Questions tagged [symmetric-groups]
The symmetric group $S_n$ is the group of permutations of the set of integers $\{1,\dots,n\}$. This has $n!$ elements and is generated by the $n-1$ involutions exchanging consecutive integers. The symmetric groups form the simplest family of Coxeter groups.
462 questions
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Simplicity of alternating group $A_n$
I am teaching an introductory group theory course, and it has come to the inevitable proof that $A_n$ is simple for $n\geq 5$. Now, there seem to be a number of proofs that I can find – one the "...
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A question regarding symmetrizing the tensor product of vectors in two different ways
Let $V = \mathbb{C}^m$, endowed with the standard hermitian inner product which we will denote by $\langle \cdot, \cdot \rangle$, $n$ be a positive integer and $\Sigma_n$ denote the symmetric group on ...
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Minimal dominant permutation in weak order
Consider $S_\infty$ as a Coxeter group with Coxeter generators the adjacent transpositions $s_i$, $i\geq 1$. We view elements of $S_\infty$ as functions $u:\mathbb{N}\to\mathbb{N}$. Recall the Lehmer ...
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Optimizing computations with nilpotents in a group algebra
Of course, I have a very concrete problem at hand, which has been vexing me for about a year now. But let me start with a question that has a better chance of having been answered.
Let $G$ be a ...
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Is the appearance of Schur functions a coincidence?
The Schur functions are symmetric functions which appear in several different contexts:
The characters of the irreducible representations for the symmetric group (under the characteristic isometry).
...
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What is the Lie superalgebra generated by permutations?
Consider the group algebra of the symmetric group $\mathbb{C}S_n$. Then there is a corresponding Lie algebra $\mathfrak{L}(S_n)$ defined by
$$[\sigma, \tau] = \sigma\circ\tau - \tau\circ\sigma,$$
...
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Subgroups of the symmetric group and binary relations
Motivation
The following came up in my work recently. (NB this is the motivation, not the question I'm asking. You can skip to the actual question below, which is self-contained, but not self-...
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Formula for the matrix units in the Gelfand-Tsetlin basis of the symmetric group algebra?
Are there any formulas for the irreducible off-diagonal elements $E^{\lambda}_{ij}$ in the Gelfand-Tsetlin basis of the symmetric group algebra $\mathbb{C}[S_n]$?
Here is the context for my question. ...
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Basis parametrized by the symmetric group elements for the coinvariant algebra
Let $A_n$ be the coinvariant algebra of the symmetric group $S_n$.
This algebra has vector space dimension $n!$.
$A_n$ is the quotient algebra of the polynomial ring $K[x_1,...,x_n]$ by the elementary ...
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The quotient of a higher Specht polynomial over the corresponding regular Specht polynomial
I'll need some notation before I can phrase my question, so please bare with me for a little. I'll try to get there as fast as possible (it's also my first MO question...).
Let $\lambda$ be a ...
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Maximal subgroup in $S_{10}$
Consider the set of unordered pairs $\{(i,j)\}$, $i<j, i=1,2, \ldots, 2k+1$, $j=i+1, \dots, 2k+2$, and the group $G=S_{k(2k+1)}$ of all permutations of those pairs.
Is the subgroup of the ...
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geometric meaning to pairs of SYT indexing for the basis of cohomology ring of full flag variety
For Grassmannians, the Schubert cells can be indexed by certain Young Tableaux, whose partition determines the dimensions of intersections of the chosen subspace with the standard complete flag. For ...
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Clebsch–Gordan decomposition formula for algebraic groups
$\DeclareMathOperator\SL{SL}$There is a well-known Clebsch–Gordan decomposition formula for irreducible representations of $\SL_2$. If $V_n$ denotes the unique $n+1$-dimensional irreducible ...
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Decomposition of tensors into symmetry classes according to Schur functors
I am mainly looking for references on this subject, as I was unable to find any, at least any that answers what I am looking for to a satisfactory degree.
As it is well-known and extremely easy to ...
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Twisted permutations
We consider a set $E$ with an involution (having perhaps fixed points).
We denote orbits by $\lbrace x,\overline{x}\rbrace$ (with $\overline{x}=x$ in
the case of a fixed point).
We consider sequences $...
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The canonical automorphism of the symmetric group
Let $S_n$ be the symmetric group of order $n$. Denoting simple transpositions by $\sigma_i$ the collection $\sigma_1, \dots, \sigma_{n-1}$ generates $S_n$ subject to the following relations:
$$
\sigma ...
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Question on a reduction in Kirillov's paper on positivity of divided difference operators
As the title says, my question is on a specific argument in Kirillov - Skew divided difference operators and Schubert polynomials (journal, MSN) on positivity of divided difference operators. I recall ...
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Can Matsumoto's theorem for the symmetric group be proved using a monovariant?
