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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What is the unit group of the representation ring of the symmetric group S_3?
The representation ring of the symmetric group S_3 is a fusion ring of rank 3. We wonder its unit group. By direct computation, it needs to solve two inhomogeneous Diophantine equations, but which we ...
1
vote
1
answer
210
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Words representations of elements of a symmetric group
Let $S=\{(1,2),(1,2,\ldots,n),(1,n,,n-1,\ldots,2)\}$ be a subset of the symmetric group $S_n$. Let $a=(1,2),b=(1,2,\ldots,n),c=(1,n,n-1\ldots,2)$ be the elements of $S$. My question is, since $S$ is a ...
6
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2
answers
318
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Involutive solutions to the Yang-Baxter equation (and triangular Hopf algebras)
I'm interested in solutions to the Yang-Baxter equation
$$R_{12}R_{23}R_{12}=R_{23}R_{12}R_{23},$$
that are involutive $R^2_{12}=1$. Or put it another way, I'm interested in representations of the ...
5
votes
1
answer
309
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On a proof involving Young symmetrizers acting on tensor spaces
I hope this is not too elementary for this site, but I already asked something similar on MSE which has not received any attention whatsoever. I am extremely unfamiliar with the algebraic/...
16
votes
4
answers
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Making the branching rule for the symmetric group concrete
This question concerns the characteristic $0$ representation theory of the symmetric group $S_n$. I'm a topologist, not a representation theorist, so I apologize if I state it in an odd way.
First, a ...
6
votes
0
answers
255
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Proving the spectrum of the Young-Jucys-Murphy elements by formal computation in the degenerate affine Hecke algebra
This is really a followup to Why are Jucys-Murphy elements' eigenvalues whole numbers? , specifically to Igor Makhlin's beautiful answer. I'm trying to make it even more beautiful by getting rid ...
5
votes
0
answers
120
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Towers of algebras, their 2-step centralizer algebras, and analogues of the degenerate affine Hecke algebra
Let $\, \big( {\frak{F}}_0 \subset {\frak{F}}_1 \subset {\frak{F}}_2 \subset \cdots \big)$ be a tower of semi-simple, finite dimensional, unital, complex algebras starting with ${\frak{F}}_0 \cong \...
2
votes
0
answers
141
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Partial sum of Weingarten functions over symmetric group
I have a question about partial sums of Weingarten functions. The Weingarten functions are defined as
$$
E_U[U_{i_1,j_1}\dotsm U_{i_k,j_k}U^*_{i'_1,j'_1}\dotsm U^*_{i'_k,j'_k}]=\sum_{\alpha,\beta \in \...
10
votes
2
answers
741
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Littlewood-Richardson coefficients in terms of Specht modules
Littlewood-Richardson coefficients $c_{\nu\mu}^{\lambda}$ (where $\nu$,$\mu$ and $\lambda$ are integer partitions such that $|\nu| + |\mu| = |\lambda|$) are well-known coefficients appearing in ...
8
votes
1
answer
371
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Harmonic flow on the Young lattice
Let me begin with some preliminary concepts: A positive real-valued function $\varphi: P \rightarrow \Bbb{R}_{>0}$ on a locally finite, ranked poset $(P, \trianglelefteq)$ is harmonic if
$\varphi(\...
1
vote
0
answers
103
views
Are there standard short notations for ascending and descending cyclic permutations?
In a paper I am currently writing I use cyclic permutations of the form
$$
(k,k+1,\dots,\ell)
$$
and
$$
(\ell,\ell-1,\dots,k)
$$
of consecutive elements quite a lot (I added the commas to avoid ...
6
votes
1
answer
542
views
Is there a classification of homomorphisms $S_n \to S_{n+k}$ for small $k$?
Homomorphisms $B_n \to B_{2n}$ and $B_n \to S_{2n}$ have been classified in Chen–Kordek–Margalit - Homomorphisms between braid groups and Lin - Braids and permutations respectively. I am interested in ...
20
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answers
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views
Row of the character table of symmetric group with most negative entries
The row of the character table of $S_n$ corresponding to the trivial representation has all entries positive, and by orthogonality clearly it is the only one like this.
Is it true that for $n\gg 0$, ...
