All Questions
Tagged with rt.representation-theory at.algebraic-topology
142 questions
44
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Why can't we take three loops?
Apologies for the vague title and soft question. According to Etingof, Igor Frenkel once suggested that there are three "levels" to Lie theory, which I guess could be given the following names:
No ...
- 118k
34
votes
4
answers
8k
views
Cohomology of Flag Varieties
For $K$ a compact Lie-group with maximal torus $T$, I'd like to know the cohomology $\text{H}^{\ast}(K/T)$ of the flag variety $K/T$.
If I'm not mistaken, this should be isomorphic to the algebra of ...
- 2,756
30
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Are homeomorphic representations isomorphic?
Let $G$ be a finite group. Let $V_1, V_2$ be two finite-dimensional real representations. Suppose $f: V_1 \to V_2$ is a $G$-equivariant homeomorphism. Can one conclude that $V_1$ and $V_2$ are ...
- 803
25
votes
8
answers
2k
views
Avatars of the ring of symmetric polynomials
I'm collecting different apparently unrelated ways in which the ring (or rather Hopf algebra with $\langle,\rangle$) of symmetric functions $Z[e_1,e_2,\ldots]$ turns up (for a Lie groups course I will ...
- 20.7k
25
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Adams Operations on $K$-theory and $R(G)$
One of the slickest things to happen to topology was the proof of the Hopf invariant one using Adams operations in $K$-theory. The general idea is that the ring $K(X)$ admits operations $\psi^k$ that ...
- 2,327
20
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Center of a simply-connected simple compact Lie group and McKay correspondence
Let $G$ be a simply-connected simple compact Lie group. Its center $Z(G)$ is a finite abelian group, say $Z(G) = \mathbb Z/k\mathbb Z$ for $G=SU(k)$.
I find the following interpretation of $Z(G)$ in ...
- 3,051
20
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Is there any "deep" relation between the localization theorem of equivariant cohomology and the localization theorem of equivariant K-theory
First let's consider equivariant cohomology: if a compact Lie group $G$ acts on a compact manifold $M$. We have the equivariant cohomology $ H_G(M)$ defined as the cohomology of the cochain complex $((...
- 9,019
20
votes
0
answers
445
views
Which classes in $\mathrm{H}^4(B\mathrm{Exceptional}; \mathbb{Z})$ are classical characteristic classes?
Let $G$ be a compact connected Lie group. Recall that $\mathrm{H}^4(\mathrm{B}G;\mathbb{Z})$ is then a free abelian group of finite rank. Let us say that a class $c \in \mathrm{H}^4(\mathrm{B}G;\...
- 54.6k
19
votes
1
answer
747
views
What's the relationship between these two isomorphisms involving G and T?
Let $G$ be a compact connected Lie group with maximal torus $T$ and Weyl group $W$. Recall the following two isomorphisms.
Isomorphism 1: $R(G) \cong R(T)^W$, where $R(-)$ denotes the representation ...
- 118k
18
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Virasoro action on the elliptic cohomology
I'm trying to understand better the mathematical notion of elliptic cohomology. Note that I only know the physics definition of the elliptic genus given in Witten's paper.
Let $X$ be a Calabi-Yau ...
- 6,123
18
votes
1
answer
770
views
Koszul complex for non-Koszul algebras
Let $A$ be a graded, connected, locally finite, quadratic algebra over a field $k$; that is, $A$ may be presented as $T(V)/I$, where $V = A_1$ is a finite dimensional $k$ vector space, and the ideal $...
- 4,133
17
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Poincare dual in equivariant (co)homology?
Let $G$ be a compact Lie group, $X$ be a (compact, oriented) smooth manifold, with $G$ acts on $X$ smoothly. Then we can talk about the $G$-equivariant homology and cohomology.
My question: In what ...
- 1,207
17
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Variety of commuting matrices
Let $G=\operatorname{GL}(n,\mathbb{C})$ and $\mathfrak{g}=\operatorname{Mat}(n,\mathbb{C})$ and let us consider the two varieties $X,Y$ defined as $$X=\{(x,y) \in G \times G \ | \ xy=yx\} $$ and $$Y=\{...
