Tag Archives: representation theory

Splitting fields of representations of generalized symmetric groups, 8

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In this post, we give an example.

Let G=C_3^8\, >\!\!\lhd \, S_8 and let

\pi = \theta_{\mu,\rho}=Ind_{G_\mu}^G(\mu\cdot \tilde{\rho}),

where \mu is a character of C_3^8 and \rho is an irreducible representation of its stabilizer in S_8, (S_8)_\mu.

The real representations \pi of G are the ones for which

  1. \mu is represented by a character of the form

    (1,1,1,1,1,1,\omega,\omega^2) \ {\rm or}\ (1,1,...,1),

    and \rho anything, or

  2. \mu is represented by a character of the form

    (1,1,1,1,\omega,\omega,\omega^2,\omega^2), \rho_1=(\pi_1,\pi_2,\pi_2)\in (S_4)^*\times (S_2)^*\times (S_2)^*,

    or

  3. \mu is represented by a character of the form

    (\omega,\omega,\omega,\omega,\omega^2,\omega^2,\omega^2,\omega^2), \rho_1=(\pi_2,\pi_2)\in (S_4)^*\times (S_4)^*,

    or

  4. \mu is represented by a character of the form

    (1,1,\omega,\omega,\omega,\omega^2,\omega^2,\omega^2), \rho_1=(\pi_1,\pi_2,\pi_2)\in (S_2)^*\times (S_3)^*\times (S_3)^*.

The complex representations of G are: the representations
whose characters have at least one complex value. Such representations \pi = \theta_{\mu,\rho} are characterized by the fact that (\mu,\rho) is inequivalent to (\overline{\mu},\rho) under the obvious $S_8$-equivalence relation (which can be determined from the equivalence relation for representations in G^*).

The complex representations of G are the remaining representations not included in the above list.

There are no quaternionic representations of G.

The claims above follow from the fact that a representation
\theta_{\rho,\mu} is complex if and only if \mu is not self-dual.

Splitting fields of representations of generalized symmetric groups, 7

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In this post, we discover which representations of the generalized symmetric group G = S_n\ wr\ C_\ell = C_\ell^n\, >\!\!\lhd \, S_n can be realized over a given abelian extension of {\mathbb{Q}}.

Let \theta_{\mu,\rho}\in G^* be the representation defined previously, where \rho\in ((S_n)_\mu)^*.

Let K\subset {\mathbb{Q}}(\zeta_\ell) be a subfield, where \zeta_\ell is a primitive \ell^{th} root of unity. Assume K contains the field generated by the values of the character of \theta_{\mu,\rho}. Assume K/{\mathbb{Q}} is Galois and let \Gamma_K=Gal({\mathbb{Q}}(\zeta_\ell)/K). Note if we regard C_\ell as a subset of {\mathbb{Q}}(\zeta_\ell) then there is an induced action of \Gamma_K on C_\ell,

\sigma:\mu \longmapsto \mu^\sigma, \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \mu\in (C_\ell)^*,\ \ \sigma\in \Gamma_K,

where \mu^\sigma(z)=\mu(\sigma^{-1}(z)), z\in C_\ell. This action extends to an action on (C_\ell^n)^*=(C_\ell^*)^n.

Key Lemma:
In the notation above, \theta_{\mu,\rho}\cong\theta_{\mu,\rho}^\sigma if and only if \mu is equivalent to \mu^\sigma under the action of S_n on (C_\ell^n)^*.

Let

n_\mu(\chi)=|\{i\ |\ 1\leq i\leq n,\ \mu_i=\chi\}|,

where \mu=(\mu_1,...,\mu_n)\in (C_\ell^n)^* and \chi\in C_\ell^*.

Theorem: The character of \theta_{\mu,\rho}\in G^* has values in K if and only if n_\mu(\chi)=n_\mu(\chi^\sigma),
for all \sigma\in \Gamma_K and all \chi\in C_\ell^*.

This theorem is proven in this paper.

We now determine the splitting field of any irreducible character of a generalized symmetric group.

Theorem: Let \chi=tr(\theta_{\rho,\mu}) be an irreducible character of G=S_n\ wr\ C_\ell. We have

Gal({\mathbb{Q}}(\zeta_\ell)/{\mathbb{Q}}(\chi))= Stab_\Gamma(\chi).

This theorem is also proven in this paper.

In the next post we shall give an example.

