Questions tagged [rt.representation-theory]
Linear representations of algebras and groups, Lie theory, associative algebras, multilinear algebra.
7,076 questions
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Ubiquity of the push-pull formula
The push-pull formula appears in several different incarnations. There are, at least, the following:
1) If $f \colon X \to Y$ is a continous map, then for sheaves $\mathcal{F}$ on $X$ and $\mathcal{G}...
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Roadmap to Geometric Representation Theory (leading to Langlands)?
I believe there has been at least one question similar to this one and yet I still think this particular question deserves to have a thread of its own.
I'm becoming increasingly fascinated by stuff ...
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Learning about Lie groups
Can someone suggest a good book for teaching myself about Lie groups? I study algebraic geometry and commutative algebra, and I like lots of examples. Thanks.
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Definitions of Hecke algebras
There is a definition of Iwahori-Hecke algebras for Coxeter groups in terms of generators and relations and there is a definition of Hecke algebras involving functions on locally compact groups. Are ...
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Lie group examples
I'm looking for interesting applications of Lie groups for an introductory Lie groups graduate course. In particular I'd like to hear of non-standard examples that at first sight do not seem to be ...
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Groups whose complex irreducible representations are finite dimensional
By a complex irreducible representation of a group $G$, I mean a simple $\mathbb CG$-module. So my representations need not be unitary and we are working in the purely algebraic setting.
It is easy ...
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When are the eigenspaces of the Laplacian on a compact homogeneous space irreducible representations?
I was writing up some notes on harmonic analysis and I thought of a question that
I felt I should know the answer to but didn't, and I hope someone here can help me.
Suppose I have a compact ...
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Representation theory and elementary particles
I have been looking for a clear expository mathematical text on the relation between the theory of elementary particles and the representation theory of $U(1), SU(2), SU(3)$, I was very disappointed ...
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What are the applications of immanants?
Definitions of determinant:
$\det(A) = \sum_{\sigma \in S_n}\operatorname{sgn} \sigma\prod_{i}a_{i, \sigma(i)}$
and permanent:
$\mathrm{per}(A) = \sum_{\sigma \in S_n}\prod_{i}a_{i, \sigma(i)}$
...
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Examples of applications of the Borel-Weil-Bott theorem?
In "Quantum field theory and the Jones polynomial" (Comm. Math. Phys. 1989 vol. 121 (3) pp. 351-399), Witten writes:
A representation Ri of a group G should be seen as a quantum object. This ...
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Errata for Fulton's "Young tableaux"
Fulton's Young tableaux is one of the best texts on the subject, one which I
often recommend and cite for reference. Unlike Fulton/Lang and
Fulton/Harris,
it is neither an early-dawn draft nor a ...
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Is this generalized character always a character?
Let $G$ be a finite group, and $p$ be a prime. Then there is a generalized character $\Psi$ of $G$ which takes value $0$ on all elements of order divisible by $p$, and has $\Psi(y)$ equal to the ...
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Chern character of a Representation
Let $G$ be a finite group. Under the identification of the representation ring $R_{\mathbb{C}}(G)$ with the equivariant K-theory $KU^0_G(\ast)$ of the point, followed by Atiyah-Segal completion-...
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Tell me an algebraic integer that isn't an eigenvalue of the sum of two permutations
Can you tell me an algebraic integer, with all archimedean absolute values less than 2, which is not an eigenvalue of $\pi_1 + \pi_2$ for any two permutation matrices $\pi_1,\pi_2$?
Is it ...
- 19.2k
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Tannaka formalism and the étale fundamental group
For quite a while, I have been wondering if there is a general principle/theory that has
both Tannaka fundamental groups and étale fundamental groups as a special case.
To elaborate: The theory of ...
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ADE type Dynkin diagrams
The ADE type Dynkin diagrams seem to come up in seemingly different areas of math. Two places they come up are:
(1) Classification of simply laced complex simple lie algebras.
(2) Finite subgroups ...
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Understanding a quip from Gian-Carlo Rota
In the chapter "A Mathematician's Gossip" of his renowned Indiscrete Thoughts, Rota launches into a diatribe concerning the "replete injustice" of misplaced credit and "forgetful hero-worshiping" of ...