- 1,061
16
votes
3
answers
897
views
Is the cohomology ring $H^*(BG,\mathbb{Z})$ generated by Euler classes?
I am interested in the classifying space $BG$ of a finite group $G$.
A real representation $V$ of $G$ of dimension $r$ defines a real vector bundle over $BG$ of rank $r$. If the determinant of this ...
- 607
15
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Why is the dual of a torus the same as its fundamental group?
The set of continuous homomorphisms from a torus ${\mathbb T}^n = ({\mathbb R}/{\mathbb Z})^n \to {\mathbb R}/{\mathbb Z}$ can be identified with ${\mathbb Z}^n$ if we assign to each $k = (k_1, \ldots ...
- 2,243
15
votes
1
answer
629
views
Characteristic classes of symmetric group $S_4$
For the symmetric group $S_3$, it is classically known that \begin{equation} H^*(S_3;\mathbb{Z})\cong \mathbb{Z}[x,y]/(2x,6y,x^2-3y), \end{equation} where $|x|=2$ and $|y|=4$. Moreover, $x$ can be ...
- 439
15
votes
1
answer
321
views
Are triangulated equivalence detected at compact level?
Suppose that $D$ and $E$ are compactly generated triangulated categories, even algebraic (i.e. equivalent to derived categories of small dg categories) if we want, and asume that their subcategories $...
- 151
14
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Dijkgraaf-Witten TQFT vs. Representation Theory?
From what I had read, group characters can be "glued" together in a topological fashion and there is something to this effect in the paper by Dijkgraaf and Witten. TQFT seems to be a ...
- 22.8k
14
votes
1
answer
562
views
Mednykh's formula for 2d manifold with boundaries? How to count principal G-bundles with prescribed holonomies?
Let S be a closed, orientable 2d manifold and G a finite group. Since a principal G-bundle over S is specified by maps $\phi : \pi_1(S) \rightarrow G$ modulo the adjoint action by G, the way to count ...
- 171
14
votes
2
answers
781
views
Interpretation of the cohomology of compact lie groups and their classifying spaces in DAG?
I'll be using homological grading throughout this question.
Let $G$ be a compact connected lie group. The following isomorphisms are classical and can be proven using several methods:
$$H^{\bullet}(...
- 7,789
14
votes
1
answer
704
views
What is the first Pontryagin class of the $n$-dimensional representation of $S_n$?
The symmetric group $S_n$ has an $n$-dimensional defining representation, which splits as $n = (n-1) + 1$. Although this representation exists integrally, I would like to think of this as a real ...
- 54.6k
14
votes
0
answers
414
views
Does the category of G-spectra know G?
I was recently in the situation of having access to the category of $G$-modules (for some group $G$ which I had forgotten), as just a category, i.e. no monoidal structure, together with the forgetful ...
- 8,723
13
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Why do we need a $G$-universe?
Let $G$ be a compact Lie group. Before defining $G$-prespectra, we have to define a $G$-universe $\mathcal U$.
Question: Why do we need a $G$-universe?
A $G$-universe is defined to be a countably ...
- 811
13
votes
3
answers
719
views
Effect on homology of decorating vertices of a simplicial complex
In my research, the following construction came up.
Let $X$ be an $n$-dimensional simplicial complex. For an integer $m \geq 1$, let $X[m]$ denote the following simplicial complex. The vertices of $...
- 133
13
votes
1
answer
853
views
Applications of equivariant homotopy theory to representation theory
Equivariant homotopy theory focuses on spaces together with some group action on them. Jeroen van der Meer and Richard Wong have a paper where they use equivariant methods to compute the Picard group ...
- 404
13
votes
2
answers
546
views
"Burnside ring" of the natural numbers and algebraic K-theory
The construction of the Burnside ring $A(G)$ of a group $G$ (usually, but not always, finite) is given by taking the Grothendieck group of the commutative semi-ring of isomorphism classes of finite $G$...
