arXiv subjects

Sam Evens

Publications and source records attributed to Sam Evens.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Orbits on a product of two flags and a line and the Bruhat order, II

Let $G=GL(n)$ be the $n\times n$ complex general linear group and let $\B_{n}$ be its flag variety. A Borel subgroup $B$ of $G$ acts on $\B_{n}\times \mathbb{P}^{n-1}$ diagonally with finitely many orbits. In this paper, we give an embedding of the $B$-orbits on $\B_{n}\times \mathbb{P}^{n-1}$ into the $B$-orbits on the flag variety $\B_{n+1}$ of $GL(n+1)$ and show that this correspondence respects closure relations and preserves monoid actions. As a consequence both closure relations and monoid actions on the set of all $B$-orbits on $\B_{n}\times\mathbb{P}^{n-1}$ can be understood via the Bruhat order on the symmetric group on $n+1$ letters by using our results in \cite{Shpairs}. This amplifies work of Magyar \cite{Magyar} by making the closure relation more transparent and allows us to compute the monoid action using Demazure products. If $S_i$ is the stabilizer in $B$ of the line through the ith standard basis vector, we give an embedding of the $S_i$-orbits on $\B_n$ into the $B$-orbits in a single $G$-orbit in $\B_{n+1},$ and this embedding plays an essential role in the above results. We extend results from our papers \cite{CE21I}, \cite{CE21II}, and \cite{Shpairs}, and in particular show that for $S_i$-orbits on $\B_n,$ the closure ordering is given by the Richardson-Springer standard order.

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arXiv2025

Orbits on a product of two flags and a line and the Bruhat Order, I

Let $G=GL(n)$ be the $n\times n$ complex general linear group and let $\mathcal{B}_{n}$ be its flag variety. The standard Borel subgroup $B$ of upper triangular matrices acts on the product $\mathcal{B}_{n}\times \mathbb{P}^{n-1}$ with finitely many orbits. In this paper, we study the $B$-orbits on the subvarieties $\mathcal{B}_{n}\times \mathcal{O}_{i}$, where $\mathcal{O}_{i}$ is the $B$-orbit on $\mathbb{P}^{n-1}$ containing the line through the origin in the direction of the $i$-th standard basis vector of $\mathbb{C}^{n}$. For each $i=1,\dots, n$, we construct a bijection between $B$-orbits on $\mathcal{B}_{n}\times\mathcal{O}_{i}$ and certain pairs of Schubert cells in $\mathcal{B}_{n}\times\mathcal{B}_{n}$. We also show that this bijection can be used to understand the Richardson-Springer monoid action on such $B$-orbits in terms of the classical monoid action of the symmetric group on itself. We also develop combinatorial models of these orbits and use these models to compute exponential generating functions for the sequences $\{|B\backslash(\mathcal{B}_{n}\times\mathcal{O}_{i})|\}_{n\geq 1}$ and $\{|B\backslash (\mathcal{B}_{n}\times \mathbb{P}^{n-1})|\}_{n\geq 1}$. In the sequel to this paper, we use the results of this paper to construct a correspondence between $B$-orbits on $\mathcal{B}_{n}\times\mathbb{P}^{n-1}$ and a collection of $B$-orbits on the flag variety $\mathcal{B}_{n+1}$ of $GL(n+1)$ and show that this correspondence respects closures relations and preserves monoid actions. As a consequence both closure relations and monoid actions for all $B$-orbits on $\mathcal{B}_{n}\times\mathbb{P}^{n-1}$ can be understood via the Bruhat order by using our results in [CE].

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arXiv2024

Wonderful Compactification of a Cartan Subalgebra of a Semisimple Lie Algebra

Let $\mathfrak h$ be a Cartan subalgebra of a complex semisimple Lie algebra $\mathfrak g.$ We define a compactification $\bar {\mathfrak h}$ of $\mathfrak h$, which is analogous to the closure $\bar H$ of the corresponding maximal torus $H$ in the adjoint group of $\mathfrak g$ in its wonderful compactification, which was introduced and studied by De Concini and Procesi \cite{DCP}. We observe that $\bar {\mathfrak h}$ is a matroid Schubert variety and prove that the irreducible components of the boundary $\bar {\mathfrak h} - \mathfrak h$ of $\mathfrak h$ are divisors indexed by root system data. We prove that $\bar {\mathfrak h}$ is a normal variety and find an affine paving of $\bar {\mathfrak h},$ where the strata are given by the orbits of $\mathfrak h.$ We show that the strata of $\bar {\mathfrak h}$ correspond bijectively to subspaces of the corresponding Coxeter hyperplane arrangement studied by Orlik and Solomon, and prove that the associated posets are isomorphic. As a consequence, we express the Betti numbers of $\bar {\mathfrak h}$ in terms of well-known combinatorial invariants in the classical cases. We show that the Weyl group $W$ acts on $\bar {\mathfrak h}$, and describe $H^{\bullet}(\bar {\mathfrak h}, \mathbb C)$ as a representation of $W$, and compute the cup product for $H^{\bullet}(\bar {\mathfrak h}, \mathbb Z)$.

