Representation theory Lecture Notes: Chapter 4

Arun Ram
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
University of Melbourne
Parkville, VIC 3010 Australia
aram@unimelb.edu.au

Last update: 20 November 2013

Abstract.

Spaces

A topological space is a set X with a specified collection of open subsets of X which is closed under unions, finite intersections, complements and contains and X. A continuous function f:XY is a map such that f-1(V) is open in X for all open subsets VY. The morphisms in the category of topological spaces are continuous functions.

(a) A closed subset of X is the complement of an open set of X.
(b) The space X is compact if every open cover has a finite subcover.
(c) The space X is locally compact if every point has a neighborhood with compact closure.
(d) The space X is totally disconnected if there is no connected subset with more than one element.
(e) The space X is Hausdorff if ΔX={(x,x)|xX} is a closed subspace of X×X, where X×X has the product topolgy.
The topological space X is Hausdorff if and only if for any two points in X there exist neighborhoods of each of them that do not intersect.

A metric space is a set X with a metric d:X×X0 such that A Cauchy sequence is a sequence (piV|i>0) such that, for every positive real number ε there is a positive integer N such that d(pn,pm)<ε for all m,n>N. A sequence (piV|i0) converges if there is a pV such that, for every ε>0, there is an N>0 such that d(pn,p)<ε for all n>N. A metric space is complete if all Cauchy sequences converge.

Sheaves

Let X be a topological space. A sheaf on X is a contravariant functor 𝒪X: {open sets ofX} {rings} U 𝒪X(U) such that if {Uα} is an open cover of U and fα𝒪X(Uα) are such that fα|UαUβ= fβ|UαUβ, for allα,β, then there is a unique f𝒪X(U) such that fα=f|Uα, for all α. A ringed space is a pair (X,𝒪X) where X is a topological space and 𝒪X is a sheaf on X. The stalk of 𝒪X at xX is 𝒪X,x=ind limU𝒪X(U), where the limit is over all neighborhoods U of x.

Note: an alternate way of stating the condition in the definition of a sheaf is to say that the sequence 𝒪𝒪x(U) iα 𝒪x(Uα) kj α,β𝒪x (UαUβ) is exact where i is the map induced by the inclusions UαU,
j is the map induced by the inclusions UαUβUα,
k is the map induced by the inclusions UαUβUβ,
and exactness of the sequence means imi=ker(j-k).

Smooth manifolds

A manifold is a topological space X which is locally homeomorphic to n. Locally homeomorphic to n means that for each xX there is an open neighborhood U of x, an open set V in n and a homeomorphism ϕ:UV. The map ϕ:UV is a chart. An atlas is an open covering (Uα) of X, a set of open sets (Vα) of n and a collection of charts ϕα:UαVα. Examples of manifolds are PICTURE OF SPHERE PICTURE OF TORUS spheretorus A smooth manifold is a manifold with an atlas (ϕα) such that for each pair of charts ϕα,ϕβ the maps ϕβϕα-1 :ϕα (UαUβ) ϕβ (UαUβ) are smooth (i.e. C). Let M be a smooth manifold and let U be an open subset of M. The ring of smooth functions on U is the set of functions f:U that are smooth at every point of U, i.e. If xU then there is a chart ϕα:UαVα such that xUα and fϕα-1: Vα,is C.

Let Vα be an open set of n. For each open set V of Vα let C(V) be the set of functions f:V that are C at every point of V. If VV then we have a map C(V) C(V) f f|V. Thus C: {open sets ofVα} {rings} V C(V) is a sheaf on Vα and (Vα,C) is a ringed space.

A smooth manifold is a Hausdorff topological space which is locally isomorphic to n, i.e. a Hausdorff ringed space (M,C) with an open cover (Uα) such that each (Uα,C) is isomorphic (as a ringed space) to an open set (Vα,C) of n.

Varieties

A affine algebraic variety over 𝔽 is a set X= { (x1,,xn)| fα(x1,,xn) =0for allfαS } where S is a set of polynomials in 𝔽[t1,t2,,tn]. By definition, these are the closed sets in the Zariski topology on 𝔽. Let U be an open set of X and define 𝒪X(U) to be the set of functions f:U𝔽 that are regular at every point of xU, i.e. For each xU there is a neigborhood UαU of x and functions g,h𝔽[t1,,tn] such that h(y)0 and f(y)=g(y)/h(y) for all yUα. Then 𝒪X is a sheaf on X and (X,𝒪X) is a ringed space. The sheaf 𝒪X is the structure sheaf of the affine algebraic variety X.

A variety is a ringed space (X,𝒪) such that

(a) X has a finite open covering {Uα} such that each (Uα,𝒪|Uα) is isomorphic to an affine algebriac variety,
(b) (X,𝒪) satisfies the separation axiom, i.e. ΔX= {(x,x)|xX} is closed inX×X, where the topology on X×X is the Zariski topology. (Note that the Zariski topology on X×X is, in general, finer than the product topology on X×X.)
A prevariety is a ringed space which satisfies (a).

Schemes

Let A be a finitely generated commutative 𝔽-algebra and let X=Hom𝔽alg (A,𝔽). By definition, the closed sets of X in the Zariski topology are the sets CJ= {MX|JM} forJA, where we identify the points of X with the maximal ideals in A. Let U be an open set of X and let 𝒪X(U)= { g/hg,hA, x(h)0 for allxU } . Then 𝒪X is a sheaf on X and (X,𝒪X) is a ringed space. The space X is an affine 𝔽-scheme.

An 𝔽-variety is a ringed space (X,𝒪X) such that

(a) For each xX the stalk 𝒪X,x is a local ring,
(b) X has a finite open covering {Uα} such that each (Uα,𝒪X|Uα) is isomorphic to an affine 𝔽-scheme,
(c) (X,𝒪X) is reduced, i.e. for each xX the local ring 𝒪X,x has no nonzero nilpotent elements,
(d) (X,𝒪X) satisfies the separation axiom, i.e. ΔX= {(x,x)|xX} is closed inX×X.
A prevariety is a ringed space which satisfies (a), (b) and (c). An 𝔽-scheme is a ringed space which satisfies (a) and (b). An 𝔽-space is a ringed space which satisfies (a).

Groups

A group is a set G with a multiplication such that

(a) (ab)c=a(bc), for all a,b,cG,
(b) There is an identity 1G,
(c) Every element of G is invertible. Let [x,y]= xyx-1 y-1, forx,yG. The lower central series of G is the sequence C1(G) C2(G), where C1(G)=G andCi+1 (G)=[G,Ci(G)]. The derived series of G is the sequence D0(G) D2(G), whereD0(G)= GandDi+1 (G)= [Di(G),Di(g)].

Let G be a group.

(a) G is abelian if [G,G]={1}.
(b) G is nilpotent if Cn(G)={1} for all sufficiently large n.
(c) G is solvable if Dn(G)={1} for all sufficiently large n.
The radical R(G) of a Lie group G is the largest connected solvable normal subgroup of G.

A topological group is a topological space G which is also a group such that multiplication and inversion G×G G (g,h) gh G G g g-1 are morphisms of topological spaces, i.e. continuous maps.
A Lie group is a smooth manifold with a group structure such that multiplication and inversion are morphisms of smooth manifolds, i.e. smooth maps.
A complex Lie group is a complex analytic manifold which is also a group such that multiplication and inversion are morphisms of complex analytic manifolds, i.e. holomorphic maps.
A linear algebraic group is an affine algebraic variety which is also a group such that multiplication and inversion are morphisms of affine algebraic varieties.
A group scheme is a scheme which is also a group such that multiplication and inversion are morphisms of schemes.

Lie groups

The Lie group S1=/=U1(). A torus is a Lie group G is isomorphic to S1×S1 (k factors), for some k>0.

A connected Lie group is semisimple if R(G)={1}.

Let G be a Lie group and let xG. A tangent vector at x is a linear map ξx:C(G) such that ξx(f1f2)= ξx(f1)f2(x)+ f1(x)ξx(f2), for allf1,f2 C(G). A vector field is a linear map ξ:C(G)C(G) such that ξ(f1f2)= ξ(f1)f2+ f1ξ(f2), forf1,f2 C(G). A left invariant vector field on G is a vector field ξ:C(G)C(G) such that Lgξ=ξLg, for allgG. A one parameter subgroup of G is a smooth group homomorphism γ:G. If γ is a one parameter subgroup of G define ddtf(γ(t))= limh0 f(γ(t+h))-f(γ(t))h. The following proposition says that we can identify the three vector spaces

(1) {left invariant vector fields on G},
(2) {one parameter subgroups of G},
(3) {tangent vectors at 1G}.

