2.1 in
Ershov, Mikhail; He, Sue, On finiteness properties of the Johnson filtrations, ZBL06904638,
the authors claim the following (without proof).
Let $G$ be a finitely ...
- 1,317
4
votes
0
answers
271
views
Automorphism-conjugacy
If $G$ is a group, we can say $g$ is automorphism-conjugate to $f$ if there is a group automorphism $\alpha : G \to G$ such that $g = \alpha(f)$. This is an equivalence relation.
Is there a standard ...
- 6,652
3
votes
1
answer
375
views
Reference for triangle groups
Can anyone suggest to me some references for studying triangle groups? Especially the existence of finite index subgroups, subgroups isomorphic to fundamental groups of compact surfaces etc.
- 613
7
votes
2
answers
713
views
Total sum of squares of characters of the symmetric group $\mathfrak{S}_n$
In my earlier MO post, I proposed the double sum $\sum_{\mu\vdash n}\sum_{\lambda\vdash n}\chi_{\mu}^{\lambda}$ regarding characters of the symmetric group $\mathfrak{S}_n$. Soon after, I started ...
- 43.2k
15
votes
4
answers
869
views
What is known about ordinary character values at involutions?
Let $G$ be a finite group and let $\chi$ be the character of an irreducible complex representation $\rho$ of $G$ on $V$.
Let $x$ be an involution in $G$.
I'd like to ask the following
Question 1:
...
- 1,755
1
vote
0
answers
116
views
List of automorphism groups of low-dimensional complex commutative algebras?
Let $\mathcal{A}$ be a finite-dimensional commutative associative unital $\mathbb{C}$-algebra. I am looking for a list (of further examples of) $\operatorname{Aut}_\mathbb{C}(\mathcal{A})$, the group ...
- 7,127
3
votes
0
answers
463
views
Representations of triangle groups
$\DeclareMathOperator\SU{SU}\DeclareMathOperator\PSL{PSL}$I am self-studying triangle groups and the following question comes up.
Let $G$ denotes $(2,3,7)$ triangle group. It is symmetry group of $(2,...
- 613
9
votes
1
answer
410
views
On a result by Rubin on elementary equivalence of homeomorphism groups and homeomorphisms of the underlying spaces
In the known paper On the reconstruction of topological spaces from their group of homeomorphisms by Matatyahu Rubin several deep reconstruction theorems of the form "if $X$ and $Y$ are ...
- 3,011