This is a question that can be asked for any Coxeter group, but for the sake of simplicity I will restrict myself to symmetric groups. Recall the main definitions:
Let $n$ be a nonnegative integer. ...
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Analog of self-conjugate representation of symmetric group for Hecke algebra
Consider a symmetric group $S_n$. It is generated by generators $\sigma_1\dotsc\sigma_{n-1}$ that satisfy the following relations:
Square relations: $\sigma_k^2=1,\qquad k=1\ldots n-1$.
Braid ...
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is the embedding $\mathrm{Sp}_{2m}(p)\leqslant S_{p^m-1}$ possible?
Is the following embedding possible?
$\mathrm{Sp}_{2m}(p)\leqslant S_{p^m-1}$ where $S_{p^m-1}$ is a symmetric group and $p$ is prime. I see that when $p=3$ and $m=3$, the order of the former does ...
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Decomposition of a tensor product of representations of $\mathrm{GL}_l(\mathbb{C})$ and decomposition of Littlewood-Richardson numbers?
For a positive integer $m$, denote $T(m)=\{(\lambda_1,\dots,\lambda_m)\in \mathbb{Z}^m:\lambda_1\ge \lambda_2\ge\dots \ge\lambda_m\}$ and $T^+(m)=\{ (\lambda_1,\dots,\lambda_m)\in \mathbb{Z}^m:\...
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Hamiltonian edge colouring of complete graphs with even numbers of vertices
Edges of the complete graph on $2n$ vertices can be colored with $2n-1$ colors such that only edges of different colors intersect.
Can this always be done such that for every pair of different colors ...
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"Natural" generating sets for symmetric groups
The symmetric group on $n$ letters has
many sets of generators. Some of them are more natural than others, eg the
set $(i,i+1)$ of adjacent transpositions (natural with respect to the type A Weyl ...
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How does Sage order the elements of the symmetric group?
In Sage, the symmetric group is a list. For instance if G = SymmetricGroup(3), we have
\begin{align*}
G[0] & = e \\
G[1] & = (1,3,2)\\
G[2] & = (1,2,3) \\
G[3] &= (2,3)\\
G[4] &= (...
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One element commutation classes of reduced decompositions of the longest element of the Weyl group
For the symmetric group on $n$ objects $S_n$ the question of how to write its longest element $w_0$ as a reduced decomposition is an important combinatorical problem. As example, in this question the ...
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Proof of a combinatorial identity for a sum over partitions of sets giving rise to a symmetric polynomial?
Consider a set $N$ with elements $n_1, n_2, \dots, n_k$ which are distinct integers. Introduce the notation $N_{i=1,2,\dots,s}$ for the $s$ blocks of a set partition of $N$. Consider a supplementary ...
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Are there invariants of configurations of points in space obtainable via the moduli space of solutions of the Berry-Robbins problem?
Let $C_n(\mathbb{R}^3)$ denote the configuration space of $n$ distinct points in Euclidean $3$-space and let $U(n)/T^n$ denote the flag manifold associated to the unitary group $U(n)$, i.e. the ...
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A probability problem in the conjugacy classes of symmetric group
Assume that $\sigma\in S_n$ has the cycle type $(p,.,p,1,..,1)$ where $p>2$ is a prime and the numbers of $1$ maybe $0$. If $\sigma_1$ and $\sigma_2$ are chosen uniformly in the conjugacy class of $...
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Rhombus tilings with more than three directions
The point of this question is to construct a list of references on the following subject: Fix vectors $v_1$, $v_2$, ..., $v_g$ in $\mathbb{R}^2$, all lying in a half plane in that cyclic order. I am ...
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Large values of characters of the symmetric group
For $g$ an element of a group and $\chi$ an irreducible character, there are two easy bounds for the character value $\chi(g)$: First, the bound $|\chi(g)|\leq \chi(1)$ by the dimension of the ...
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Alternate proof in Fulton–Harris of representation theoretic version of Littlewood–Richardson rule
$\DeclareMathOperator\Ind{Ind}$Let $d = d_1 + d_2$ with $d_1$, $d_2$ positive integers. Let $\lambda$ be a partition of $d_1$ and $\mu$ a partition of $d_2$, so that the Young symmetrizer construction ...
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Characters of alternating groups
I am studying certain properties of characters of alternating groups and I have found precisely three characters not satisfying it up to $A_{15}$. These are:
A character of dimension $3.696$ of $A_{...
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Using Schur-Weyl duality
I am trying to gain a better understanding of Schur-Weyl duality specifically applied to symmetric functions. My motivating example is trying to understand the Frobenius character of the multilinear ...
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Some combinatorics question concerning symmetric groups
Let $n = ht$ where $n, h ,t $ are all positive integers. I want to count $\omega \in S_t$ satisfying the following two properties:
$\omega(t+1 - \omega(i)) = t+1 - i$.