The maps {left invariant vector fields} {tangent vectors at1} ξ ξ1 and {{one paramemeter subgr} {tangent vectors at1} γ γ1 where ξ1f=(ξf) (1),and γ1= (ddtf(γ(t))) |t=0, are vector space isomorphisms.

The Lie algebra 𝔤=Lie(G) of the Lie group G is the tangent space to G at the identity with the bracket [,]:𝔤𝔤𝔤 given by [ξ1,ξ2]= ξ1ξ2-ξ2ξ1, forξ1,ξ2 𝔤. Let ϕ:GH be a Lie group homomorphism and let 𝔤=Lie(G) and 𝔥=Lie(G). Then C(H) ϕ* C(G) f fϕ and the differential of ϕ is the Lie group homomorphism 𝔤dϕ𝔥 given by dϕ(ξ1)= ξ1ϕ*, ifξ1is a tangent vectors at the identity, dϕ(ξ)=ξ ϕ*, ifξis a left invariant vector field, dϕ(γ)=ϕ γ, ifγis a one parameter subgroup. (Note: It should be checked that (a) the map dϕ is well defined, (b) the three definitions of dϕ are the same, and (c) that dϕ is a Lie algebra homorphisms. These checks are not immediate, but are straightforward manipulations of the definitions.) The map the category of Lie groups the category of Lie algebras G Lie(G) ϕ dϕ is a functor. This functor is not one-to-one; for example, the Lie groups On() and SOn() have the same Lie algebra. On the other hand, the Lie algebra contains the structure of the Lie groups in a neighborhood of the identity. The exponential map is 𝔤 G tX etX, whereetX= γ(t) is the one parameter subgroup corresponding to X𝔤. This map is a homeomorphism from a neighborhood of 0 in 𝔤 to a neighborhood of 1 in G.

(Lie’s theorem) The functor Lie: {connected simply connected Lie groups} {Lie algebras} G 𝔤=Lie(G)=T1(G) is an equivalence of categories.

If 𝔤 is a Lie subalgebra of 𝔤𝔩n then the matrices {etX|t,X𝔤𝔩n}, whereetX= k0 tkXkk!, form a group with Lie algebra 𝔤. etXetY= et(X+Y)+(t2/2)[X,Y]+, etXetYe-tX= etY+t2[X,Y]+, etXetYe-tXe-tY= et2[X,Y]+,

Let G be a Lie group and let 𝔤=Lie(G). Let x.G Then the differential of the Lie group homomorphism Intx: G G g xgx-1 is a Lie algebra homomorphism Adx: 𝔤 𝔤. Since there is a map Adx for each xG, there is a map Ad: G GL(𝔤) x Adx andAdxAdy =Adxy,for x,yG, since IntxInty=Intxy. The differential of Ad is ad: 𝔤 End(𝔤) X adX ,where adX: 𝔤 𝔤 Y [X,Y] , since ddtdds etXesY e-tX|s=0,t=0 =[X,Y],for X,Y𝔤. Define a (right) action of G on C(G) by (Rxf)(g)=f (gx),forxG, fC(G),gG. Then Adxξ=Rxξ Rx-1,for all xG,ξ𝔤, since, for xG, Intx*(Adxξ)= ξIntx*= ξLx-1Rx-1= Lx-1ξ Rx-1 Lx-1 Rx-1Rx ξRx-1 =Intx*(RxξRx-1).

Recall that the adjoint representation of G is Ad: G GL(𝔤) x Adx where Adx: 𝔤 fg ξ RxξRx-1 is the differential of Intx: G G g xgx-1 . The coadjoint representation of G is the dual of the adjoint representation, i.e. the action of G on 𝔤*=Hom(𝔤,) given by (gϕ)(X)=ϕ (Adg-1X), forgG,ϕ 𝔤*,X𝔤. A coadjoint orbit is the set produced by the action of G on an element ϕ𝔤*, i.e. Gϕ𝔤* is a coadjoint orbit.

Let G be a Lie group and let 𝔤 be the Lie algebra of G. Then G0 is nilpotent if and only if Lie(G) is nilpotent, and G0 is solvable if and only if Lie(G) is solvable. A semisimple Lie group is a connected Lie group with semisimple Lie algebra.

The class of reductive Lie groups is the largest class of Lie groups which contains all the semisimple Lie groups and parabolic subgroups of them and for which the representation theory is still controllable. A real Lie group is reductive if there is a linear algebraic group G over whose identity component (in the Zariski topology) is reductive and a morphism ν:GG() with finite kernel, whose image is an open subgroup of G(). For the definition of Harish-Chandra class see Knapp’s article.

(a) U(n)={xMn()|xxt=id}.
(b) Sp(2n,)= {AMn()|AtJA=J}.
(c) Sp2n=Sp(2n,)U(2n).

The simple compact Lie groups are

(a) (Type A) SUn()
(b) (Type Bn) SO2n+1(), n1,
(c) (Type Cn) Sp2n()Un, n1,
(d) (Type Dn) SO2n(), n4,
(e) ???

If G is a Lie group such that G/G0 is finite then

(a) G has a maximal compact subgroup,
(b) Any two maximal compact subgroups are conjugate,
(c) G is homeomorphic to K×m under the map K×𝔭 G (k,x) kex where K is a maximal compact subgroup of G and 𝔭=?????????????.
(d) If G is a semisimple Lie group then K={gG|Θ(g)=g}, where Θ is the Cartan involution on G, is a maximal compact subgroup of G. For matrix groups Θ: G G g (g-1)t is the Cartan involution.

On the Lie algebra level θ: 𝔤 fg x -xt 𝔩={x𝔤|θx=x}, 𝔭={s𝔤|θx=-x}, 𝔤=𝔩𝔭, 𝔲=𝔩i𝔭, 𝔤=𝔤i𝔤=𝔲i𝔲.

(a) There is an equivalence of categories {compact connected Lie groups} {connected reductive algebraic groups over} U G where U is the maximal compact subgroup of G and G is the algebraic group with coordinate ring C(U)rep. The group G is the complexification of U.
(b) The functor ResKG: {holomorphic representations ofG} {representations ofK} is an equivalence of categories.

Proof.

(a) The point of (a) is that for compact groups the continuous functions separate the points of G and for algebraic groups the polynomial functions separate the points of G, and, for and the polynomial functions are dense in the continuous functions.

Examples: Under the equivalence of (???)

(a) semisimple algebraic groups correspond exactly to the Lie groups with finite center,
(b) algebraic tori correspond exactly to geometric tori.
(c) irreducible finite dimensional representations of G correspond exactly to irreducible finite dimensional representations of U. Un GLn() SUn SLn() SO2n+1() SO2n+1() Sp2n Sp2n() SO2n() SO2n() Other examples are GLn(), SLn(), PGLn(), On(), SOn(), Pinn, Spinn, Sp2n, PSp2n, Un(), SUn(), Un()/Z(Un()), On(), SOn(), .

Equivalences: {compact Lie groups} {complex semisimple Lie groups} {semisimple algebraic groups} {complex semisimple Lie algebras}

A representation of G is an action of G on a vector space by linear transformations. The words representation and G-module are used interchangably. A complex representation is a representation where V is a vector space over . In order to distinguish the group element g from the linear transformation of V given by the action of g write V(g) for the linear transformation. Then V:GGL(V) and the statement that the representation is a group action means V(xy)=V(x) V(y),for all x,yG. Unless otherwise stated we shall assume that all representations of G are Lie group homomorphisms. A holomorphic representation is a representation in the category of complex Lie groups.

A representation is irreducible, or simple, if it has no subrepresentations (except 0 and itself). In the case when V is a topological vector space then a subrepresentation is required to be a closed subspace of V. The trivial G-module is the representation 1: G C* = GL1() g 1 If V and W are G-modules the tensor product is the action of G on VW given by g(vw)=gvgw, forvV,wW, gG. If V is a G-module the dual G-module to V is the action of G on V*=Hom(V,) (linear maps ψ:V) given by (gψ)(v)=ψ (g-1v), forgG,ψV* ,vV. The maps 1V V 1v v and V1 V v1 v are G-module isomorphisms for any V. The maps V*V 1 ϕv ϕ(v) and 1 VV* 1 ibiβi* where {bi} is a basis of V and {βi*} is the dual basis in  V* are G-module homomorphisms.