- 18.8k
13
votes
2
answers
556
views
Stabilization of representation of the symmetric group
In their seminal work on "representation stability" (https://arxiv.org/abs/1008.1368), Church and Farb deal with a stabilization procedure for representations (up to isomorphism) (over $\mathbf C$) of ...
- 2,521
12
votes
5
answers
4k
views
Weight lattice and the fundamental group
Let $G$ be a compact connected Lie group and let $T$ be a maximal torus of $G$, with Lie algebras $\frak{g}$ and $\frak{t}$ respectively. Then, $\frak{t}$ can be considered as a Cartan subalgebra of $...
- 1,219
12
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Coincidences amongst classifying spaces and Eilenberg Mac-Lane spaces
Given that $$\mathbb{R}P^{\infty} = B O(1) = K(\widehat{O(1)}, 1)$$ $$\mathbb{C} P^{\infty} = B U(1) = K( \widehat{U(1)}, 2)$$ is there any way to make sense of $$\mathbb{H}P^{\infty} = B Sp(1)$$ in a ...
- 952
12
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Cohomology ring of a flag variety and representation theory
I'm interested in the cohomology ring $H^*(G/B)$ of a flag variety $G/B$, where $G$ is a complex semi-simple Lie group and $B$ the Borel subgroup. Borel (1953) showed that this ring is isomorphic to ...
12
votes
2
answers
887
views
Representation viewpoint on Chern–Weil (cohomology computations done with rep theory?)
$\DeclareMathOperator\Sym{Sym}$Let $G$ be a compact lie group. Chern–Weil theory tells us that there's a homomorphism:
$$H^{*}(BG;\mathbb{R}) \to (\Sym^{\bullet} \mathfrak{g^*})^G$$
which in our case ...
- 7,789
12
votes
2
answers
674
views
Cohomology of representation varieties
Perhaps this question is too general then I am sorry about this.
My question is the following.
Let $\pi$ be the fundamental group of a compact surface of genus $g$ (with if necessary $n$ punctures) ...
- 121
12
votes
2
answers
467
views
Example of a finite group $G$ with low dimensional cohomology not generated by Stiefel-Whitney classes of flat vector bundles over $BG$
In Stiefel-Whitney classes of real representations of finite groups, J. Algebra 126 (1989), no. 2, 327–347, Gunawardena, Kahn and Thomas dealt with the question, whether the cohomology ring $H^...
- 2,630
12
votes
1
answer
418
views
When does a locally symmetric space have no odd degree Betti numbers?
Let $G$ be a semisimple real lie group, $K$ be a maximal compact subgroup of $G$, $\Gamma$ be a torsion-free cocompact discrete subgroup. The Betti number the locally symmetric space $X_{\Gamma}:=\...
- 6,622
12
votes
1
answer
537
views
When is the derived category of representations of a finite poset equivalent to its opposite?
If I have a finite partially ordered set $K$, I can look at its derived category of finite dimensional representations $D(K)$. Note that $D(K^{op}) \simeq D(K)^{op}$ by linear duality.
But when do ...
- 6,829
12
votes
1
answer
754
views
Condition on a Hopf operad for tensor product in the base category to be a (categorical) coproduct for algebras
A Hopf operad will be an operad endowed with a coproduct $P(n) \longrightarrow P(n) \otimes P(n)$ which is compatible in the obvious sens with operad laws (no more structure is assumed a priori. "Hopf"...
- 131
11
votes
3
answers
2k
views
HIgher Homotopy Groups and Representation Theory
Let $G$ be a compact Lie group, and $g$ its associated Lie algebra.
In what ways do the higher homotopy groups $\pi_{n}(G)$ with $n>1$ appear in the representation theory of $G$?
As an example, ...
- 2,087
11
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Characteristic Classes in Geometric Representation Theory
Geometric respectively topological methods are widely applied in representation theory. As far as I know mainly cohomological methods are used.
I wonder if there are concrete applications of the ...