Splitting fields of representations of generalized symmetric groups, 6

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This post shall list some properties of the Schur index m_F(G) in the case where G = S_n\ wr\ C_\ell is a generalized symmetric group and F is either the reals or rationals.

Let \eta_k(z)=z^k, for z\in C_\ell, 1\leq k\leq \ell.

Theorem: Let G = S_n\ wr\ C_\ell. Let \mu=(\eta_{e_1},...,\eta_{e_n})\in (C_\ell^n)^*, for some e_j\in \{0,...,\ell-1\}, and let \rho\in (S_n)_\mu^*. Let
\chi denotes the character of \theta_{\mu,\rho}.

  1. Suppose that one of the following conditions holds:
    1. 4|\ell and \overline{e_1+...+e_n} divides \overline{\ell/4} in {\mathbb{Z}}/\ell {\mathbb{Z}}, or
    2. (e_1+...+e_n,\ell)=1,

    Then m_{\Bbb{Q}}(\chi)=1.

  2. Suppose that one of the following conditions holds:
    1. (n,\ell)=1, 4|\ell, and (e_1+...+e_n)x\equiv \ell /4\ ({\rm mod}\ \ell) is not solvable, or
    2. (n,\ell)=1 and (e_1+...+e_n,\ell)>1.

    Then m_{\mathbb{Q}}(\chi\eta_1)=1.

This theorem is proven in this paper. Benard has shown that m_{\mathbb{Q}}(\chi)=1, for all \chi as in the above theorem.

Since the Schur index over {\mathbb{Q}} of any irreducible character \chi of a generalized symmetric group G is equal to 1, each such character is associated to a representation \pi all of whose matrix coefficients belong to the splitting field {\mathbb{Q}}(\chi).

What is the splitting field {\mathbb{Q}}(\chi), for \chi\in G^*?

This will be addressed in the next post.

Splitting fields of representations of generalized symmetric groups, 5

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It is a result of Benard (Schur indices and splitting fields of the unitary reflection groups, J. Algebra, 1976) that the Schur index over {\mathbb{Q}} of any irreducible character of a generalized symmetric group is equal to 1. This post recalls, for the sake of comparison with the literature, other results known about the Schur index in this case.

Suppose that G is a finite group and \pi \in G^* is an irreducible representation of G, \pi :G\rightarrow Aut(V), for some complex vector space V. We say that \pi may be realized over a subfield F\subset {\mathbb{C}} if there is an F-vector space V_0 and an action of G on V_0 such that V and {\mathbb{C}}\otimes V_0 are equivalent representations of G, where G acts on {\mathbb{C}}\otimes V_0 by “extending scalars” in V_0 from F to {\mathbb{C}}. Such a representation is called an F-representation. In other words, \pi is an F-representation provided it is equivalent to a representation which can be written down explicitly using matrices with entries in F.

Suppose that the character \chi of \pi has the property that

\chi(g)\in F, \ \ \ \ \ \ \forall g\in G,

for some subfield F\subset {\mathbb{C}} independent of g. It is unfortunately true that, in general, \pi is not necessarily an F-representation. However, what is remarkable is that, for some m\geq 1, there are m representations, \pi_1,...,\pi_m, all equivalent to \pi, such that \pi_1\oplus ...\oplus \pi_m is an F-representation. The precise theorem is the following remarkable fact.

Theorem: (Schur) Let \chi be an irreducible character and let F be any field containing the values of \chi. There is an integer m \geq 1 such that m\chi is the character of an F-representation.

The smallest m\geq 1 in the above theorem is called the Schur index and denoted m_F(\chi).

Next, we introduce some notation:

  1. let {\mathbb{R}}(\pi) = {\mathbb{R}}(\chi) denote the extension field of {\mathbb{R}} obtained by adjoining all the values of \chi(g)\ ($g\in G$), where \chi is the character of \pi,
  2. let \nu(\pi) = \nu(\chi) denote the Frobenius-Schur indicator of \pi (so \nu(\pi)= {1\over |G|}\sum_{g\in G} \chi(g^2)),
  3. let m_{\mathbb{R}}(\pi) = m_{\mathbb{R}}(\chi) denote the Schur multiplier of \pi (by definition, the smallest integer m\geq 1 such that $m\chi$ can be realized over {\mathbb{R}} (this integer exists, by the above-mentioned theorem of Schur).