If V:GGL(V) is a homomorphism of Lie groups then the differential of V is a map dV:𝔤End(V) which satisfies dV([x,y])= [dV(x),dV(y)]= dV(x)dV(y)- dV(y)dV(x), for x,y𝔤. A representation of a Lie algebra 𝔤, or 𝔤-module, is an action of 𝔤 on a vector space V by linear transformations, i.e. a linear map ϕ:𝔤End(V) such that V([x,y])= [V(x),V(y)]= V(x)V(y)- V(y)V(x), for allx,y𝔤, where V(x) is the linear transformation of V determined by the action of x𝔤. The trivial representation of 𝔤 is the map 1: 𝔤 x 0 If V is a 𝔤-module, the dual 𝔤-module is the 𝔤-action on V*=Hom(V,) given by (xϕ)(v)=ϕ (-xv),forx 𝔤,ϕV*, vV. If V and W are 𝔤-modules the tensor product of V and W is the 𝔤-action on VW given by x(vw)=xvw+ vxw,x𝔤,v V,wW. The definitions of the trivial, dual and tensor product 𝔤-modules are accounted for by the following formulas: ddt1|t=0 = ddtet·0 |t=0=0, ddt (etX)-1 |t=0 = ddte-tX |t=0=-X, ddt (etXetX) |t=0 = ddt (1+tX+t2X22!+) (1+tX+t2X22!+) |t=0 = ddt ( 11+ t(X1+1X)+ ) |t=0 = X1+1X.

Lie algebras

A Lie algebra over a field F is a vector space 𝔤 over F with a bracket [,]:𝔤×𝔤𝔤 which is bilinear and satisfies

(1) [x,y]=-[y,x], for all x,y𝔤,
(2) (The Jacobi identity) [x,[y,z]]+ [z,[x,y]]+ [y,[z,x]]=0, for all x,y,z.𝔤
The derived series of 𝔤 is the sequence D0𝔤D1𝔤, whereD0𝔤=𝔤 andDi+1𝔤= [Di𝔤,Di𝔤]. The lower central series of 𝔤 is the sequence C1𝔤C2𝔤, whereC0𝔤=𝔤 andCi+1𝔤= [𝔤,Ci𝔤].

Let 𝔤 be a Lie algebra.

(a) 𝔤 is abelian if [𝔤,𝔤]=0.
(b) 𝔤 is nilpotent if Cn(𝔤)=0 for all sufficiently large n.
(c) 𝔤 is solvable if Dn(𝔤)=0 for all sufficiently large n.
(d) The radical rad(𝔤) is the largest solvable ideal of 𝔤.
(e) The nilradical nil(𝔤) is the largest solvable ideal????????? of 𝔤.
(f) 𝔤 is semisimple if rad(𝔤)=0.
(g) 𝔤 is reductive if nil(𝔤)=0. 𝔤 is reductive if all its representations are completely decomposable. 𝔤 is reductive if 𝔤=Z(𝔤)[𝔤,𝔤] with [𝔤,𝔤] semisimple.
(h) A Cartan subalgebra is a maximal abelian subalgebra of semisimple elements.
Then 0nil(𝔤) rad(𝔤)𝔤 where nil(𝔤) is nilpotent, rad(𝔤) is solvable, 𝔤/rad(𝔤) is semisimple, rad(𝔤)/nil(𝔤) is abelian, and nil(𝔤) is nilpotent.

Example. [Bou, Chap. I, §4, Prop. 5] The following are equivalent:

(a) 𝔤 is reductive,
(b) The adjoint representation of 𝔤 is semisimple,
(c) [𝔤,𝔤] is a semisimple Lie algebra,
(d) 𝔤 is the direct sum of a semisimple Lie algebra and a commutative Lie algebra.
(e) 𝔤 has a finite dimensional representation such that the associated bilinear form is nondegenerate.
(f) 𝔤 has a faithful finite dimensional representation.
(g) rad(𝔤) is the center of 𝔤.

The finite dimensional simple Lie algebras over are

(a) (Type An-1) 𝔰𝔩n(), n2,
(b) (Type Bn) 𝔰𝔬2n+1(), n1,
(c) (Type Cn) 𝔰𝔭2n(), n1,
(d) (Type Dn) 𝔰𝔬2n(), n4, and
(e) the five simple Lie algebras E6, E7, E8, F4, G2.

The finite dimensional simple Lie algebras over are ?????

Linear algebraic groups

A linear algebraic group is an afine algebraic variety G which is also a group such that multiplication and inversion are morphisms of algebraic varieties.

The following fundamental theorem is reason for the terminology linear algebraic group.

If G is a linear algebraic group then there is an injective morphism of algebraic groups i:GGLn(F) for some n>0.

The multiplicative group is the linear algebraic group 𝔾m=F*.

A matrix xMn(F) is

(a) semisimple if it is conjugate to a diagonal matrix,
(b) nilpotent if all it eigenvalues are 0, or, equivalently, if xn=0 for some n>0,
(c) unipotent if all its eigenvalues are 1, or equivalently, if x-1 is nilpotent.

Let G be an linear algebraic group and let i:GGLn(F) be an injective homomorphism. An element gG is

(a) semisimple if i(g) is semisimple in GLn(F),
(b) unipotent if i(g) is unipotent in GLn(F).
The resulting notions of semisimple and unipotent elements in G do not depend on the choice of the imbedding i:GGLn().

(Jordan decomposition) Let G be a linear algebraic group and let gG. Then there exist unique gs,guG such that

(a) gs is semisimple,
(b) gu is unipotent,
(c) g=gsgu=gugs.

Let G be a linear algebraic group.

(a) The radical R(G) is the unique maximal closed connected solvable normal subgroup of G.
(b) The unipotent radical Ru(G) is the unique maximal closed connected unipotent normal subgroup of G.
(c) G is semisimple if R(G)=1.
(d) G is reductive if Ru(G)=1. G is reductive if its Lie algebra is reductive.
(e) G is an (algebraic) torus if G is isomorphic to 𝔾m×𝔾m (k factors) for some k>0.
(f) A Borel subgroup of G is a maximal connected closed solvable subgroup of G0.
Let G be a linear algebraic group and let G0 be the connected component of the identity in G. Then 1Ru(G) R(G)G0G where Ru(G) is unipotent, R(G) is solvable, G0 is connected, G/G0 is finite, G0/R(G) is semisimple, R(G)/Ru(G) is a torus, and Ru(G) is unipotent.

A linear algebraic group is simple if it has no proper closed connected normal subgroups. This implies that proper normal subgroups are finite subgroups of the center.

Let G be an algebraic group.

(a) If G is nilpotent then GTU where T is a torus and U is unipotent.
(b) If G is connected reductive then G=[G,G]Z, where [G,G] is semisimple and [G,G]Z is finite.
(c) If [G,G] is semisimple then G is an almost direct product of simple groups, i.e. there are closed normal subgroups G1,,Gk in G such that G=G1·G2Gk and Gi(G1GˆiGk) is finite.

Example. If G=GLn() then [G,G]=SLn(), Z=·Id,and [G,G]Z= {λ·Id|λn=1} /n.

Structure of a simple algebraic group

xα(t)= etXα, wα(t)= xα(t) x-α(t-1) xα(t), hα(t)= wα(t) wα(1)-1, U=xα(t)|α>0, T=hα(t) N=wα(t) B=TUW=N/T The Langlands decomposition of a parabolic is P=MAN where M = ( A1 A20 0A-1 A ) ,det(Ai)=1, A = ( a1Id a2Id0 0a-1Id aId ) ,ai>0, N = ( Id Id* 0Id Id ) , and there is a corresponding decomposition 𝔭=𝔪𝔞𝔫 at the Lie algebra level.

The Iwasawa decomposition of G is G=KAN where K = a maximal compact subgroup ofG, A = ( a1 a20 0a-1 aId ) ,det(Ai)=1, N = ( 1 1* 01 1 ) , and the corresponding Lie algebra decomposition is 𝔤=𝔩𝔭=𝔩𝔞𝔫, where 𝔩 = {x𝔤|θx=x}, 𝔭={x𝔤|θx=-x}, 𝔞 = a maximal abelian subspace of𝔭, 𝔫 = the set of positive roots with respect to𝔞. The Cartan decomposition of G is G=KAK. The Bruhat decomposition of G is G=BWB.