$\sum_{i: i \geq \omega(i)} (h ...
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Jucys-Murphy elements and permutation modules
So I just learn about Jucys-Murphy elements. They are elements of $\mathbb{C}[\mathfrak{S}_n]$, the group algebra of the symmetric group, defined as:
$$
X_i = \displaystyle \sum_{k=1}^{i-1} (k,i)
$$
...
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Need for "minimal representation" of a symmetric group
I need to construct a representation of a symmetric group $S_n$, in which a character of the conjugacy class $(n)$ (a class of permutations, which are cycles of a maximal possible length $n$) would be ...
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Length of $\mathbb{C}^\infty$ as an $S_\infty$-representation
We know that $0 \subseteq V_n \subseteq \mathbb{C}^n \cong \mathbb{1}_n \oplus V_n$ is a composition series for the natural $\mathbb{C}[S_n]$-module $\mathbb{C}^n$ for all $n \geq 2$.
Now we have ...
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Not very transitive actions
Suppose $m$ is a positive integer.
I am looking for finite sets with group actions such that the action is transitive on the set of $m$-element subsets, but NOT transitive on the set of $(m+1)$-...
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Evaluations of group characters on cosets of subgroups
Let $G$ be a finite group, $H$ a subgroup of $G$ and $g \in G$. Define
$$
[gH] = \sum_{h \in H} gh,
$$
viewed an element in the group algebra $\mathbb{C}[G]$.
Given an irreducible character $\chi$ of $...
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Symmetric polynomial constructed from symmetric group
Let $n$ be a positive integer, $S_n$ be the symmetric group. For a permutation $p=[p_1,\dots,p_n]\in S_n$, define $x^p := x_1^{p_1}\cdots x_n^{p_n}$. It can be seen that the following polynomial is ...
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Integral of elements of random unitaries
It is known how to calculate the integral of elements of $N\times N$ Haar random unitaries using the Weingarten function:
$$\int \prod_{k=1}^n U_{i_kj_k} U_{m_kr_k}^* \mathrm d U = \sum_{\sigma,\tau} \...
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Probability of words summing to $1$ in $S_n$ or $\mathrm{PGL}_2(n)$
$\DeclareMathOperator\PGL{PGL}\DeclareMathOperator\Conj{Conj}$Let $G$ be the symmetric group $S_n$ or the projective general linear group $\PGL_2(n)$.
Let $X$ be a cyclically reduced word in the ...
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Filtrations of the irreducible representations of the symmetric groups
For a partition $\lambda$ of $n$, write $S^{\lambda}$ for the irreducible $S_n$-representation that corresponds to $\lambda$ (a.k.a. the Specht module).
For two integers $d<n$ write $Par_d(n) = \{\...
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Has Reifegerste's Theorem on RSK and Knuth relations received a slick proof by now?
For the notations I am using, I refer to the Appendix at the end of this post.
Here is what, for the sake of this post, I consider to be Reifegerste's theorem:
Theorem 1. Let $n\in\mathbb N$ and $i\...
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Lower bound of the largest irreducible character degree of alternating group $A_n$
$\newcommand\cd{\mathrm{cd}}$Let $A_m$ and $A_n$ be two alternating groups and $15\le m+2 \le n$. Denote $\cd_m$ and $\cd_n$ as the largest irreducible character degree of $A_m$ and $A_n$, ...
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What is the centralizer of a Young subgroup of $S_n$?
In their celebrated paper "A new approach to the representation theory of the symmetric group. II", Okounkov and Vershik prove that $Z(n-1,1)$, the centralizer of $\mathbb{C}[S_{n-1}]$ in $\...
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3-coloring the alternating group graph
Consider the alternating group graph, here defined as a Cayley graph on the alternating group $A_n$ using the generating set $\{(1,2,3),(1,2,4),\dotsc,(1,2,n),(1,n,2),\dotsc,(1,4,2),(1,3,2)\}$. Note ...
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some confusion about the explicit construction of irreducible representations of $S_n$
In this book chapter, the irreducible representations of the symmetric group $S_n$ is given in terms of polytabloids of a Ferrer's diagram $\lambda$, defined as
$e_t = \sum_{\pi \in C_t} \text{sgn}(\...
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Maximal generalized symmetric groups and the tensor product
Let $S(m,n)$ be the generalized symmetric group which is a wreath product of the cyclic group of order $m$, denoted here by $\mathbb{Z}_m$, and the symmetric group $S_n$. A standard unitary ...
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What about Hopf algebra and fusion structures for intertwiner algebras?
Let $G$ be a complex, reductive group and let $V_1, \dotsc, V_r$ be a collection of finite dimensional, irreducible complex
representations of $G$. Let $\mathcal{A} = \mathrm{End}_G(V_1 \otimes \dotsb ...
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