Homological algebra for affine Hecke algebras

In this paper we study homological properties of modules over an affine Hecke algebra H. In particular we prove a comparison result for higher extensions of tempered modules when passing to the Schwartz algebra S, a certain topological completion of the affine Hecke algebra. The proof is self-contained and based on a direct construction of a bounded contraction of certain standard resolutions of H-modules.This construction applies for all positive parameters of the affine Hecke algebra. This is an important feature, since it is an ingredient to analyse how the irreducible discrete series representations of H arise in generic families over the parameter space of H. For irreducible non-simply laced affine Hecke algebras this will enable us to give a complete classification of the discrete series characters, for all positive parameters (we will report on this application in a separate article).     

Spin Hecke algebras of finite and affine types

We introduce the spin Hecke algebra, which is a q-deformation of the spin symmetric group algebra, and its affine generalization. We establish an algebra isomorphism which relates our spin (affine) Hecke algebras to the (affine) Hecke-Clifford algebras of Olshanski and Jones-Nazarov. Relation between the spin (affine) Hecke algebra and a nonstandard presentation of the usual (affine) Hecke algebra is displayed, and the notion of covering (affine) Hecke algebra is introduced to provide a link between these algebras. Various algebraic structures for the spin (affine) Hecke algebra are established.     

Skew quasisymmetric Schur functions and noncommutative Schur functions

Recently a new basis for the Hopf algebra of quasisymmetric functions QSym, called quasisymmetric Schur functions, has been introduced by Haglund, Luoto, Mason, van Willigenburg. In this paper we extend the definition of quasisymmetric Schur functions to introduce skew quasisymmetric Schur functions. These functions include both classical skew Schur functions and quasisymmetric Schur functions as examples, and give rise to a new poset LC that is analogous to Young's lattice. We also introduce a new basis for the Hopf algebra of noncommutative symmetric functions NSym. This basis of NSym is dual to the basis of quasisymmetric Schur functions and its elements are the pre-image of the Schur functions under the forgetful map χ:NSym→Sym. We prove that the multiplicative structure constants of the noncommutative Schur functions, equivalently the coefficients of the skew quasisymmetric Schur functions when expanded in the quasisymmetric Schur basis, are nonnegative integers, satisfying a Littlewood–Richardson rule analogue that reduces to the classical Littlewood–Richardson rule under χ.As an application we show that the morphism of algebras from the algebra of Poirier–Reutenauer to Sym factors through NSym. We also extend the definition of Schur functions in noncommuting variables of Rosas–Sagan in the algebra NCSym to define quasisymmetric Schur functions in the algebra NCQSym. We prove these latter functions refine the former and their properties, and project onto quasisymmetric Schur functions under the forgetful map. Lastly, we show that by suitably labeling LC, skew quasisymmetric Schur functions arise in the theory of Pieri operators on posets.     

Presenting generalized Schur algebras in types B, C, D

We give explicit presentations by generators and relations of certain generalized Schur algebras (associated with tensor powers of the natural representation) in types B, C, D. This extends previous results in type A obtained by two of the authors. The presentation is compatible with the Serre presentation of the corresponding universal enveloping algebra. In types C, D this gives a presentation of the corresponding classical Schur algebra (the image of the representation on a tensor power) since the classical Schur algebra coincides with the generalized Schur algebra in those types. This coincidence between the generalized and classical Schur algebra fails in type B, in general.     

Bounds on the global dimension of certain piecewise hereditary categories

We give bounds on the global dimension of a finite length, piecewise hereditary category in terms of quantitative connectivity properties of its graph of indecomposables.We use this to show that the global dimension of a finite-dimensional, piecewise hereditary algebra A cannot exceed 3 if A is an incidence algebra of a finite poset or more generally, a sincere algebra. This bound is tight.     

Affine transformations of finite vector spaces with large orders or few cycles

Let V be a d-dimensional vector space over a field of prime order p. We classify the affine transformations of V   of order at least p^d/4$p^d/4$, and apply this classification to determine the finite primitive permutation groups of affine type, and of degree n  , that contain a permutation of order at least n/4$n/4$. Using this result we obtain a classification of finite primitive permutation groups of affine type containing a permutation with at most four cycles.     

Weights of multipartitions and representations of Ariki-Koike algebras

We consider representations of the Ariki-Koike algebra, a q-deformation of the group algebra of the complex reflection group C_r?S_n. The representations of this algebra are naturally indexed by multipartitions of n, and for each multipartition λ we define a non-negative integer called the weight of λ. We prove some basic properties of this weight function, and examine blocks of small weight.     

Spin invariant theory for the symmetric group

We formulate a theory of invariants for the spin symmetric group in some suitable modules which involve the polynomial and exterior algebras. We solve the corresponding graded multiplicity problem in terms of specializations of the Schur Q-functions and a shifted q-hook formula. In addition, we provide a bijective proof for a formula of the principal specialization of the Schur Q-functions.     

A geometric Schur–Weyl duality for quotients of affine Hecke algebras

After establishing a geometric Schur–Weyl duality in a general setting, we recall this duality in type A in the finite and affine case. We extend the duality in the affine case to positive parts of the affine algebras. The positive parts have nice ideals coming from geometry, allowing duality for quotients. Some of the quotients of the positive affine Hecke algebra are then identified to some cyclotomic Hecke algebras and the geometric setting allows the construction of canonical bases.     