Let 𝔤 be a semsimple complex Lie algebra.

(a) There is an involutory semiautomorphism σ0 of 𝔤 (relative to complex conjugation) such that σ0(Xα)=-Xα, σ0(Hα)=- Hα,for allαR.
Let G be a Chevalley group over viewed as a (real) Lie group.
(b) There is an (analytic) automorphism σ of G such that σxα(t)=x-α (-t),σ hα(t)=hα (t-1), for allαR,t.
(c) A maximal compact subgroup of G is K={gG|σ(g)=g}.
(d) K is semisimple and connected.
(e) The Iwasawa decomposition is G=BK.
(f) The Cartan decomposition is G=KAK where A= { hH|μ(h) >0for allμL } .
Let Θ be a P.I.D., k the quotient field, and Θ* the group of units of Θ (examples: Θ=, Θ=F[t], Θ=p). If G is a Chevalley group over k let GΘ be the subgroup of G with coordinates relative to M in Θ. Now let G be a semisimple Chevalley group over k.
(a) The Iwasawa decomposition is G=BK where K=GΘ.
(b) The Cartan decomposition is KA+K where A+= { hH|α(h) Θfor allα R+ } .
(c) If Θ is not a field (in particular if Θ=) then K is maximal in its commensurability class.
(d) If Θ=p and k=p the K is a maximal compact subgroup in the p-adic topology.
(e) If Θ is a local PID and p is its unique prime then
(1) The Iwahori subgroup I=Up-HΘUΘ is a subgroup of K.
(2) K=wWIwI.
(3) IwI=IwUw,Θ with the last component determined uniquely mod Uw,p.

Classification Theorems

{semisimple algebraic groups over} 1-1 {lattices and root systems} {complex semisimple Lie groups} 1-1 {semisimple algebraic groups over} {connected reductivealgebraic groups over} 1-1 {compact connected Lie groups} G U=maximal compact subgroup ofG semisimple finite center algebraic torus geometric torus {connected simply connected Lie groups} 1-1 {finite dimensional real Lie algebras} {finite dimensionalcomplex simple Lie algebras} 1-1 {Root systems:4 infinite families and 5 exceptionals} {finite dimensionalreal simple Lie algebras} 1-1 {12 infinite families and 23 exceptionals}

Functions, measures and distributions

Let G be a locally compact Hausdorff topological group and let μ be a Haar measure on G. The support of a function f is suppf={gG|f(g)0}. If it exists, the convolution of functions f1:G and f2:G is the function (f1*f2):G given by (f1*f2)(g)= Gf1(h)f2 (h-1g)dμ(g). (0.11) Define an involution on functions f:G by f*(g)=f (g-1), for allgG. Useful norms on functions f:G are defined by f1 = G|f(g)| dμ(g), f22 = G |f(g)|2 dμ(g), f = sup{|f(g)||gG}, If it exists, the inner product of functions f1:G and f2:G is f1,f2= Gf1(g) f2(g-1) dμ(g). The left and right actions of G on functions f:G are defined by (Lgf)(x)= f(g-1x), and(Rgf)(x) =f(xg),g, xG. Some space of functions are G = {functionsf:Gwith finite support}. 1(G) = { functionsf:G with countable support andf= gG |f(g)| < } . L1(G,μ) = { functionsf:G such thatf= G|f(g)| dμ(g)< } .

Let X be a topological space. A σ-algebra is a collection of subsets of X which is closed under countable unions and complements and contains the set X. A Borel set is a set in the smallest σ-algebra containing all open sets of X. A Borel measure is a function μ:[0,] which is countably additive, i.e. μ(i=1Ai) =i=1μ(Ai), for every disjoint collection of Ai from . A regular Borel measure is a Borel measure which satisfies μ(E)=sup {μ(K)|KE, forKcompact} =inf{μ(U)|EU, forUopen}, for all E. A complex Borel measure is a function μ: which is countably additive. The total variation measure with respect to a complex Borel measure μ is the measure |μ| given by |μ|(E)=sup i|μ(Ei)| ,forE, where the sup is over all countable collections {Ei} of disjoint sets of such that iEi=E. A regular complex Borel measure is a Borel measure on X such that the total variation measure |μ| is regular. A measure λ is absolutely continuous with respect to a measure μ if μ(E)=0 implies λ(E)=0.

Let μ be a Haar measure on a locally compact group G. Under the map {functions} {measures} f f(g)dμ(g) the group algebra G maps to measures ν with finite support, (G) maps to measures with countable support, and L1(G,μ) maps to measures ν which are absolutely continuous with respect to μ.

Let X be a locally compact Hausdorff topological space. Define Cc(X)= {continuous functionsf:Xwith compact support}. Then Cc(X) is a normed vector space (not always complete) under the norm f=sup {|f(x)||xX}. The completion C0(X) of Cc(X) with respect to · is a Banach space. A distribution is a bounded linear functional μ:Cc(X). The Riesz representation theorem says that with the notation μ(f)=Xf(x) dμ(x),forf Cc(X), the regular complex Borel measures on X are exactly the distributions on X. The norm μ is the norm of μ as a linear functional μ:Cc(X). Viewing μ as a measure, μ=|μ|(X), where |μ| is the total variation measure of μ.

The support supp μ of a distribution μ is the set of xX such that for each neighborhood U of x there is fCc(X) such that supp(f)U and μ(f)0. Define c(X)= {distributionsμonXwith compact support}. If ϕ:XY is a morphism of locally compact spaces then ϕ*:c(X) c(Y)is given by (ϕ*μ)(f)= μ(fϕ), for fCc(Y).

Let G be a locally compact topological group. Define an involution on distributions by μ*(f)=μ (f*), forfCc(G). The convolution of distributions is defined by Gf(g)d (μ1*μ2) (g)=GG f(g1g2) dμ1(g1) dμ2(g2). The left and right actions of G on distributions are given by (Lgμ)(f)= μ(Lg-1f) ,and(Rgμ) (f)=μ(Rg-1f) ,for allfCc(G).

Let X be a smooth manifold. The vector space C(X) is a topological vector space under a suitable topology. A compactly supported distribution on X is a continuous linear functional μ:C(X). Let 1(X)= {continuous linear functionalsμ:C(X)} and, for a compact subset KX, 1(X,K)= { μ1(X)| supp(μ)K } . If ϕ:XY is a morphism of smooth manifolds then ϕ*:1(X) 1(Y)is given by (ϕ*μ) (f)=μ(fϕ).

Haar measures and the modular function

Let G be a locally compact Hausdorff topological group. A Haar measure on G is a linear functional μ:C0(G) such that

(a) (continuity) μ is continuous with respect to the topology on C0(G) given by f=sup {|f(g)||gG},
(b) (positivity) If f(g)R0 for all gG then μ(f)R0,
(c) (left invariance) μ(Lgf)=μ(f), for all gG and fC0(G).

(Existence and uniqueness of Haar measure) If G is a locally compact Hausdorff topological group then G has a Haar measure and any two Haar measures are proportional.

Fix a (left) Haar measure μ on G. A group is unimodular if μ is also a right Haar measure on G. The modular function is the function Δ:G0 given by μ(f)=Δ(g) μ(Rgf),for all fC0(G). The fact that the image of Δ is in 0 is a consequence of the positivity condition in the definition of Haar measure. There are several equivalent ways of defining the modular function μ(f*)=μ (Δ-1f) orGf(g)dμ (gh)=Gf(g) Δ(h)dμ(g) ,orμ(f)= μR(Δf), for all fC0(G), where μR is a right Haar measure on G. The group G is unimodular exactly when Δ=1.

Finite groups, abelian groups, compact groups, semisimple Lie groups, reductive Lie groups, and nilpotent groups are all unimodular.

(a) On a Lie group the Haar measure is given by μ(f)=G fω,for all fC0(G), where ω is the unique positive left invariant n form on G.
(b) For a Lie group G the modular function is given by Δ(g)= |detAdg|, for allgG.