The following result shows how the Schur index behaves under induction (see Proposition 14.1.8 in G. Karpilovsky,
Group representations, vol. 3, 1994).

Proposition: Let \chi be an irreducible character of G and let \psi denote an irreducible character of a subgroup H of G. If = 1 then m_{\Bbb{R}}(\chi) divides m_{\Bbb{R}}(\psi).

A future post shall list some properties of the Schur index in the case where G is a generalized symmetric group and F is either the reals or rationals.

Splitting fields of representations of generalized symmetric groups, 4

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This post if an aside on cyclotomic fields and Tchebysheff polynomials. Though it seems certain this material is known, I know of no reference.

Let n denote a positive integer divisible by 4, let r=\cos(2\pi/n), s=\sin(2\pi/n), and let d=n/4. If

T_1(x)=x,\ \ T_2(x)=2x^2-1,\ \ T_3(x)=4x^3-3x,\ \ T_4(x)=8x^4-8x^2+1,\ \ ...,

denote the Tchebysheff polynomials (of the 1st kind), defined by

\cos(n\theta)=T_n(\cos(\theta)),

then T_d(r)=0.

Let \zeta_n=exp(2\pi i/n) and let F_n={\mathbb{Q}}(\zeta_n) denote the cyclotomic field of degree \phi(n) over {\mathbb{Q}}. If \sigma_j\in Gal(F_n/{\Bbb{Q}}) is defined by \sigma_j(\zeta_n)=\zeta_n^j then

Gal(F_n/{\Bbb{Q}})\cong ({\Bbb{Z}}/n{\Bbb{Z}})^\times,

where \sigma_j\longmapsto j.

Lemma: Assume n is divisible by 4.

  1. {\mathbb{Q}}(r) is the maximal real subfield of F_n, Galois over {\mathbb{Q}} with

    Gal(F_n/{\Bbb{Q}}(r))=\{1,\tau\},

    where $\tau$ denotes complex conjugation. Under the canonical isomorphism

    Gal(F_n/{\Bbb{Q}})\cong ({\Bbb{Z}}/n{\Bbb{Z}})^\times,

    we have

    Gal({\Bbb{Q}}(r)/{\Bbb{Q}})\cong ({\Bbb{Z}}/n{\Bbb{Z}})^\times/\{\pm 1\}.

  2. If n is divisible by 8 then r and s are conjugate roots of T_d. In particular, s\in {\mathbb{Q}}(r) and T_d(s)=0.

  3. We have \sigma_j(r)=T_j(r).
  4. If n\geq 4 is a power of 2 then T_d is the minimal polynomial of {\mathbb{Q}}(r). Furthermore, in this case

    \cos(\pi/4)=\sqrt{2}/2,\ \ \cos(\pi/8)=\sqrt{2+\sqrt{2}}/2,\ \ \cos(\pi/16)=\sqrt{2+\sqrt{2+\sqrt{2}}}/2,\ \ ... .

Splitting fields of representations of generalized symmetric groups, 3

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The representations of a semi-direct product of a group H by an abelian group A, written G=A\, >\!\!\lhd \, H (so A is normal in G) can be described explicitly in terms of the representations of A and H. The purpose of this post is to explain how this is done.

Again, a good reference for all this is Serre’s well-known book, Linear representations of finite groups.

Let f be a class function on $H$. Extend f to G trivially as follows:

f^0(g)= \left\{ \begin{array}{cc} f(g),&g\in H,\\ 0, & g\notin H, \end{array} \right.

for all g\in G. This is not a class function on G in general. To remedy this, we “average over G” using conjugation: Define the function f^G=Ind_H^G(f) induced by f to be

Ind_H^G(f)(g)={1\over |H|}\sum_{x\in G} f^0(x^{-1}gx)=\sum_{x\in G/H}f^0(x^{-1}gx).

This is referred to as the Frobenius formula.

Since A is normal in G, G acts on the vector space of formal complex linear combinations of elements of A^* (=the characters of A),

V={\mathbb{C}}[A^*]=span\{\mu\ |\ \mu\in A^*\},

by

(g\mu)(a)=\mu(g^{-1}ag),\ \ \ \ \forall g\in G,\ a\in A,\ \mu\in A^*.

