Reflection groups and invariant theory is a branch of mathematics that lies at the intersection between geometry and algebra. The book contains a deep and elegant theory, evolved from various graduate courses given by the author over the past 10 years.
Reflection groups and invariant theory is a branch of mathematics that lies at the intersection between geometry and algebra. The book contains a deep and elegant theory, evolved from various graduate courses given by the author over the past 10 years.
This book covers basic properties of complex reflection groups, such as characterization, Steinberg theorem, Gutkin-Opdam matrices, Solomon theorem and applications, including the basic findings of Springer theory on eigenspaces.
This graduate textbook presents a concrete and up-to-date introduction to the theory of Coxeter groups. The book is self-contained, making it suitable either for courses and seminars or for self-study. The first part is devoted to establishing concrete examples. Finite reflection groups acting on Euclidean spaces are discussed, and the first part ends with the construction of the affine Weyl groups, a class of Coxeter groups that plays a major role in Lie theory. The second part (which is logically independent of, but motivated by, the first) develops from scratch the properties of Coxeter groups in general, including the Bruhat ordering and the seminal work of Kazhdan and Lusztig on representations of Hecke algebras associated with Coxeter groups is introduced. Finally a number of interesting complementary topics as well as connections with Lie theory are sketched. The book concludes with an extensive bibliography on Coxeter groups and their applications.
Chapter 1 introduces some of the terminology and notation used later and indicates prerequisites. Chapter 2 gives a reasonably thorough account of all finite subgroups of the orthogonal groups in two and three dimensions. The presentation is somewhat less formal than in succeeding chapters. For instance, the existence of the icosahedron is accepted as an empirical fact, and no formal proof of existence is included. Throughout most of Chapter 2 we do not distinguish between groups that are "geo metrically indistinguishable," that is, conjugate in the orthogonal group. Very little of the material in Chapter 2 is actually required for the sub sequent chapters, but it serves two important purposes: It aids in the development of geometrical insight, and it serves as a source of illustrative examples. There is a discussion offundamental regions in Chapter 3. Chapter 4 provides a correspondence between fundamental reflections and funda mental regions via a discussion of root systems. The actual classification and construction of finite reflection groups takes place in Chapter 5. where we have in part followed the methods of E. Witt and B. L. van der Waerden. Generators and relations for finite reflection groups are discussed in Chapter 6. There are historical remarks and suggestions for further reading in a Post lude.
The questions that have been at the center of invariant theory since the 19th century have revolved around the following themes: finiteness, computation, and special classes of invariants. This book begins with a survey of many concrete examples chosen from these themes in the algebraic, homological, and combinatorial context. In further chapters, the authors pick one or the other of these questions as a departure point and present the known answers, open problems, and methods and tools needed to obtain these answers. Chapter 2 deals with algebraic finiteness. Chapter 3 deals with combinatorial finiteness. Chapter 4 presents Noetherian finiteness. Chapter 5 addresses homological finiteness. Chapter 6 presents special classes of invariants, which deal with modular invariant theory and its particular problems and features. Chapter 7 collects results for special classes of invariants and coinvariants such as (pseudo) reflection groups and representations of low degree. If the ground field is finite, additional problems appear and are compensated for in part by the emergence of new tools. One of these is the Steenrod algebra, which the authors introduce in Chapter 8 to solve the inverse invariant theory problem, around which the authors have organized the last three chapters. The book contains numerous examples to illustrate the theory, often of more than passing interest, and an appendix on commutative graded algebra, which provides some of the required basic background. There is an extensive reference list to provide the reader with orientation to the vast literature.
Multiplicative invariant theory, as a research area in its own right within the wider spectrum of invariant theory, is of relatively recent vintage. The present text offers a coherent account of the basic results achieved thus far.. Multiplicative invariant theory is intimately tied to integral representations of finite groups. Therefore, the field has a predominantly discrete, algebraic flavor. Geometry, specifically the theory of algebraic groups, enters through Weyl groups and their root lattices as well as via character lattices of algebraic tori. Throughout the text, numerous explicit examples of multiplicative invariant algebras and fields are presented, including the complete list of all multiplicative invariant algebras for lattices of rank 2. The book is intended for graduate and postgraduate students as well as researchers in integral representation theory, commutative algebra and, mostly, invariant theory.
A unitary reflection is a linear transformation of a complex vector space that fixes each point in a hyperplane. Intuitively, it resembles the transformation an image undergoes when it is viewed through a kaleidoscope, or an arrangement of mirrors. This book gives a complete classification of all finite groups which are generated by unitary reflections, using the method of line systems. Irreducible groups are studied in detail, and are identified with finite linear groups. The new invariant theoretic proof of Steinberg's fixed point theorem is treated fully. The same approach is used to develop the theory of eigenspaces of elements of reflection groups and their twisted analogues. This includes an extension of Springer's theory of regular elements to reflection cosets. An appendix outlines links to representation theory, topology and mathematical physics. Containing over 100 exercises, ranging in difficulty from elementary to research level, this book is ideal for honours and graduate students, or for researchers in algebra, topology and mathematical physics. Book jacket.
Includes a rich variety of exercises to accompany the exposition of Coxeter groups Coxeter groups have already been exposited from algebraic and geometric perspectives, but this book will be presenting the combinatorial aspects of Coxeter groups