Examples

(1) , under addition. Haar measure is the usual Lebesgue measure dx on .
(2) 0, under multiplication. Haar measure is given by (1/x)dx.
(3) GLn() has Haar measure 1|det(xij)|ni,j=1ndxij.
(4) The group Bn of upper triangular matrices in GLn() has Haar measure 1i=1n|xii|i 1i<jn dxij. This group is not unimodular unless n=1.
(5) A finite group has Haar measure μ(f)=1|G|gGf(g).

Vector spaces and linear transformations

A vector space is a set V with an addition +:V×VV and a scalar multiplication ×VV such that addition makes V into an abelian group and c(v1+v2) = cv1+cv2, c1(c2v) = (c1c2)v, and (c1+c2)v = c1v+c2v, 1v = v for all c,c1,c2 and v,v1,v2V. A linear transformation from a vector space X to a vector space Y is a map T:XY such that T(c1v1+c2v2)=c1T(v1)+c2T(v2), for all c1,c2 and v1,v2V. The morphisms in the category of vector spaces are linear transformations.

A topological vector space is a vector space V with a topology such that addition and scalar multiplication are continuous maps. The morphisms in the category of topological vector spaces are continuous linear transformations. A set CV is convex if tx+(1-t)yC, for all x,yC, t[0,1]. A topological vector space V is locally convex if it has a basis of neighbourhoods of 0 consisting convex sets.

A normed linear space is a vector space V with a norm ·:V0 such that

(a) x+yx+y, for x,yV,
(b) αx=|α|x, for α, xV,
(c) x=0 implies x=0.
A linear transformation T:XY between normed vector spaces X and Y is an isometry if Tx=x for all xX. The norm of a linear transformation T:XY is T=sup { Tx|x X,x1 } . (0.15) A linear transformation T is bounded if T<. If X and Y are normed linear spaces such that points are closed then linear transformation T:XY is continuous if and only if it is bounded (reference??)

A Banach space is a normed linear space which is complete with respect to the metric defined by d(x,y)=x-y. A Hilbert space is a vector space V with an inner product ,:V×V such that for all c,c1,c2 and v,v1,v2,v3V,

(a) v1,v2=v2,v1,
(b) c1v1+c2v2,v3= c1v1,v3+ c2v2,v3,
(c) v,v=0 only if v=0,
(d) V is a Banach space with respect to the norm given by v2=v,v.
If H is a Hilbert space the adjoint T* of a linear transformation T:HH is the linear transformation defined by Th1,h2= h1,T*h2, for allh1,h2H, (0.16) and T is unitary if Tx1,Tx2= x1,x2 for all x1,x2H.

Algebras

An algebra is a vector space A with an associative multiplication A×A which satisfies the distributive laws, i.e. such that A is a ring. A Banach algebra is a Banach space A with a multiplication such that A is an algebra and a1a2 a1a2, for alla1,a2 A. A *-algebra is a Banach algebra with an involution *:AA such that An element a in a *-algebra is hermitian, or self adjoint, if a*=a. A C*-algebra is a *-algebra A such that a*a= a2, for allaA. An idempotented algebra is an algebra A with a set of idempotents such that

(1) For each pair e1,e2 there is an e0 such that e0e1=e1e0=e1 and e0e2=e2e0=e2, and
(2) For each aA there is an e such that ae=ea=a. A von-Neumann algebra is an algebra A of operators on a Hilbert space H such that
(a) A is closed under taking adjoints,
(b) A coincides with its bicommutant.

Examples

1. The algebra B(H) of bounded linear operators on a Hilbert space H with the operator norm (???) and involution given by adjoint (???) is a Banach algebra.
2. Let G be a locally compact Hausdorff topological group G and let μ be a Haar measure on G. The vector space L2(G,μ)= {f:G|f2<} is a Hilbert space under the operations defined in (???).
3. Let V be a vector space. Then End(V) is an algebra.

Representations

A representation of a group G, or G-module, is an action of G on a vector space V by automorphisms (invertible linear transformations). A representation of an algebra A, or A-module, is an action of A on a vector space V by endomorphisms (linear transformations). A morphism T:V1V2 of A-modules is a linear transformation such that T(av)=aT(v), for all aA and vV. An A-module M is simple, or irreducible, if it has no submodules except 0 and itself.

A representation of a topological group G, or G-module, is an action of G on a topological vector space V by automorphisms (continuous invertible linear transformations) such that the map G×V V (g,v) gv is continuous. When dealing with representations of topological groups all submodules are assumed to be closed subspaces.

A *-representation of a *-algebra A is an action of A on a Hilbert space H by bounded operators such that av1,v2= v1,a*v2, for allv1,v2V ,aA. A *-representation of A on H is nondegenerate if AV={av|aA,vV} is dense in V.

A unitary representation of a topological group G, or G-module, is an action of G on a Hilbert space V by automorphisms (unitary continuous invertible linear transformations) such that the action G×VV is a continuous map.

An admissible representation of an idempotented algebra (A,) is an action of A on a vector space V by linear transformations such that

(a) V=eeV,
(b) each eV is finite dimensional.
A representation of an idempotented algebra is smooth if it satisfies (a).

Group algebras

(1) Let G be a group. Then G is the algebra with basis G and multiplication forced by the multiplication in G and the distributive law. A representation of G on a vector space V extends uniquely to a representation of G on V and this induces an equivalence of categories between the representations of G and the representations of G.
(2) Let G be a locally compact topological group and fix a Haar measure μ on G. Let L1(G,μ)= { f:G| f=G |f(g)| dμ(g)< } . Then L1(G,μ) is a *-algebra under the operations defined in (???). Any unitary representation of G on a Hilbert space H extends uniquely to a representation of L1(G,μ) on H by the formula fv=Gf(g)g vdμ(g),f L1(G,μ),gG, and this induces an equivalence of categories between the unitary representations of G and the nondegenerate *-representations of L1(G,μ).
(3) Let G be a locally compact topological group. and fix a Haar measure μ on G. Let c= {distributions onGwith compact support} Then c is a ???-algebra under the operations defined in (???). Any representation of the topological group G on a complete locally convex vector space V extends uniquely to a representation of c on V by the formula μv=Ggvdμ(g), fc,gG, and this induces an equivalence of categories between the representations of G on a complete locally convex vector space V and the representations of c(g) on a complete locally convex vector space V.
(4) Let G be a totally disconnected locally compact unimodular group and fix a Haar measure μ on G. Let Cc(G)= {locally constant compactly supported functionsf:G} . Then Cc(G) is a idempotented algebra with with the operations in (???) and with idempotents given by eK=1μ(K) χK,for open compact subgroups KG, where χK denotes the characteristic function of the subgroup K. Any smooth representation of G extends uniquely to a smooth representation of Cc(G) on V by the formula in (???) and this induces an equivalence of categories between the smooth representations of G and the smooth representations of Cc(G) (see Bump Prop. 3.4.3 and Prop. 3.4.4). This correspondence takes admissible representations for G (see Bump p. 425) to admissible representations for Cc(G).
(5) Let G be a Lie group. Let Cc(G)= {compactly supported smooth functions onG}. Then Cc(G) is a ???-algebra under the operations defined in (???). Any representation of the topological group G on a complete locally convex vector space V extends uniquely to a representation of Cc(G) on V by the formula in (???) and this induces an equivalence of categories between the representations of G on a complete locally convex vector space V and the representations of Cc(G) on a complete locally convex vector space V.
(6) Let G be a reductive Lie group and let K be a maximal compact subgroup of G. Let (G,K)fin= { μc(G)| supp(μ)Kandμ is left and rightKfinite } . Then (G,K)fin is a idempotented algebra with with the operations in (???) and with idempotents given by eK=1μ(K) χK,for open compact subgroups KG, where χK denotes the characteristic function of the subgroup K. Any (𝔤,K)-module extends uniquely to a smooth representation of (G,K)fin on V by the formula in (???) and this induces an equivalence of categories between the (𝔤,K)-modules and the smooth representations of (G,K)fin (see Bump Prop. 3.4.8). This correspondence takes admissible modules for G (see Bump p. 280 and p. 193) to admissible modules for (G,K)fin. By Knapp and Vogan Cor. 1.7.1 (G,K)fin= C(K)finU(𝔩) U(𝔤).
(7) Let G be a compact Lie group. Let C(G)fin= {fC(G)|fisGfinite}. Then C(G)fin is an idempotented algebra with idempotents corresponding to the identity on a finite sum of blocks λGλGλ.