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Why there is a relation among the second-order minors of a symmetric $4\times 4$ matrix?
A $4\times 4$ symmetric matrix
$$
\left(
\begin{array}{cccc}
a_{11} & a_{12} & a_{13} & a_{14} \\
a_{12} & a_{22} & a_{23} & a_{24} \\
a_{13} & a_{23} & a_{33} & ...
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Character-free proof that Frobenius kernel is a normal subgroup?
The question is in the title, but here is some background/reminders:
A subgroup $H\neq\{1\}$ of a finite group $G$ is called a Frobenius complement if $H\cap H^g = \{1\}$ for all $g\in G\backslash H$....
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How does this relationship between the Catalan numbers and SU(2) generalize?
This is a question, or really more like a cloud of questions, I wanted to ask awhile ago based on this SBS post and this post I wrote inspired by it, except that Math Overflow didn't exist then.
As ...
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Examples of finite groups with "good" bijection(s) between conjugacy classes and irreducible representations?
For symmetric group conjugacy classes and irreducible representation both are parametrized by Young diagramms, so there is a kind of "good" bijection between the two sets. For general finite groups ...
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Being a subgroup: proof by character theory
Let me first cite a theorem due to Frobenius:
Let $G$ be a finite group, with $H$ a proper subgroup ($H\ne (1)$ and $G$). Suppose that for every $g\not\in H$, we have $H\cap gHg^{-1}=(1)$. Then
$...
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Are quivers useful outside of Representation Theory?
There is a trend, for some people, to study representations of quivers. The setting of the problem is undoubtedly natural, but representations of quivers are present in the literature for already >...
- 1,437
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Mathematical uses of string theory
It is widely believed that correctness of string theory as a physical theory will not be decided in the near future. Regardless whether this will turn out to be correct or not, mathematical concepts ...
34
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4
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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
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answers
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Lecture notes on representations of finite groups
Next term I am supposed to teach a course on representation of finite groups. This is a third year course for undegrads. I was thinking to use the book of Grodon James and Martin Liebeck "...
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Is every (finite-dimensional, complex) representation of a finite group defined over the algebraic integers?
Is every (finite-dimensional, complex) representation of a finite group defined over the algebraic integers?
Apologies in advance if this is obvious.
Edit, 5/31/24: Since this question is getting some ...
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When is a finite dimensional real or complex Lie Group not a matrix group
I have a smattering of knowledge and disconnected facts about this question, so I would like to clarify the following discussion, and I also seek references and citations supporting this knowledge. ...
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What do cluster algebras tell us about Grassmannians?
One of the first examples of a cluster algebra given in Fomin and Zelevinsky's original paper is the homogeneous coordinate ring $\mathbb{C}[G_{2,n}]$ of the Grassmannian of planes in $\mathbb{C}^n$. ...
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Analogies supporting heuristic: Weyl groups = algebraic groups over field with one element?
There is well-known heuristic that Weyl groups are reductive algebraic groups over "field with one element".
Probably the best known analogy supporting that heuristic is the limit $q\to1$ ...
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Richness of the subgroup structure of p-groups
Given a prime $p$ and $n \in \mathbb{N}$, let $f_p(n)$ be the smallest
number such that there is a group of order $p^{f_p(n)}$ which all groups of
order $p^n$ embed into. What is the asymptotic growth ...
- 19.6k
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Replacing triangulated categories with something better
Gelfand and Manin in their 1988 book on homological algebra write that the non-functoriality of cones means that "something is going wrong in the axioms of a triangulated category. Unfortunately at ...
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Why all irreducible representations of compact groups are finite-dimensional ? [EDIT: Subtleties: AC,etc]
About 20 years ago I read in textbook that
"all irreducible representations of compact groups are finite-dimensional", but
me and the proof of this fact never met each other :)
May I ask dear MO ...
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Proper subgroup of GL(n,Z) isomorphic to GL(n,Z)?
This is just a question originated from some random thoughts. I hope it's nevertheless fit for mo.
It's possible to find a proper subgroup of $GL(n,\mathbb{C})$ isomorphic to $GL(n,\mathbb{C})$ ...
