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Meinolf Geck

Publications and source records attributed to Meinolf Geck.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
arXiv2016

On the construction of semisimple Lie algebras and Chevalley groups

Let $\mathfrak{g}$ be a semisimple complex Lie algebra. Recently, Lusztig simplified the traditional construction of the corresponding Chevalley groups (of adjoint type) using the "canonical basis" of the adjoint representation of~$\mathfrak{g}$. Here, we present a variation of this idea which leads to a new, and quite elementary construction of~$\mathfrak{g}$ itself from its root system. An additional feature of this set-up is that it also gives rise to explicit Chevalley bases of $\mathfrak{g}$.

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arXiv2016

Reductive groups and Steinberg maps

This is a preliminary version of the first chapter of a book project on the character theory of finite groups of Lie type. It provides the foundations from the general theory of reductive algebraic groups over a finite field.

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arXiv2015

On the $\ell$-modular composition factors of the Steinberg representation

Let $G$ be a finite group of Lie type and $\St_k$ be the Steinberg representation of $G$, defined over a field $k$. We are interested in the case where $k$ has prime characteristic~$\ell$ and $\St_k$ is reducible. Tinberg has shown that the socle of $\St_k$ is always simple. We give a new proof of this result in terms of the Hecke algebra of $G$ with respect to a Borel subgroup and show how to identify the simple socle of $\St_k$ among the principal series representations of~$G$. Furthermore, we determine the composition length of $\St_k$ when $G=\GL_n(q)$ or $G$ is a finite classical group and $\ell$ is a so-called linear prime.

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arXiv2015

Hecke algebras with unequal parameters and Vogan's left cell invariants

In 1979, Vogan introduced a generalised $\τ$ -invariant for characterising primitive ideals in enveloping algebras. Via a known dictionary this translates to an invariant of left cells in the sense of Kazhdan and Lusztig. Although it is not a complete invariant, it is extremely useful in describing left cells. Here, we propose a general framework for defining such invariants which also applies to Hecke algebras with unequal parameters.

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arXiv2014

Coxeter groups and automorphisms

Let $(W,S)$ be a Coxeter system and $Γ$ be a group of automorphisms of $W$ such that $γ(S)=S$ for all $γ\in Γ$. Then it is known that the group of fixed points $W^Γ$ is again a Coxeter group with a canonically defined set of generators. The usual proofs of this fact rely on the reflection representation of $W$. Here, we give a proof which only uses the combinatorics of reduced expressions in $W$. As a by-product, this shows that the length function on $W$ restricts to a weight function on $W^Γ$.

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arXiv2014

Eigenvalues of real symmetric matrices

We present a proof of the existence of real eigenvalues of real symmetric matrices which does not rely on any limit or compactness arguments, but only uses the notions of "sup", "inf".

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arXiv2014

A generalised $τ$-invariant for the unequal parameter case

In 1979, Vogan proposed a generalised $τ$-invariant for characterising primitive ideals in enveloping algebras. Via a known dictionary this translates to an invariant of left cells of finite Weyl groups. Although it is not a complete invariant, it is extremely useful in describing left cells. Here, we propose a general framework for defining such invariants which also applies to Hecke algebras with unequal parameters.

math.RT↗
arXiv2014

On the Kazhdan--Lusztig cells in type $E_8$

In 1979, Kazhdan and Lusztig introduced the notion of "cells" (left, right and two-sided) for a Coxeter group $W$, a concept with numerous applications in Lie theory and around. Here, we address algorithmic aspects of this theory for finite $W$ which are important in applications, e.g., run explicitly through all left cells, determine the values of Lusztig's $\ba$-function, identify the characters of left cell representations. The aim is to show how type $E_8$ (the largest group of exceptional type) can be handled systematically and efficiently, too. This allows us, for the first time, to solve some open questions in this case, including Kottwitz' conjecture on left cells and involutions. Further experiments suggest a characterisation of left cells, valid for any finite $W$, in terms of Lusztig's $\ba$-function and a slight modification of Vogan's generalized $τ$-invariant.

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arXiv2012

Conjugacy classes of involutions and Kazhdan-Lusztig cells

According to an old result of Schützenberger, the involutions in a given two-sided cell of the symmetric group $\SG_n$ are all conjugate. In this paper, we study possible generalisations of this property to other types of Coxeter groups. We show that Schützenberger's result is a special case of a general result on "smooth" two-sided cells. Furthermore, we consider Kottwitz' conjecture concerning the intersections of conjugacy classes of involutions with the left cells in a finite Coxeter group. Our methods lead to a proof of this conjecture for classical types; combined with previous work, this leaves type $E_8$ as the only remaining open case.