The category of representations of G in a Hilbert space V and the category of smooth representations of C(G)fin are equivalent.

(8) Let 𝔤 be a Lie algebra. The enveloping algebra U𝔤 of 𝔤 is the associative algebra with 1 given by Generators: x𝔤, and
Relations: xy-yx=[x,y], for all x𝔤.
The functor U: {Lie algebras} {associative algebras} 𝔤 U𝔤 is the left adjoint of the functor L: {associative algebras} {Lie algebras} (A,·) (A,[,]) where (A,[,]) is the Lie algebra given by the vector space A with the bracket [,]:AA defined by [a1,a2]= a1a2-a2 a1,for alla1 ,a2A. This means that HomLie(𝔤,LA) Homalg(U𝔤,A), for all associative algebrasA. (0.18) Let ι:𝔤U𝔤 be the map given by ι(x)=x. Then (???) is equivalent to the following universal property satisfied by U𝔤: If ϕ:𝔤A is a map from 𝔤 to an associative algebra A such that ϕ([x,y])= ϕ(x)ϕ(y) -ϕ(y)ϕ(x) ,for allx,y𝔤, then there exists an algebra homomorphism ϕ:U𝔤A such that ϕι=ϕ.

A representation of 𝔤 on a vector space V extends uniquely to a representation of U𝔤 on V and this induces an equivalence of categories between the representations of 𝔤 and the representations of U𝔤.

Let G be a Lie group and let 𝔤=𝔤 be the complexification of the Lie algebra 𝔤=Lie(G) of G. Let (G,{1}) be the algebra of distributions μ:C(G) on G such that supp(μ)={1}. Then U𝔤 (G,{1}) x μx whereμx (f)=ddt f(etx) |t=0,for x𝔤, is an isomorphism of algebras.

Compact groups

Let G be a compact Lie group and let μ be a Haar measure on G. Assume that μ is normalized so that μ(G)=1. The algebra Cc(G) (under convolution) of continuous complex valued functions on G with compact support is the same as the algebra C(G) of continuous functions on G. The vector space C(G) is a G-module with G-action given by (xf)(g)=f (x-1g), forxG,fC (G). The group G acts on C(G) in two ways, (Lgf)(x)= f(g-1x), and(Rgf)(x) =f(xg), and these two actions commute with each other.

Suppose that V is a representation of G in a complete locally convex vector space. Let (,):VV be an inner product on V and define a new innner product ,:VV by v1,v2= G(gv1,gv2) dμ(g),v1,v2 V. Under the inner product , the representation V is unitary. If V is a finite dimensional representation of G, V: G Mn() g V(g), then V: G Mn() g V(g)=V(g-1)t, is another finite dimensional representation of G.

Every finite dimensional representation of a compact group is unitary and completely decomposable.

The representation C(G) is an example of an infinite dimensional representation of G which is not unitary.

If V is a representation of G in a complete locally convex normed vector space V then the representation V can be extended to be a representation of the algebra (under convolution) of continuous functions C(G) on G by fv=G f(g)gv dμ(g), fC(G),vV. (0.21) The complete locally convex assumption on V is necessary to define the integral in (???).

If V is a representation of G define Vfin= { vV|the G-module generated byvis finite dimensional } .

The vector space C(G)rep of representative functions consists of all functions f:G given by f(g)=v,gw, for some vectors v, w in a finite dimensional representation of G.

Let G be a compact group. Then C(G)fin= C(G)rep.

Proof.

Let fC(G)rep. Let v, w be vectors in a finite dimensional representation V such that f(g)=v,gw for all gG. Let {v1,,vk} be an orthonormal basis of V and let W be the vector space of linear combinations of the functions fj=vj,gw, 1jk. Since v can be written as a linear combination of the vj, the function f can be written as a linear combination of the fj and so fW. For each 1ik (xfi)(g)= fi(x-1g) =vi,x-1gw =xvi,gw= j=1kcjvj,gw =j=1kcj fj(g) for some constants cj. So the G-module generated by f is contained in the finite dimensional representation W. So fC(G)fin. So C(G)repC(G)fin.

Let fC(G)fin and let f1=f,f2,,fk be an orthonormal basis of the finite dimensional representation W generated by f. Then f(g)=(g-1f1) (1)=j=1k fj,g-1f1 fj(1),where cj=fj,g-1f1. Define a new finite dimensional representation W of G which has orthonormal basis {w1,,wk} and G action given by gwi= j=1k fj,g-1fi wj,1ik. It is straightforward to check that g1(g2w)=(g1g2)w, for all g1,g2G. Since wj,gwi=fj,g-1fi, f(g)= j=1kcjwj,gw1 wherecj=fj(1) and so fC(G)rep. So C(G)finC(G)rep.

(Peter-Weyl) Let G be a compact Lie group. Then

(a) C(G)rep is dense in C(G), under the topology defined by the sup norm.
(b) Vfin is dense in V for all representations V of G.
(c) G is linear, i.e. there is an injective map i:GGLn() for some n.
(d) Let Gˆ be an index set for the finite dimensional representations of G. For each finite dimensional irreducible representation Gλ, λGˆ, fix an orthonormal basis {viλ|1idλ} of Gλ. Define MijλC(G)rep by Mijλ(g)= viλ,gvjλ ,gG. Then λGˆGλGλ C(G)rep viλvjλ Mijλ is an isomorphism of G×G-modules.
(e) The map λGˆMdλ() C(G)rep Eijλ Mijλ is an isomorphism of algebras.
and (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) are all equivalent.

Proof.

(b) (a) is immediate.

(a) (b): Note that C(G)finVVfin. Since C(G)fin is dense in C(G), the closure of C(G)fin(V) contains C(G)V. Let f1,,f2 be a sequence of functions in C(G) such that μ(fi)=1 and the sequence approaches the δ function at 1, i.e. the function δ1 which has supp(δ1)={1}. If vV then the sequence f1v,f2v, approaches 1v=v and so v is in the closure of C(G)V. So the closure of C(G)V is V. So Vfin is dense in V.

The following method of making this precise is taken more or less from Bröcker and tom Dieck.

An operator K:C(G)C(G) is compact if, for every bounded BC(G), every sequence (fn)K(B) converges in K(B). An operator K:C(G)C(G) is symmetric if Kf1,f2=f1,Kf2 for all f1,f2C(G).

See Bröcker-tom Dieck Theorem (2.6) If K:C(G)C(G) is a compact symmetric operator then

(a) K= sup{Kf|f1} or -K is an eigenvalue of K,
(b) All eigenspaces of K are finite dimensional,
(c) λC(G)λ is dense in C(G).

Proof.

(b) The reason eigenspaces are finite dimensional: Let x1,x2, be an orthonormal basis. Then Kxi=λxi. So Kxi-Kxj2= |λ2| x1-xj2 =2λ2 and this never goes to zero.

(c) If not then U=(λC(G)λ) is nonzero. Then K:UU is a compact symmetric operator. So this operator has a finite dimensional eigenspace. This is a contradiction. So U=0. So λC(G)λ is dense in C(G).

Take K to be the operator given by convolution by an approximation ϕ to the δ function. Then Kf is close to f, Kf-f = G(δ(g)f(xg)-f(g)) dμ(g) Gεδ(g) dμ(g)=ε = δ(1)-1 ε, and Kf can be approximated by the action of ϕ on finite dimensional subspaces.

The symmetric condition on K translates to ϕ(g)= ϕ(g-1) and the compactness condition translates to Gϕ(g) dμ(g)=1. Note that f22= f(g)f(g) dμ(g) |f(g)f(g)| dμ(g) f2. So the L2 and sup norms compare. For norms of operators δ*f δf.

(c) (a): If ι:GGLn() is an injection then the algebra C(G)alg generated (under pointwise multiplication) by the functions ιij and ιij, where ιij(g)= ι(g)ij, andιij (g)=ιij(g) ,forgG, is contained in C(G)fin. This subalgebra separates points of G and is closed under pointwise multiplication, and conjugation and so, by the Stone-Weierstrass theorem, is dense in C(G). So C(G)fin is dense in C(G).