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What's the state of affairs concerning the identification between quantum group reps at root of unity, and positive energy affine Lie algebra reps?
In his paper [1], Finkelberg used Kazhdan-Lusztig's massive work [4,5,6,7,8] to prove that $Rep^{ss}(U_q\mathfrak g)$ (the semisimplification of the category of finite dimensional reps of $U_q\...
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Why did Gabriel invent the term "quiver"?
A quiver in representation theory is what is called in most other areas a directed graph. Does anybody know why Gabriel felt that a new name was needed for this object? I am more interested in why he ...
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Order of products of elements in symmetric groups
Let $n \in \mathbb{N}$. Is it true that for any $a, b, c \in \mathbb{N}$ satisfying
$1 < a, b, c \leq n-2$ the symmetric group ${\rm S}_n$ has elements of order $a$ and $b$
whose product has order $...
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Limiting representation theory of quantum groups at roots of unity and $SL(2,\mathbb{C})$
Let $V_N$ denote the $N$-dimensional representation of the quantum group $U_q(\mathfrak s\mathfrak l_2)$. I am told that in the limit $N\to\infty$ with $q=e^{2\pi i/n}$ and $N/n\to\alpha\in(0,1)$, ...
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Rep Theory Consequences of Bott--Weil--Borel
I've been getting interested in the (Bott--)Borel--Weil theorem lately. As a (mainly) geometer it is very interesting to see representation appearing (from nowhere as far as I can see) in the theory ...
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Why the BGG category O?
Given a finite-dimensional semisimple complex Lie algebra $\mathfrak{g}$, the Bernstein-Gelfand-Gelfand category $\mathcal O$ is the full subcategory of $\mathfrak g$-modules satisfying some ...
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What was Casimir's precise role in describing the center of the universal enveloping algebra of a semisimple Lie algebra?
This question is prompted by a recent MO question on explicit computations of Weyl group invariants for certain exceptional simple Lie algebras:
37602. Like some others who started graduate study in ...
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Why do people study representations of 3-manifold groups into $SL(n,\mathbb{C})$?
Varieties of representations and characters of $3$-manifold groups in $SL(2,\mathbb{C})$ have been intensively studied. They have provided tools to identify geometric structures on manifolds, and are ...
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How to understand the Harish-Chandra isomorphism?
The Harish-Chandra isomorphism describe the center $Z(\mathfrak{g})$ of $U(\mathfrak{g})$ as invariants of $\text{Sym}^*\mathfrak{h}$ under the action of the Weyl group. (One need to twist the action ...
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Can one explain Tannaka-Krein duality for a finite-group to ... a computer ? (How to make input for reconstruction to be finite datum?)
Consider a finite group. Tannaka-Krein duality allows to reconstruct the group from the
category of its representations and additional structures on it (tensor structure + fiber functor). Somehow ...
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What is modular representation theory for groups good for?
I am an absolute beginner in modular representation theory of finite groups. I know some things in representation theory in characteristic zero. My questions are regarding the main goals of this part ...
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What is known about this plethysm?
Let $S^{\lambda}$ be a Schur functor. Is there a known positive rule to compute the decomposition of $S^{\lambda}(\bigwedge^2 \mathbb{C}^n)$ into $GL_n(\mathbb{C})$ irreps?
In response to Vladimir's ...
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How to make the Capelli's identity less mysterious?
The formulation of the Capelli's identity is very elementary; it has important applications in invariant theory and representation theory, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capelli%27s_identity
To ...
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Modern proof of Serre's open image theorem?
Let $E$ be an elliptic curve defined over a number field $K$ without complex multiplication. Serre's open image theorem (which appears in his book 'Abelian $l$-Adic Representations and Elliptic Curves'...
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Is this representation of Go (game) irreducible?
This post is freely inspired by the basic rules of Go (game), usually played on a $19 \times 19$ grid graph.
Consider the $\mathbb{Z}^2$ grid. We can assign to each vertex a state "black" ($b$), "...
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Deformation theory of representations of an algebraic group
For an algebraic group G and a representation V, I think it's a standard result (but I don't have a reference) that
the obstruction to deforming V as a representation of G is an element of H2(G,V&...