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arXiv2012

On Kottwitz' conjecture for twisted involutions

Kottwitz' conjecture is concerned with the intersections of Kazhdan--Lusztig cells with conjugacy classes of involutions in finite Coxeter groups. In joint work with Bonnafé, we have recently found a way to prove this conjecture for groups of type $B_n$ and $D_n$. The argument for type $D_n$ relies on two ingredients which were used there without proof: (1) a strengthened version of the "branching rule" and (2) the consideration of "$\diamond$-twisted" involutions where $\diamond$ is a graph automorphism. In this paper we deal with (1), (2) and complete the argument for type $D_n$; moreover, we establish Kottwitz' conjecture for $\diamond$-twisted involutions in all cases where $\diamond$ is non-trivial.

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arXiv2012

Ordering Lusztig's families in type $B_n$

Let $W$ be a finite Coxeter group and $L$ be a weight function on $W$ in the sense of Lusztig. We have recently introduced a pre-order relation $\preceq_L$ on the set of irreducible characters of $W$ which extends Lusztig's definition of "families" and which, conjecturally, corresponds to the ordering given by Kazhdan--Lusztig cells. Here, we give an explicit description of $\preceq_L$ for $W$ of type $B_n$ and any $L$. (All other cases are known from previous work.) This crucially relies on some new combinatorial constructions around Lusztig's "symbols". Combined with previous work, we deduce general compatibility results between $\preceq_L$ and Lusztig's $\ba$-function, valid for any $W,L$.

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arXiv2012

PyCox: Computing with (finite) Coxeter groups and Iwahori-Hecke algebras

We introduce the computer algebra package {\sf PyCox}, written entirely in the {\sf Python} language. It implements a set of algorithms - in a spirit similar to the older {\sf CHEVIE} system - for working with Coxeter groups and Hecke algebras. This includes a new variation of the traditional algorithm for computing Kazhdan--Lusztig cells and $W$-graphs, which works efficiently for all finite groups of rank $\leq 8$ (except $E_8$). We also discuss the computation of Lusztig's leading coefficients of character values and distinguished involutions (which works for $E_8$ as well). Our experiments suggest a re-definition of Lusztig's "special" representations which, conjecturally, should also apply to the unequal parameter case.

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arXiv2012

Frobenius--Schur indicators of unipotent characters and the twisted involution module

Let $W$ be a finite Weyl group and $\sg$ be a non-trivial graph automorphism of $W$. We show a remarkable relation between the $\sg$-twisted involution module for $W$ and the Frobenius--Schur indicators of the unipotent characters of a corresponding twisted finite group of Lie type. This extends earlier results of Lusztig-Vogan for the untwisted case and then allows us to state a general result valid for any finite group of Lie type. Inspired by recent work of Marberg, we also formally define Frobenius--Schur indicators for "unipotent characters" of twisted dihedral groups.

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arXiv2011

Kazhdan--Lusztig cells and the Frobenius--Schur indicator

Let $W$ be a finite Coxeter group. It is well-known that the number of involutions in $W$ is equal to the sum of the degrees of the irreducible characters of $W$. Following a suggestion of Lusztig, we show that this equality is compatible with the decomposition of $W$ into Kazhdan--Lusztig cells. The proof uses a generalisation of the Frobenius--Schur indicator to symmetric algebras, which may be of independent interest.

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arXiv2010

Some applications of CHEVIE to the theory of algebraic groups

The computer algebra system CHEVIE is designed to facilitate computations with various combinatorial structures arising in Lie theory, like finite Coxeter groups and Hecke algebras. We discuss some recent examples where CHEVIE has been helpful in the theory of algebraic groups, in questions related to unipotent classes, the Springer correspondence and Lusztig families.

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arXiv2010

On the Kazhdan--Lusztig order on cells and families

We consider the set $\Irr(W)$ of (complex) irreducible characters of a finite Coxeter group $W$. The Kazhdan--Lusztig theory of cells gives rise to a partition of $\Irr(W)$ into "families" and to a natural partial order $\leq_{\cLR}$ on these families. Following an idea of Spaltenstein, we show that $\leq_{\cLR}$ can be characterised (and effectively computed) in terms of standard operations in the character ring of $W$. If, moreover, $W$ is the Weyl group of an algebraic group $G$, then $\leq_{\cLR}$ can be interpreted, via the Springer correspondence, in terms of the closure relation among the "special" unipotent classes of $G$.

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