(a) (c): The elements of C(G) distinguish the points of G and so the functions in C(G)rep distinguish the points of G. For each gG fix a function fg such that (gfg)(1)=fg(g-1)fg(1) and let Vg be the finite dimensional representation of G generated by fg. By choosing giKi-1 we can find a sequence g1,g2, of elements of G such that K1K2, whereKj=ker (Vg1Vgj), and KiKi+1. Since each Ki is a closed subgroup of G, and G is compact there is a finite n such that Kn={1}. Then W=Vg1Vgn is a finite dimensional representation of G with trivial kernel. So there is an injective map from G into GL(W).

(d) By construction this an algebra isomorphism. After all the algebra multiplication is designed to extend the G×G module structure, and this is a G×G module homomorphism since ( (xy) (viλvjλ) ) (g) = (Φ(xviλyvjλ)) (g) = xviλgy vjλ = viλx-1g yvjλ = Mijλ (x-1gy) = (LxRyMijλ) (g).

Note that Tr(Eijλ) =viλ,vjλ =δij. Consider the L2 norm on C(G)rep. f22 = Gf(g) f(g) dμ(g) = Gf(g) f*(g-1) dμ(g) wheref*(g) =f(g-1) = (f*f*)(1). More generally, f1,f22=(f1*f2)(1). Now τ: C(G)rep f f(1) is a trace on C(G)rep, i.e. τ(f1*f2)=τ(f2*f1) for all f1,f2C(G)rep. In fact this is trace of the action of C(G)rep on itself: τ(f) = Gf(g)gh |hdμ(g) = Gf(g) δg1dμ(g) = Gf(1)dμ (g)=f(1) μ(G)=f(1). Now consider the action of λMdλ() on itself. Then, if f=(fˆλ) then τ(f)=λGˆ dλTr(fλ). So f22= (f*f*)(1) =τ(f*f*)= τ(fˆλ(fˆλ)t) =λGˆdλ Tr(fˆλ(fˆλ)t). Note that Tr(Idλ)=dλ and τ(Idλ)=???.

Fourier analysis for compact groups

A function f:G is

(a) representative if there is a finite dimensional representation V of G and vectors v,wV such that f(g)=v,gw for all gG.
(b) square integrable if f22=G f(g)f(g) dμ(g)<.
(c) smooth if all derivatives of f exist.
(d) real analytic if f has a power series expansion at every point. C(G)rep = {representative functionsf:G}, L2(G) = {square integrable functionsf:G}, C(G) = {smooth functionsf:G}, Cω(G) = {real analytic functionsf:G},
We have a map λGˆ Mdλ() functionsf:G. The set Gˆ has a norm ·:Gˆ0. For (fˆλ)λGˆMdλ() define
(a) (fˆλ) is finite if all but a finite number of the blocks fˆλ in (fˆλ) are 0,
(b) (fˆλ) is square summable if λGˆ 1dλfλ2 <.
(c) (fˆλ) is rapidly decreasing if, for all k>0, {λkfˆλ|λGˆ} is bounded,
(d) (fˆλ) is exponentially decreasing if, for some K>1, {Kλfˆλ|λGˆ} is bounded.

Under the map {functionsf:G} λGˆMdλ(), C(G)rep {finite(fˆλ)} L2(G,μ) {square summable(fˆλ)} C(G) {rapidly decreasing(fˆλ)} Cω(G) {exponentially decreasing(fˆλ)} The space C(G)rep is dense in C(G) and C(G)L2(G). In fact the sup norm on C(G) is related to the L2 norm on L2(G) and C(G) is dense in L2(G).

Abelian Lie groups

(a) If G is a connected abelian Lie group then G(S1)k× n-k, for some n>0, 0kn.
(b) If G is a compact abelian Lie group then G(S1)k× /m1×/ m2××/ m, for some k0, m1,,m>0.

Proof.

(Sketch) (a) 0K𝔤exp G0,whereK= ker(exp). The map exp is surjective since the image contains a set of generators of G. The group K is discrete since exp is a local bijection. So Kk since it is a discrete subgroup of a vector space. So G𝔤/Kn /k (k/k)× n-k.

Let T=G0. Then 0TGG/T0 and G/T is discrete and compact since T is open in G. Thus, by part (a), T(S1)k, and G/T is finite. So G(S1)k× (/m1)× (/m2)×× (/m).

(a) The finite dimensional irreducible representations of /r are Xλ: /r * e2πik/r e2πikλ/r ,0λr-1.
(b) The finite dimensional irreducible representations of S1 are Xλ: /r * e2πiβ e2πiβλ ,λ.
(c) The finite dimensional irreducible representations of are z: * r zr=e2πiλr ,z*, λ.
(d) The finite dimensional irreducible representations of are z: * r zr=e2πiλr ,z*, λ.

Weights and roots

Let G be a compact connected group. A maximal torus of G is a maximal connected subgroup of G isomorphic to (S1)k for some positive integer k.

Fix a maximal torus T in G. The group T is a maximal connected abelian subgroup of G. The Weyl group is W=NG(T)/T, whereNG(T)= {gG|gTg-1=T}. The Weyl group W acts on T by conjugation. The map G/T×T ϕ G (gT,t) (gtg-1) is surjective and Card(ϕ-1(g))=|W| for any gG. It follows from this that

(a) Every element gG is in some maximal torus.
(b) Any two maximal tori in G are conjugate.
Thus, maximal tori exist, are unique up to conjugacy, and cover the group G.

Let P be an index set for the irreducible representations of T. Since the irreducible representations of S1 are indexed by , Pk. The set P is called the weight lattice of G. IfλPthen Xλ:T*, denotes the corresponding irreducible representation of T. The W-action on T induces a W-action on P via Xwλ(t)= Xλ(w-1t), for alltT. A representation V of G is a representation of T, by restriction, and, as a T-module, V=λPVλ, whereVλ= { vV|tv=Xλ (t)vfor alltT } . The vector space Vλ is the Xλ isotopic component of the T-module V. The W-action on T gives dim(Vλ)=dim (Vwλ), for allwWand λP. The vector space Vλ is the λ-weight space of V. A weight vector of weight λ in V is a vector v in Vλ.

Let G be a compact connected Lie group and let 𝔲=Lie(G). The group G acts on 𝔲 by the adjoint representation. Extend the adjoint representation to be a representation of G on the complex vector space 𝔤=𝔲i𝔲= 𝔲. By ???, this representation extends to a representation of the complex algebraic group G which is the complexification of G. Since G is compact, the adjoint representation of G on 𝔤, and thus the adjoint representation of 𝔤 on itself, is completely decomposable. This shows that 𝔤 is a complex semisimple Lie algebra.

The adjoint representation 𝔤 of G has a weight decomposition 𝔤=αP 𝔤α, and the root system of G is the set R={αP|α0,𝔤α0} of nonzero weights of the adjoint representation. The roots are the elements of R. Set 𝔥=𝔤0. Then 𝔤=𝔥 (αR𝔤α) is the decomposition of 𝔤 into the Cartan subalgebra 𝔥 and the root spaces 𝔤α. (Note that the usual notation is 𝔥=i𝔥, 𝔥=𝔥i𝔥, where 𝔥 is a Cartan subalgebra of 𝔤, i.e. a maximal abelian subspace of 𝔤. Also 𝔤0=𝔥 since 𝔥 is maximal abelian in 𝔤. Also 𝔥=𝔱i𝔱 where 𝔱 is the Lie algebra of the maximal torus T of G, and the maximal abelian subalgebra in 𝔤. Don’t forget to think of Xλ: T * t Xλ(t) eh eλ(h) , λ: 𝔥 h λ(h)

(?) The Weyl group W is generated by sα, αR. The action of W on 𝔥α is generated by the transformations sα: 𝔥* 𝔥* λ λ-λ,αα whereα= 2αα,α, and ,:𝔥*×𝔥* is a nondegenerate symmtric bilinear form.
(1) If α is a root then -α is a root and ±α are the only multiples of α which are root. (The thing that makes this work is that the root spaces are pure imaginary.)
(2) If α is a root then dim(𝔤α)=1.
(3) The only connected compact Lie groups with dim(T)=1 are SO3() and the two fold simply connected cover of SO3().

Proof.

(1) Suppose that α is a root and that x𝔤α. Xα: T * eh eα(h) and X-α: T * eh eα(h)=e-α(h) since α(h)i for ht. Then, for all h𝔱, [hx]= [h,x]= [h,x]= α(h) x=-α(h) x, and so x𝔤-α. Thus 𝔤-α0 and -α is a root. Note that [x,x]𝔥 since it has weight 0.