Affine Quasi-Heredity of Affine Schur Algebras

In this paper we prove that the affine Schur algebra \(\widehat {S}(n,r)\) is affine quasi-hereditary. This result is then used to show that the centralizer subquotient algebras of \(\widehat {S}(n,r)\) are Laurent polynomial algebras. Moreover, we give a parameter set of simple \(\widehat {S}(n,r)\)-modules and identify this parameter set with that given in [7]. In the Appendix, the affine quasi-heredity of affine quantum Schur algebras is studied.     

Cyclotomic Solomon algebras

This paper introduces an analogue of the Solomon descent algebra for the complex reflection groups of type G(r,1,n). As with the Solomon descent algebra, our algebra has a basis given by sums of ‘distinguished’ coset representatives for certain ‘reflection subgroups.’ We explicitly describe the structure constants with respect to this basis and show that they are polynomials in r. This allows us to define a deformation, or q-analogue, of these algebras which depends on a parameter q. We determine the irreducible representations of all of these algebras and give a basis for their radicals. Finally, we show that the direct sum of cyclotomic Solomon algebras is canonically isomorphic to a concatenation Hopf algebra.     

The Core of a Locally Extended Affine Lie Algebra

Locally extended affine Lie algebras are a general version of extended affine Lie algebras. In this article, we completely describe the structure of the core of a locally extended affine Lie algebra. We prove that the core of a locally extended affine Lie algebra is a direct limit of Lie tori.     

Conjugation in Brauer algebras and applications to character theory

The Brauer algebra has a basis of diagrams and these generate a monoid H consisting of scalar multiples of diagrams. Following a recent paper by Kudryavtseva and Mazorchuk, we define and completely determine three types of conjugation in H. We are thus able to define Brauer characters for Brauer algebras which share many of the properties of Brauer characters defined for finite groups over a field of prime characteristic. Furthermore, we reformulate and extend the theory of characters for Brauer algebras as introduced by Ram to the case when the Brauer algebra is not semisimple.     

The Schur group of an abelian number field

We characterize the maximum r-local index of a Schur algebra over an abelian number field K in terms of global information determined by the field K for an arbitrary rational prime, r. This completes and unifies previous results of Janusz in [G.J. Janusz, The Schur group of an algebraic number field, Ann. of Math. (2) 103 (1976) 253-281] and Pendergrass in [J.W. Pendergrass, The 2-part of the Schur group, J. Algebra 41 (1976) 422-438].     

Topologically Algebraic Algebras

We show that a locally convex algebra is topologically algebraic if, and only if, it is algebraic.Thanks are offered to Professor M. Oudadess for many remarks which allowed an improvement of the first version of this paper. We are also indebted to Professor A. Mallios for valuable suggestions.     

Schur Superalgebras in Characteristic p

The structure of a Schur superalgebra S = S(1 ∣ 1, r) in odd characteristic p is completely determined. The algebra S is semisimple if and only if p does not divide r. If p divides r, then simple S-modules are one-dimensional and the quiver and relations of S can be immediately seen from its regular representation computed in this paper. Surprisingly, if p divides r, then S is neither quasi-hereditary nor cellular nor stratified, as one would expect by analogy with classical Schur algebras or Schur superalgebras in characteristc zero.     

Affine and degenerate affine BMW algebras: actions on tensor space

The affine and degenerate affine Birman–Murakami–Wenzl (BMW) algebras arise naturally in the context of Schur–Weyl duality for orthogonal and symplectic quantum groups and Lie algebras, respectively. Cyclotomic BMW algebras, affine and cyclotomic Hecke algebras, and their degenerate versions are quotients of the affine and degenerate affine BMW algebras. In this paper, we explain how the affine and degenerate affine BMW algebras are tantalizers (tensor power centralizer algebras) by defining actions of the affine braid group and the degenerate affine braid algebra on tensor space and showing that, in important cases, these actions induce actions of the affine and degenerate affine BMW algebras. We then exploit the connection to quantum groups and Lie algebras to determine universal parameters for the affine and degenerate affine BMW algebras. Finally, we show that the universal parameters are central elements—the higher Casimir elements for orthogonal and symplectic enveloping algebras and quantum groups.     

Index reduction formulas for twisted flag varieties, I.

A general formula is proved for the change in the Schur index of a central simple algebra on passing from the ground field F to the function field F(X) of a twisted flag variety X, i.e., a projective variety such that there is an adjoint semisimple algebraic group G acting on X over F such that the action becomes transitive over the separable closure of F. The general formula encompasses special cases previously proved where X is a Brauer-Severi variety, or a generic partial splitting variety of a central simple algebra, or the transfer of such a variety, a quadric, or the involution variety of an algebra with orthogonal involution. For the classical simple groups G of inner type, all the corresponding varieties X are described, and the specific index reduction formula is given for each such X.The second author would like to express his thanks to J.-L. Colliot-Thélène for stimulating discussions on this subject.Supported in part by the NSF.