1
vote
0
answers
76
views
Determine whether a set generates a residue field of an invariant ring
Fix two positive integers $m>n$.
Let $(A|Y)$ be an $m\times (n+1)$ augmented matrix consisted of $m\times (n+1)$ indeterminates, where $Y$ is a column symbolic vector of length $m$.
Denote $R=\...
2
votes
1
answer
199
views
Sequence of monotone tuples and permutation condition for rotation
I was doing some counting in $S_n$ symmetric group I encountered the following problem, which also someway related to central factorial number.
So given a $n$ cycle say $(1,2,\ldots,n)$, what are the ...
2
votes
0
answers
77
views
Confusion Regarding Character Polynomials and Dimensions of Irreducible Representations in the Symmetric Group
I am trying to use the Garsia–Goupil formula.
Fundamentally, the character polynomial satisfies
$$
\chi^{(n-|\mu|, \mu)}_{1^{a_1} 2^{a_2} \cdots} = q_\mu(a_1, a_2, \ldots) \equiv q_\mu(1^{a_1} 2^{a_2} ...
10
votes
0
answers
389
views
Has anyone met this "$q$-character" table for $S_4$?
Is anyone aware of the following $q$-character table for the
symmetric group $S_4$?
\begin{array}{|c|c|c|c|c|c|}
\hline
\mathrm{conj}\backslash\mathrm{rep}
& 2+1+1 & 3+1 & ...
11
votes
2
answers
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Schur-Weyl duality in positive characteristic
$\DeclareMathOperator\Rep{Rep}\DeclareMathOperator\GL{GL}\DeclareMathOperator\SW{SW}$Let $S_k$ be the symmetric group. Let $F$ be an algebraically closed field. Let $\Rep(S_k)$ be the category of ...
4
votes
1
answer
273
views
Relation between two permutation metrics
Note: I asked this question a few months ago here, but received no answer.
Consider the following two metrics on permutations of $\{1,2,\dots,n\}$:
$d_\text{swap}(\sigma,\tau)$ is the minimum number ...
8
votes
3
answers
2k
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Bijective proof for a partition identity
I came across the following cute fact about partitions:
\begin{align}
& |\{\lambda \vdash n \text{ with an even number of even parts}\}| \\[8pt]
& {} - |\{ \lambda \vdash n \text{ with an odd ...
3
votes
2
answers
252
views
Swaps in a permutation across an index
We are given two positive integers $N$ and $K$ such that $K < N$. We start with an array $A=[1,2,\dots,N]$. We can choose an arbitrary index $i \in \{1,2,\dots,N-1\}$ and we can swap $A[i]$ with $A[...
6
votes
2
answers
325
views
Is there a combinatorial interpretation of this array in terms of $S_{2n+1}$?
I have recently encountered a triangular array $(a_{i,j})_{0\le i\le j}$, each line of which might (should?) have a combinatorial interpretation in terms of $S_{2n+1}$. Here it is (the first entry of ...
2
votes
0
answers
124
views
invariant decomposition of $\mathbb{C}[S_k^n]^{S_k}$
Denote $S_k^n = \underbrace{S_k \times \dots \times S_k}_{n \text{ times}}$
and let $S_k$ act on $S_k^n$ conjugate diagonal, so that
$$
\pi (\sigma_1, \dots, \sigma_n)\pi^{-1} := (\pi \sigma_1 \pi^{-1}...
6
votes
0
answers
246
views
What do Macdonald polynomials hint about $\operatorname{Rep}(S_\infty)$?
$\DeclareMathOperator\Rep{Rep}$It is well-known that the Macdonald "$P$" polynomials deform the
Jack "$J$" polynomials [1]. The latter have profound relations with
representation ...
6
votes
1
answer
630
views
Representation ring of the symmetric group $S_n$ in the limit as $n \to \infty$
Let $S_n$ denote the symmetric group on $n$-letters and let $\mathrm{Rep}(S_n)$ denote its representation ring. For every $n$ restriction along the inclusion $S_{n-1} \to S_n$ induces a ring ...
