On rational invariants of the group

We prove rationality of the field of invariants in several variables of a minimal irreducible representation of a simple algebraic group of type over an algebraically closed field of characteristic zero.

     

On separating a fixed point from zero by invariants

Assume a fixed point v∈V^G can be separated from zero by a homogeneous invariant f∈𝕜[V]^G of degree p^rd, where p>0 is the characteristic of the ground field 𝕜 and p,d are coprime. We show that then v can also be separated from zero by an invariant of degree p^r, which we obtain explicitly from f. It follows that the minimal degree of a homogeneous invariant separating v from zero is a p-power.     

Constructive Axiomatic Approach to the Determination of the Orbit Spaces of Coregular Compact Linear Groups

We review the proposal of a constructive axiomatic approach to the determination of the orbit spaces of all the real compact linear groups, obtained through the computation of a metric matrix , which is defined only in terms of the scalar products between the gradients p₁(x),...,p_q(x) of the elements of a minimal integrity basis (MIB) for the ring [ⁿ]^G of G-invariant polynomials. The domain of semi-positivity of is known to realize the orbit space ⁿ/G of G as a semi-algebraic variety in the space ^q spanned by the variables p₁,...,p_q. The matrices can be obtained from the solutions of a universal differential equation (master equation), which satisfy convenient initial conditions. The master equation and the initial conditions involve as free parameters only the degrees d_a of the p_a(x)s. This approach tries to bypass the actual impossibility of explicitly determining a set of basic polynomial invariants for each group. Our results may be relevant in physical contexts where the study of covariant or invariant functions is important, like in the determination of patterns of spontaneous symmetry breaking in quantum field theory, in the analysis of phase spaces and structural phase transitions (Landaus theory), in covariant bifurcation theory, in crystal field theory and so on. Mathematics Subject Classifications (2000) 14L24, 13A50, 14L30.This paper is partially supported by INFN and MURST 40% and 60%.     

A user friendly proof of Nagata's characterization of linearly reductive groups in positive characteristics

Let K be an algebraically closed field of positive characteristic p, and G be a linear algebraic group over K. We give a user friendly proof of Nagata's theorem that every finite-dimensional rational representation of G is completely reducible if and only if the connected component G ⁰ is a torus and p does not divide the index (G?:?G ⁰).     

On the 3-Pfister Number of Quadratic Forms

For a field F of characteristic different from 2, containing a square root of -1, endowed with an F^×2-compatible valuation v such that the residue field has at most two square classes, we use a combinatorial analogue of the Witt ring of F to prove that an anisotropic quadratic form over F with even dimension d, trivial discriminant, and Hasse–Witt invariant can be written in the Witt ring as the sum of at most (d²)/8 3-fold Pfister forms.     

On the Chow Ring of a Flag

Let G be a reductive linear algebraic group over an algebraically closed field K, let P? be a parabolic subgroup scheme of G containing a Borel subgroup B, and let P = P?_red ? P? be its reduced part. Then P is reduced, a variety, one of the well known classical parabolic subgroups. For char(K) = p > 3, a classification of the P?'s has been given in [W1]. The Chow ring of G/P only depends on the root system of G. Corresponding to the natural projection from G/P to G/P? there is a map of Chow rings from A(G/P?) to A(G/P). This map will be explicitly described here. Let P = B, and let p > 3. A formula for the multiplication of elements in A(G/P?) will be derived. We will prove that A(G/P?) ? A(G/P) (abstractly as rings) if and only if G/P ? G/P? as varieties, i. e., the Chow ring is sensitive to the thickening. Furthermore, in certain cases A(G/P?) is not any more generated by the elements corresponding to codimension one Schubert cells.     

On the volume of the convex hull of two convex bodies

In this note we examine the volume of the convex hull of two congruent copies of a convex body in Euclidean $n$ -space, under some subsets of the isometry group of the space. We prove inequalities for this volume if the two bodies are translates, or reflected copies of each other about a common point or a hyperplane containing it. In particular, we give a proof of a related conjecture of Rogers and Shephard.     

On the behavior of the algebraic transfer

Let be the algebraic transfer, which is defined by W. Singer as an algebraic version of the geometrical transfer . It has been shown that the algebraic transfer is highly nontrivial and, more precisely, that is an isomorphism for . However, Singer showed that is not an epimorphism. In this paper, we prove that does not detect the nonzero element for every . As a consequence, the localized given by inverting the squaring operation is not an epimorphism. This gives a negative answer to a prediction by Minami.

     

A Generalisation of Nagata's Theorem on Ruled Surfaces

We prove a generalisation of a theorem of Nagata on ruled surface to the case of the fiber bundle E/P X, associated to a principal G-bundle E. Using this we prove boundedness for the isomorphism classes of semi-stable G-bundles in all characteristics.     

Orthogonal invariants of skew-symmetric matrices

The algebra of invariants of d-tuples of n?×?n skew-symmetric matrices under the action of the orthogonal group by simultaneous conjugation is considered over an infinite field of characteristic different from two. For n?=?3 and d?>?0 a minimal set of generators is established. A homogeneous system of parameters (i.e. an algebraically independent set such that the algebra of invariants is a finitely generated free module over subalgebra generated by this set) is described for n?=?3 and d?>?0, for n?=?4 and d?=?2,?3, for n?=?5 and d?=?2.     

Complete reducibility,Külshammer’s question,conjugacy classes: A D4 example

Let k be a nonperfect separably closed field. Let G be a connected reductive algebraic group defined over k. We study rationality problems for Serre’s notion of complete reducibility of subgroups of G. In particular, we present a new example of subgroup H of G of type D₄ in characteristic 2 such that H is G-completely reducible but not G-completely reducible over k (or vice versa). This is new: all known such examples are for G of exceptional type. We also find a new counterexample for Külshammer’s question on representations of finite groups for G of type D₄. A problem concerning the number of conjugacy classes is also considered. The notion of nonseparable subgroups plays a crucial role in all our constructions.     

On triangulations of the convex hull ofn points

A setS ofn points in Euclideand-space determines a convex hull which can be triangulated into some numberm of simplices using the points ofS as vertices. We characterize those setsS for which all triangulations minimizem. This is used to characterize sets of points maximizing the volume of the smallest non-trivial simplex. This work was supported in part by NSF Grants MCS 81-02519 and MCS 82-03347. This work supported in part by NSF Grants MCS 81-02519 and MCS 82-03347 Dedicated to Paul Erdős on his seventieth birthday     

Cohomology of classical algebraic groups from the functorial viewpoint

We prove that extension groups in strict polynomial functor categories compute the rational cohomology of classical algebraic groups. This result was previously known only for general linear groups. We give several applications to the study of classical algebraic groups, such as a cohomological stabilization property, the injectivity of external cup products, and the existence of Hopf algebra structures on the (stable) cohomology of a classical algebraic group with coefficients in a Hopf algebra. Our result also opens the way to new explicit cohomology computations. We give an example inspired by recent computations of Djament and Vespa.