Lie Powers of Modules for Groups of Prime Order

Let L(V) be the free Lie algebra on a finite-dimensional vectorspace V over a field K, with homogeneous components Lⁿ(V) forn 1. If G is a group and V is a KG-module, the action of Gextends naturally to L(V), and the Lⁿ(V) become finite-dimensionalKG-modules, called the Lie powers of V. In the decompositionproblem, the aim is to identify the isomorphism types of indecomposableKG-modules, with their multiplicities, in unrefinable directdecompositions of the Lie powers. This paper is concerned withthe case where G has prime order p, and K has characteristicp. As is well known, there are p indecomposables, denoted hereby J₁,...,J_p, where J_r has dimension r. A theory is developedwhich provides information about the overall module structureof LV) and gives a recursive method for finding the multiplicitiesof J₁,...,J_p in the Lie powers Lⁿ(V). For example, the theoryyields decompositions of L(V) as a direct sum of modules isomorphiceither to J₁ or to an infinite sum of the form J_r J_{p-1} J_{p-1} ... with r 2. Closed formulae are obtained for the multiplicitiesof J₁,..., J_p in Lⁿ(J_p and Lⁿ(J_{p-1). For r < p-1, the indecomposableswhich occur with non-zero multiplicity in Lⁿ(J_r) are identifiedfor all sufficiently large n. 2000 Mathematical Subject Classification:17B01, 20C20.