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arXiv2024

$B_{n-1}$-orbits on the flag variety and the Bruhat graph of the symmetric group

Let $G=G_{n}=GL(n)$ be the $n\times n$ complex general linear group and embed $G_{n-1}=GL(n-1)$ in the top left hand corner of $G$. The standard Borel subgroup of upper triangular matrices $B_{n-1}$ of $G_{n-1}$ acts on the flag variety of $G$ with finitely many orbits. In this paper, we show that each $B_{n-1}$-orbit is the intersection of orbits of two Borel subgroups of $G$ acting on the flag variety of $G$. This allows us to give a new combinatorial description of the $B_{n-1}$-orbits by associating to each orbit a pair of Weyl group elements. The closure relations for the $B_{n-1}$-orbits can then be understood in terms of the Bruhat order on the Weyl group, and the Richardson-Springer monoid action on the orbits can be understood in terms of the classical monoid action of the Weyl group on itself. This approach makes the closure relation more transparent than in earlier work of Magyar and the monoid action significantly more computable than in our earlier papers, and also allows us to obtain new information about the orbits including a simple formula for the dimension of an orbit.

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arXiv2021

B_{n-1}-bundles on the flag variety, II

This paper is the sequel to ``$B_{n-1}$-bundles on the flag variety, I". We continue our study of the orbits of a Borel subgroup $B_{n-1}$ of $G_{n-1}=GL(n-1)$ (resp. $SO(n-1)$) acting on the flag variety $\mathcal{B}_{n}$ of $G=GL(n)$ (resp. $SO(n)$). We begin by using the results of the first paper to obtain a complete combinatorial model of the $B_{n-1}$-orbits on $\mathcal{B}_{n}$ in terms of partitions into lists. The model allows us to obtain explicit formulas for the number of orbits as well as the exponential generating functions for the sequences $\{|B_{n-1}\backslash \mathcal{B}_{n}|\}_{n\geq 1}$ . We then use the combinatorial description of the orbits to construct a canonical set of representatives of the orbits in terms of flags. These representatives allow us to understand an extended monoid action on $B_{n-1}\backslash \mathcal{B}_{n}$ using simple roots of both $\mathfrak{g}_{n-1}$ and $\mathfrak{g}$ and show that the closure ordering on $B_{n-1}\backslash \mathcal{B}_{n}$ is the standard ordering of Richardson and Springer.

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arXiv2021

B_{n-1}-bundles on the flag variety, I

We show that each orbit of a Borel subgroup $B_{n-1}$ of GL(n-1) (respectively SO(n-1)) on the flag variety of GL(n) (respectively of SO(n)) is a bundle over a $B_{n-1}$-orbit on a generalized flag variety of GL(n-1) (respectively SO(n-1)), with fiber isomorphic to an orbit of an analogous subgroup on a smaller flag variety. As a consequence, we develop an inductive procedure to classify $B_{n-1}$-orbits on the flag variety. Our method is essentially uniform in the two cases. As further consequences, in the sequel to this paper we give an explicit combinatorial classification of orbits and determine completely the closure relation between orbit closures. This further develops work of Hashimoto in the general linear group case.

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arXiv2020

Abelian Ideals and the Variety of Lagrangian Subalgebras

For a semisimple algebraic group $G$ of adjoint type with Lie algebra $\mathfrak g$ over the complex numbers, we establish a bijection between the set of closed orbits of the group $G \ltimes \mathfrak g^{\ast}$ acting on the variety of Lagrangian subalgebras of $\mathfrak g \ltimes \mathfrak g^{\ast}$ and the set of abelian ideals of a fixed Borel subalgebra of $\mathfrak g$. In particular, the number of such orbits equals $2^{\text{rk} \mathfrak g}$ by Peterson's theorem on abelian ideals.