9
votes
2
answers
762
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Solutions of $x^d=1$ in the symmetric group
L Moser and M Wyman, On solutions of $x^d = 1$ in symmetric groups, Canad. J. Math., 7 (1955), pages 159-168, explored asymptotic behavior of the cardinality of such permutations:
$$f_d(n):=\#\{\pi\in\...
10
votes
1
answer
358
views
Induction step in Bóna and Ehrenborg's proof that the generating function of the alternating runs has -1 as a root of a certain multiplicity
This is a crosspost of a question I asked on Mathematics SE four months ago. Periodically bumping it and placing a bounty on it to attract more attention were to no avail. There are some comments ...
31
votes
2
answers
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Does the symmetric group $S_{10}$ factor as a knit product of symmetric subgroups $S_6$ and $S_7$?
By knit product (alias: Zappa-Szép product), I mean a product $AB$ of subgroups for which $A\cap B=1$. In particular, note that neither subgroup is required to be normal, thus making this a ...
12
votes
2
answers
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The character table of the symmetric group modulo m
Let $S_n$ be the symmetric group and $M_n$ the character table of $S_n$ as a matrix (in some order) for $n \geq 2$.
Question: Is it true that the rank of $M_n$ as a matrix modulo $m$ for $m \geq 2$ ...
8
votes
1
answer
272
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Branching rule for Specht modules over Kazhdan-Lusztig basis
Suppose $\lambda\vdash n$ is a partition and $S^\lambda$ is the associated irreducible representation of $S_n$. As we know from the branching rule, we have an isomorphism of $S_{n-1}$ modules
$$S^\...
4
votes
1
answer
135
views
The symmetric group of positive integers acting on $\ell^\infty(\mathbb{N})^*$
Let $\mathfrak{S}_\mathbb{N}$ be the symmetric group of all positive integers. Let $\ell^\infty(\mathbb{N})^*$ be the dual space of $\ell^\infty(\mathbb{N})$ equipped with weak*-topology. There is a ...
1
vote
0
answers
72
views
Scalars by which symmetrizations of cyclic permutations act on Specht modules
Let $S_n$ be the symmetric group. Pick $a \in 2,\ldots,n$ and denote by $c_a \in \mathbb{C}[S_n]$ the symmetrization of the element $(12\ldots a)$ i.e. $c_a$ is the sum of cycles of type $a$.
Let $\...
1
vote
0
answers
82
views
How to obtain explicit formula for this sum over Young diagram?
Consider the next essence
$$
B_N (r, q) =\sum_{\tau \vdash r} d^2 (\tau ) \prod_{i = 1}^{r} \frac{\Gamma [N + \tau_i - i +1]}{\Gamma [N + \tau_i - i +1+q]}
$$
where $d(\tau)$ is dimension of ...
2
votes
0
answers
168
views
New identity for sum over Young diagram of symmetric group?
Consider the next identity
$$
\sum_{\tau \vdash r} d^2 (\tau ) \! \prod_{i = -(r-1)}^{r-1} \! \! \left( N+i \right)^{t_i^r} =\sum_{\tau \vdash r} d^2 (\tau ) \prod_{i = 1}^{r} \Gamma [N + \tau_i - ...
2
votes
1
answer
137
views
How to re-expand the sum of Schur function?
Consider next sum
\begin{eqnarray}
\label{PF_spindef}
Z = \sum_{r=0}^{N N_f} h^{2r} \ Q(r) .
\end{eqnarray}
and
\begin{equation}
Q(r) \ = \ \sum_{\sigma \vdash r} s_{\sigma}(1^{N_f}) \
s_{\sigma}...
1
vote
2
answers
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What are all the transitive extensions of cyclic groups?
"Let $G$ be a transitive group of permutations on a given set of letters. Let a new fixed letter be adjoined to every permutation of $G$. Then a transitive group $H$ of permutations on the ...
2
votes
0
answers
283
views
Geometric or combinatorial interpretations of the (weak) Bruhat order?
$\DeclareMathOperator\Inv{Inv}$The weak Bruhat order on the symmetric group has a straightforward combinatorial interpretation: Consider a set of labelled balls $1,2,\dotsc,n$. Then for two ...