- 2,554
11
votes
1
answer
356
views
What is the relation between 2-Gerstenhaber, CohFT, and Gerstenhaber geometrically?
Background. As we know from Fred Cohen's Thesis, taking homology of the little 2-discs operad $\mathcal{D}_2$ with coefficients in a field of characteristic zero produces the Gerstenhaber operad $\...
- 1,981
10
votes
1
answer
920
views
Is the homotopy category of an abelian model category abelian?
A model structure on an abelian category $A$ is called an abelian model structure if the cofibrations are precisely the monomorphisms with cofibrant cokernel, and if the fibrations are precisely the ...
- 30.3k
10
votes
2
answers
497
views
Equivariant cohomology of the complement to the arrangement $\bigcup_{i\neq j}\vec x_i = \vec x_j$?
$\DeclareMathOperator\SO{SO}\DeclareMathOperator\SU{SU}\DeclareMathOperator\Conf{Conf}$Let $V=\mathbb{R}^d$ be a $d$-dimensional (Euclidean) vector space over real numbers.
Let $G=\SO(V)$ be the ...
- 133
10
votes
2
answers
896
views
Applications of classifying thick subcategories
So, relatively recently, Balmer introduced this notion of a spectrum for a tensor triangulated category and used it to prove a generalization of a classification theorem done in several areas of ...
- 13.5k
10
votes
1
answer
1k
views
cohomology of the loop space of a Lie group: divided power structure
Let $G$ be a complex simple simply connected algebraic group and $Gr_G$ be the corresponding affine Grassmannian (it is well known that $Gr_G$ is homotopy equivalent to the base loop space $\Omega K$ ...
- 1,526
10
votes
1
answer
659
views
how to view homology of affine Grassmannian as a subring of symmetric function
Let $G=SL_n$, it is proven that $R:=H_*(Gr_G)\cong \mathbb{C}[\sigma_1,...,\sigma_{n-1}]$ where $\sigma_i$ are of degree $2i$ as a polynomial ring generated by $n-1$ variables and the ring structure ...
- 849
10
votes
1
answer
389
views
Operads and the Stable Module Category
I am seeking references to places where operads and their algebras have been studied for the stable module category. Colored operads are fine too.
Let $k$ be a field and $R$ a $k$-algebra. The stable ...
- 30.3k
10
votes
0
answers
192
views
k-th Pontryagin class of $\Lambda^{2k}_{\pm}$ on an oriented $4k$-manifold
If $M^{4k}$ is an oriented Riemannian $4k$-manifold, then the star-operator splits the bundle $\Lambda^{2k}$ into $\pm 1$-eigenspace bundles denoted $\Lambda^{2k}_{\pm}$.
I'm curious if anyone has ...
- 787
9
votes
3
answers
636
views
Group Extensions and Line Bundles on $BG$
I am sure the answer to this question is well-known, but
It is well known that the group cohomology $H^2(G,\mathbb Z)$ classifies group extensions $0\to \mathbb Z\to E\to G\to 1$ and that for a ...
- 2,283
9
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Borel's presentation for the cohomology of a Flag Variety
If $G$ is a simple complex Lie group, $T\subset B\subset G$ is a choice of Borel and maximal torus, and $W$ is the Weyl group, then
1) $H^{*}(G/B,K)=K[T^{\vee}]/(K[T^\vee]^W_{+})$
and
2) $K[T^\vee]^...
- 1,537
9
votes
1
answer
337
views
Representation of finite groups in a compact Lie group
Let $H$ be a finite $p$-group, and let $G$ be a compact connected Lie group. Then
it is well-known that $[BH,BG]\cong Rep(H,G)$, where $BH$ and $BG$ are classifying spaces and $Rep(H,G)$ is the set ...
- 293
9
votes
2
answers
583
views
Simplest explicit counterexample for $Vect(BG) \ne Rep(G)$ as monoids
Let $G$ be a topological group, $Vect(BG)$ the monoid of complex vector bundles over its classifying space (not the stack!) and $Rep(G)$ its monoid of complex representations.
Generally $Vect(BG) \ne ...
- 7,789