We may restrict this action to H, giving us a homomorphism \phi^*:H\rightarrow S_{A^*}, where S_{A^*} denotes the symmetric group of all permutations of the set A^*. This restricted action is an equivalence relation on A^* which we refer to below as the H-equivalence relation}. Let [A^*] denote the set of equivalence classes of this equivalence relation. If \mu,\mu' belong to the same equivalence class then we write

\mu'\sim \mu

(or \mu'\sim_H\mu if there is any possible ambiguity). When there is no harm, we identify each element of [A^*] with a character of A.

Suppose that H acts on A by means of the automorphism given by a homomorphism \phi:H\rightarrow S_{A}, where S_{A} denotes the symmetric group of all permutations of the set A. In this case, two characters \tau,\tau'\in A^* are equivalent if there is an element h\in H such that, for all a\in A, we have \tau'(a)=\tau(\phi(h)(a)).

For each \mu\in [A^*], let

H_{\mu}=\{h\in H\ |\ h\mu = \mu\}.

This group is called the stabilizer of \mu in H. Let

G_{\mu}=A\, >\!\!\lhd \, H_{\mu},

for each \mu\in [A^*]. There is a natural projection map

p_{\mu}:G_{\mu}\rightarrow H_{\mu}

given by ah\longmapsto h, i.e., by p_\mu(ah)=a.

Extend each character \mu\in [A^*] from H_{\mu} to G_{\mu} trivially by defining

\mu(ah)=\mu(a),

for all a\in A and h\in H_{\mu}. This defines a character \mu\in G^*_{\mu}. For each \rho\in H_{\mu}^*, say \rho:H_{\mu} \rightarrow Aut(V), let \tilde{\rho}\in G_{\mu}^* denote the representation of G_{\mu} obtained by pulling back \rho via the projection p_\mu:G_{\mu}\rightarrow H_{\mu}, i.e., define

\tilde{\rho}=\rho\circ p_{\mu}.

For each \mu \in [A^*] and \rho\in H_\mu^* as above, let

\theta_{\mu,\rho}=Ind_{G_\mu}^G(\mu\cdot \tilde{\rho}).

Finally, we can completely describe all the irreducible representations of G=A\, >\!\!\lhd \, H. (This is Proposition 25 in chapter 8 of Serre’s book.)

Theorem:

  1. For each \mu \in [A^*] and \rho\in H_\mu^*, as above, then \theta_{\mu,\rho} is an irreducible representation of G.
  2. Suppose \mu_1,\mu_2 \in [A^*], \rho_1\in H_{\mu_1}^*, \rho_2\in H_{\mu_2}^*. If \theta_{\mu_1,\rho_1}\cong \theta_{\mu_2,\rho_2} then \mu_1\sim \mu_2 and \rho_1\cong \rho_2.
  3. If \pi is an irreducible representation of G then \pi\cong \theta_{\mu,\rho}, for some \mu \in [A^*] and \rho\in H_{\mu}^* as above.

In the next post, we will examine the special case A=C_\ell^n and H=S_n.

Splitting fields of representations of generalized symmetric groups, 2

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In general, there are three types of (complex) representations of a finite group G. (A good reference for all this is Serre’s well-known book, Linear representations of finite groups.)

Let \rho:H\rightarrow Aut(W) be an n-dimensional irreducible representation of a finite group G on a complex vector space W. Let \chi denote the character of \rho.

Exactly one of the following possibilities must hold:

  • One of the values of the character \chi is not real. Such representations will be called complex (or type 1 or unitary).
  • All the values of \chi are real and \rho is realizable by a representation over a real vector space. Such representations will be called real (or type 2 or orthogonal).
  • All the values of \chi are real but \rho is not realizable by a representation over a real vector space. Such representations will be called quaternionic (or type 3 or symplectic).

Proposition (Frobenius-Schur): Let \rho:H\rightarrow Aut(W) be an irreducible representation of a finite group G on a complex vector space W with character $\chi$. Then

{1\over |G|} \sum_{g\in G}\chi(g^2)= \left\{ \begin{array}{cc} 0,&\rho\ {\rm complex},\\ 1,&\rho\ {\rm real},\\ -1,&\rho\ {\rm quaternionic}. \end{array} \right.

This quantity is sometimes called the Frobenius-Schur indicator of \rho.

It can be shown that if \rho \rho'\cong \rho are equivalent representations then \rho and \rho' have the same type.

In the next post we will examine the types that the irreducible representations of semi-direct product G=C_\ell^n\, >\!\!\lhd \, S_n fall into.