9
votes
1
answer
878
views
Littlewood Richardson rule and seminormal basis of Specht modules
Background
Seminormal Basis of Specht modules of $\mathfrak{S}_n$
Let $\lambda$ be a partition of $n$. A $\lambda$-tableau is a
bijection $\mathfrak{t}:\lambda \to \{1,2,...,n\}$. We say a ...
7
votes
0
answers
183
views
Explaining $\left(a-1\right)^n \cdot n! \mid a^{n-1} \prod_{i=1}^n \left(a^i-1\right)$ by a free $S_n$-action
Here is an olympiad-level problem on elementary number theory:
Let $a$ be an integer and $n$ a positive integer. Prove that
\begin{align}
\left(a-1\right)^n \cdot n! \mid a^{n-1} \prod_{i=1}^n \left(...
8
votes
2
answers
825
views
Linear relations among permutation matrices
Given a permutation $\sigma\in S_n$, let $P_\sigma$ denote the corresponding $n\times n$ permutation matrix. It is easy to see that for $n=3$, there is only one linear relation up to scaling given by $...
3
votes
1
answer
275
views
Is the Cayley distance on permutation (matrices) equivalent to the Riemannian metric on $O(n)$?
Denote by $d_C(\sigma,\mu)$ the minimal number of transpositions needed to go from a permutation $\sigma$ to a permutation $\mu$. E.g. if $d_C(\sigma,\mu)=0$, then $\sigma=\mu$, if $d_C(\sigma,\mu)=1$,...
5
votes
0
answers
76
views
Finite trees with forests realizing all partitions
Removing interiors of some edges in a tree with $n$ vertices leaves a spanning-forest
with $k$ connected components (given by subtrees) having respectively $\lambda_1,\ldots,\lambda_k$
vertices. We ...
3
votes
0
answers
144
views
Ext groups of tensor products of Specht modules
$\newcommand{\sym}{\mathfrak{S}}$
$\DeclareMathOperator{\Ext}{Ext}$
Let $k$ be a field of characteristic $p > 0$ and $a < p \leq b$ so that the $k\sym_a$-modules are semisimple but $k\sym_b$-...
4
votes
1
answer
106
views
Does a finite coresolution with Specht-filtered modules imply a Specht filtration?
$\newcommand{\sym}{\mathfrak{S}}$
$\newcommand{\rarr}{\rightarrow}$
Given a partition $\lambda$ of $n$ and a commutative ring $R$, writing $\sym_n$ for the symmetric group, there is a Specht module $S^...
4
votes
1
answer
214
views
A transitive action on a specific set
Let $G$ be a finite group and $\lambda\in G$, consider a set $$D^{p+*}_{G}(\lambda):=\{P\in S^{p+*}_G|P^{\lambda}=P=[P,\lambda]\}$$ where:
$S^{p+*}_{G}$ denotes the set consisting of all non-trivial $...
3
votes
1
answer
241
views
Probability that k randomly drawn permutations can be arranged to compose to the identity
Consider the symmetric group $S_n$ under the uniform distribution. For integer $k > 1$, suppose we draw $k$ elements $s_1, \dots, s_k$ independently at random. What is the probability that there ...
3
votes
0
answers
155
views
Braid 2-groups, symmetric 2-groups
Is there an object which can be called a "braid 2-group"? Or a "symmetric 2-group"? (Note: not a braided 2-group)
I am ignorant about 2-categories but I hope that a good candidate ...
14
votes
4
answers
2k
views
A finite dimensional algebra associated to the symmetric group
Let $S_n$ be the finite group given as $n \times n$ permutation matrices.
Define for a given field $K$ the algebra $B_n$ as the subalgebra of $M_n(K)$ generated by all permutation matrices of $S_n$. (...
2
votes
1
answer
75
views
Reference for the action of the Mullineux involution on a partition with an added good node
Could you help me to locate a reference in the literature to the following fact: if you act by the Mullineux involution $M$ on a partition $Q$ which is a union of a regular partition $P$ with an added ...
4
votes
1
answer
324
views
What is the $p$-regular partition corresponding to the sign representation of $S_{n}$ over a field of characteristic $p$?
I'm now interested in the modular representation of symmetric groups.
It is well-known that for a fixed prime $p$, there is a bijection between the irreducible representations of $S_{n}$ over a field ...