Symmetric powers of Nat SL(2,K)

Abstract

We identify the representations $\mathbb{K}[X^k, X^{k-1}Y, \dots, Y^k]$ among abstract $\mathbb{Z}[\mathrm{SL}_2(\mathbb{K})]$-modules. One result is on $\mathbb{Q}[\mathrm{SL}_2(\mathbb{Z})]$-modules of short nilpotence length and generalises a classical "quadratic" theorem by Smith and Timmesfeld. Another one is on extending the linear structure on the module from the prime field to $\mathbb{K}$. All proofs are by computation in the group ring using the Steinberg relations.