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arXiv2018

The Complex Orthogonal Gelfand-Zeitlin System

In this paper, we use the theory of algebraic groups to prove a number of new and fundamental results about the orthogonal Gelfand-Zeitlin system. We show that the moment map (orthogonal Kostant-Wallach map) is surjective and simplify criteria of Kostant and Wallach for an element to be strongly regular. We further prove the integrability of the orthogonal Gelfand-Zeitlin system on regular adjoint orbits and describe the generic flows of the integrable system. We also study the nilfibre of the moment map and show that in contrast to the general linear case it contains no strongly regular elements. This extends results of Kostant, Wallach, and Colarusso from the general linear case to the orthogonal case.

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arXiv2014

Eigenvalue Coincidences and Multiplicity Free Spherical Pairs

In recent work, we related the structure of subvarieties of $n\times n$ complex matrices defined by eigenvalue coincidences to $GL(n-1,\mathbb{C})$-orbits on the flag variety of $\mathfrak{gl}(n,\mathbb{C})$. In the first part of this paper, we extend these results to the complex orthogonal Lie algebra $\mathfrak{g}=\mathfrak{so}(n,\mathbb{C})$. In the second part of the paper, we use these results to study the geometry and invariant theory of the $K$-action on $\mathfrak{g}$, in the cases where $(\mathfrak{g}, K)$ is $(\mathfrak{gl}(n,\mathbb{C}), GL(n-1,\mathbb{C}))$ or $(\mathfrak{so}(n,\mathbb{C}), SO(n-1,\mathbb{C}))$. We study the geometric quotient $\mathfrak{g}\to \mathfrak{g}//K$ and describe the closed $K$-orbits on $\mathfrak{g}$ and the structure of the zero fibre. We also prove that for $x\in \mathfrak{g}$, the $K$-orbit $Ad(K)\cdot x$ has maximal dimension if and only if the algebraically independent generators of the invariant ring $\mathbb{C}[\mathfrak{g}]^{K}$ are linearly independent at $x$, which extends a theorem of Kostant. We give applications of our results to the Gelfand-Zeitlin system.

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arXiv2013

Eigenvalue Coincidences and $K$-orbits, I

We study the variety $\mathfrak{g}(l)$ consisting of matrices $x \in \mathfrak{gl}(n,\C)$ such that $x$ and its $n-1$ by $n-1$ cutoff $x_{n-1}$ share exactly $l$ eigenvalues, counted with multiplicity. We determine the irreducible components of $\mathfrak{g}(l)$ by using the orbits of $GL(n-1,\C)$ on the flag variety $\B_n$ of $\mathfrak{gl}(n,\C)$. More precisely, let $\mathfrak{b} \in \B_n$ be a Borel subalgebra such that the orbit $GL(n-1,\C)\cdot \mathfrak{b}$ in $\B_n$ has codimension $l$. Then we show that the set $Y_{\fb}:= \{\Ad(g)(x): x\in \mathfrak{b} \cap \mathfrak{g}(l), g\in GL(n-1,\C)\}$ is an irreducible component of $\mathfrak{g}(l)$, and every irreducible component of of $\mathfrak{g}(l)$ is of the form $Y_{\mathfrak{b}}$, where $\mathfrak{b}$ lies in a $GL(n-1,\C)$-orbit of codimension $l$. An important ingredient in our proof is the flatness of a variant of a morphism considered by Kostant and Wallach, and we prove this flatness assertion using ideas from symplectic geometry.

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arXiv2012

The relative Hochschild-Serre spectral sequence and the Belkale-Kumar product

We consider the Belkale-Kumar cup product $\odot_t$ on $H^*(G/P)$ for a generalized flag variety $G/P$ with parameter $t \in \C^m$, where $m=\dim(H^2(G/P))$. For each $t\in \C^m$, we define an associated parabolic subgroup $P_K \supset P$. We show that the ring $(H^*(G/P), \odot_t)$ contains a graded subalgebra $A$ isomorphic to $H^*(P_K/P)$ with the usual cup product, where $P_K$ is a parabolic subgroup associated to the parameter $t$. Further, we prove that $(H^*(G/P_K), \odot_0)$ is the quotient of the ring $(H^*(G/P), \odot_t)$ with respect to the ideal generated by elements of positive degree of $A$. We prove the above results by using basic facts about the Hochschild-Serre spectral sequence for relative Lie algebra cohomology, and most of the paper consists of proving these facts using the original approach of Hochschild and Serre.

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arXiv2011

The Gelfand-Zeitlin integrable system and K-orbits on the flag variety

In this expository paper, we provide an overview of the Gelfand-Zeiltin integrable system on the Lie algebra of $n\times n$ complex matrices $\fgl(n,\C)$ introduced by Kostant and Wallach in 2006. We discuss results concerning the geometry of the set of strongly regular elements, which consists of the points where Gelfand-Zeitlin flow is Lagrangian. We use the theory of $K_{n}=GL(n-1,\C)\times GL(1,\C)$-orbits on the flag variety $\mathcal{B}_{n}$ of $GL(n,\C)$ to describe the strongly regular elements in the nilfiber of the moment map of the system. We give an overview of the general theory of orbits of a symmetric subgroup of a reductive algebraic group acting on its flag variety, and illustrate how the general theory can be applied to understand the specific example of $K_{n}$ and $GL(n,\C)$.

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arXiv2011

K-orbits on the flag variety and strongly regular nilpotent matrices

In two 2006 papers, Kostant and Wallach constructed a complexified Gelfand-Zeitlin integrable system for the Lie algebra $\fgl(n+1,\C)$ and introduced the strongly regular elements, which are the points where the Gelfand-Zeitlin flow is Lagrangian. Later Colarusso studied the nilfibre, which consists of strongly regular elements such that each $i\times i$ submatrix in the upper left corner is nilpotent. In this paper, we prove that every Borel subalgebra contains strongly regular elements and determine the Borel subalgebras containing elements of the nilfibre by using the theory of $K_{i}=GL(i-1,\C) \times GL(1,\C)$-orbits on the flag variety for $\fgl(i,\C)$ for $2\leq i\leq n+1$. As a consequence, we obtain a more precise description of the nilfibre. The $K_{i}$-orbits contributing to the nilfibre are closely related to holomorphic and anti-holomorphic discrete series for the real Lie groups $U(i,1)$, with $i \le n$.

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arXiv2011

On some invariants of orbits in the flag variety under a symmetric subgroup

Let $G$ be a connected reductive algebraic group over an algebraically closed field ${\bf k}$ of characteristic not equal to 2, let $\B$ be the variety of all Borel subgroups of $G$, and let $K$ be a symmetric subgroup of $G$. Fixing a closed $K$-orbit in $\B$, we associate to every $K$-orbit on $\B$ some subsets of the Weyl group of $G$, and we study them as invariants of the $K$-orbits. When ${\bf k} = {\mathbb C}$, these invariants are used to determine when an orbit of a real form of $G$ and an orbit of a Borel subgroup of $G$ have non-empty intersection in $\B$. We also characterize the invariants in terms of admissible paths in the set of $K$-orbits in $\B$.

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arXiv2011

The Belkale-Kumar cup product and relative Lie algebra cohomology

We study the Belkale-Kumar family of cup products on the cohomology of a generalized flag variety. We give an alternative construction of the family using relative Lie algebra cohomology, and in particular, identify the Belkale-Kumar cup product with a relative Lie algebra cohomology ring for every value of the parameter. As a consequence, we extend a fundamental disjointness result of Kostant to a family of Lie algebras. In an appendix, written jointly with Edward Richmond, we extend a Levi movability result of Belkale and Kumar to arbitrary parameters.

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arXiv2009

On Algebraic Integrability of Gelfand-Zeitlin fields

We generalize a result of Kostant and Wallach concerning the algebraic integrability of the Gelfand-Zeitlin vector fields to the full set of strongly regular elements in $gl(n,\mathbb{C})$. We use decomposition classes to stratify the strongly regular set by subvarieties $X_{D}$. We construct an étale cover $\hat{\mathfrak{g}}$ of $X_{D}$ and show that $X_{D}$ and $\hat{\mathfrak{g}}$ are smooth and irreducible. We then use Poisson geometry to lift the Gelfand-Zeitlin vector fields on $X_{D}$ to Hamiltonian vector fields on $\hat{\mathfrak{g}}$ and integrate these vector fields to an action of a connected, commutative algebraic group.

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arXiv2008

On the wonderful compactification

These lecture notes explain the construction and basic properties of the wonderful compactification of a complex semisimple group of adjoint type. An appendix discusses the more general case of a semisimple symmetric space.

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arXiv2007

Poisson geometry of the Grothendieck resolution of a complex semisimple group

We study a Poisson structure $π$ on the Grothendieck resolution $X$ of a complex semi-simple group $G$ and prove that the desingularization map $μ:(X,π) \to (G,π_0)$ is Poisson, where $π_0$ is a Poisson structure such that intersections of conjugacy classes and opposite Bruhat cells $BwB_-$ are Poisson subvarieties. We compute the symplectic leaves of $X$ and show that $(X, π)$ resolves singularities of $(G, π_0)$.

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