(2) Consider Xα:T*. Then Tα=kerXα is closed in T and is of codimension 1. Let Tα be the connected component of the identity in Tα and let Zα=ZG(Tα) be the centralizer of Tα in U (this is connected). Then Lie(Zα)= 𝔱i𝔱(hTαβ(h)=1𝔤β) =𝔥k 𝔤kα. Now Zα Zα/Tα | | T T/Tα So T/Tα is a maximal torus of Zα/Tα and dimT/Tα=1. Then Lie(Zα)= 𝔥αHα (k𝔤kα). If Xα=𝔤α then [Xα,X-α]=λHα and λ0 since H is maximal abelian in Lie(Zα/Tα) =H (k𝔤kα). Now consider the action of Hα on H (k>0𝔤kα) Xα. Then Tr(H)=1λTr ([Xα,X-α]) =1λTr ( adXαadX-α -adX-α adXα ) =0. But this implies 0=0+k>0 dim(𝔤kα)kα (Hα)-α(Hα). So 𝔤kα=0 for k>1 and 𝔤α=Xα. So span{Xα,X-α,Hα} is a 3 dimensional subalgebra of 𝔤.

If U is a compact connected Lie group such that dimT=1 then U has Lie algebra 𝔤=span{Xα,X-α,Hα} =𝔲i𝔲. Then the Weyl group of U is {1,sα}S2 where sα comes from conjugation by an element of Zα and so sα leaves Tα fixed.

So the Weyl group of G contains all the sα, αR.

Example. There are only two compact connected groups of dimension 3, SO(3)and Spin(3).

Proof.

G acts on 𝔤 and this gives an imbedding Ad:GSO(𝔤) (with respect to an Ad invariant form on 𝔤). This is an immersion since everything is connected. So G is a cover of SO(3).

Weyl’s integral formula

Let G be a compact connected Lie group. Let T be a maximal torus of G and let W be the Weyl group. Let R be the set of roots. Then |W|Gf(x) dx=TαR (Xα(t)-1) Gf(gtg-1) dgdt.

Proof.

First note that the map G/T×TG given by (gT,t)gt, can be used to define a (left) G invariant measure on G/T so that Gf(g)dg= G/T×Tf (gt)dtd(gT), and thus, for yT, Gf (gyg-1) dg = G/T×T f(gtyt-1g-1) dtd(gT) = G/T×T f(gyg-1) dtd(gT)= G/Tf (gyg-1)d (gT). (a) Then the map ϕ:G/T×TG given by (gT,t)gtg-1 yields |W|Gf(g) dg=G/T×Tf (gtg-1) J(gT,t)dtd (gT), (b) where J(gT,t) is the determinant of the differential at (gT,t) of the map ϕ. By translation, J(gT,t) is the same as the determinant of the differential at the identity, (T,e), of the map Lgt-1g-1ϕLg,t, G/T×T G/T×T G G (xT,y) (gxT,ty) (gx)ty(gx)-1 (gt-1g-1)(gx)ty(gx)-1. Since (gt-1g-1) (gx)ty(gx)-1 = gt-1xtyx-1 g-1 this differential is 𝔤/𝔥𝔥 𝔤 (X,Y) Ad𝔤(Adt-1(X)+Y-X). So J(gT,t) is the determinant of the linear transformation of 𝔤 given by Ad𝔤(g) ( Ad𝔤/𝔥(t-1)-id𝔤/h 0 0 id𝔥 ) , where the second factor is a block 2×2 matrix with respect to the decomposition 𝔤/𝔥𝔥 and Ad𝔤/𝔥 is the adjoint action of T restricted to the subspace 𝔤/𝔥 in 𝔤. The element t-1 acts on the root space 𝔤α by the value Xα(t-1) where Xα:T* is the character of T associated to the root α. Since G is unimodular det(Adg)=1, and since 𝔤/𝔥=αR𝔤α, J(gT,t)= αR (Xα(t-1)-1) =αR (Xα(t)-1), (c) where the last equality follows from the fact that if α is a root then -α is also a root. The theorem follows by combining (a), (b) and (c).

It follows from this theorem that, if χ and η are class functions on G then Gχ(g) η(g) dg = 1|W|T αR (Xα(t)-1) Gχ(gtg-1) η(gtg-1) dgdt = 1|W|T α>0 (Xα(t)-1) (X-α(t)-1) χ(t)η(t) dt = 1|W|T α>0 (Xα/2(t)-X-α/2(t)) (X-α/2(t)-Xα/2(t)) χ(t)η(t) dt = 1|W|T α>0 (aρχ)(t) (aρη)(t) dt.

Weyl’s character formula

The adjoint representation 𝔤 is a unitary representation of G. So the Weyl group W acts on 𝔥 by unitary operators. So W acts on 𝔱 by orthogonal matrices. Identify 𝔱 and 𝔱*=Hom(𝔱,)={α:𝔱} with the inner product, 𝔱 𝔱* α α,·. For a root α define α=2αα,α andHα= {x𝔱|α(x)=0}. Then, the reflection sα in the hyperplane Hα, which comes from Zα=ZG(Tα)/Tα, is sα: 𝔱 𝔱 λ λ-λ,αα. PICTURE OF HYPERPLANE AND REFLECTION. So

(a) W acts on 𝔱, and
(b) 𝔱-αRHα=n\(αRHα) is a union of chambers (these are the connected components). PICTURE OF CHAMBERS AND WEIGHT LATTICE
The Weyl group W permutes these chambers and if we fix a choice of a chamber C then we can identify the chambers are wC, wC. (See Bröcker-tom Dieck V (2.3iv) and the Claim at the bottom of p. 193. PICTURE OF CHAMBERS LABELED BYwC

Let R(T) = representation ring ofT = Grothendieck ring of representations ofG, and R(G) = representation ring ofG. This means that R(G)=span-{[Gλ]|λGˆ} with

(a) addition given by [Gλ]+[Gμ]=[GλGμ], and
(b) multiplication given by [Gλ][Gμ]=[GλGμ].
Thus, in R(G) it makes sense to write λGˆ mλ[Gλ] instead ofλGˆ (Gλ)mλ. Define P=span-{eλ|λP} with multiplicationeλeμ =eλ+μ, for λ,μP. Then PR(T),since R(T)=span-{[Xλ]|λP}. The action of W on R(T) (see (???)) induces an action of W on P given by weλ=ewλ, forwW,λP. Note that ε(w)=det𝔥(w) =±1 since the action of w on 𝔥 is by an orthogonal matrix. The vector spaces of symmetric and alternating functions are [P]W = { fP|wf=f for allwW } ,and 𝒜 = { fP| wf==ε(w)f for allwW } , respectively. Note that [P]W is a ring but 𝒜 is only a vector space.

Define P+=PC andP++=PC. The set P+ is the set of dominant weights. Every W-orbit on P contains a unique element of P+ and so the set of monomial symmetric functions mλ=γWλ eγ,λP+, forms a basis of [P]W. Define aμ=wWε (w)ewμ, for μP. Then

(a) waμ=ε(w)aμ, for all wW and all μP,
(b) aμ=0, if μHα for some α, and
(c) {aμ|μP++} is a basis of 𝒜.

The fundamental weights ω1,,ωn in 𝔱 are defined by ωi,αj =δij, where Hαj are the walls of C. Write α>0if λ,α> 0for allλC. Then ρ = i=1nωi = 12α>0α, is the element of 𝔱 defined by ρ,αi =1,for allα1,, αn.

The map P+ P++ λ λ+ρ is a bijection, and [P]W 𝒜 f aρf is a vector space isomorphism.

Proof.

Since w(aρf)= (waρ) (wf)=ε(w) aρf, the second map is well defined. Let g=λP gλeλ𝒜. Then, for a positive root α, -g=sαg= λP gλesαλ, and so g=λλ,α>0 gλ(eλ-ssαλ). Since eλ-esαλ= ( eλ-α++ eλ-λ,αα ) (eα-1), the element g is divsible by eα-1. Thus, since all the factors in the product are coprime in P, g is divisible by α>0 (eα-1)= eρα>0 (eα/2-e-α/2) =eρaρ, where the last equality follows from the fact that aρ is divisible by the product α>0(eα/2-e-α/2) and these two expressions have the same top monomial, eρ. Since g𝒜 is divisible by aρ the map P𝒜 is invertible.

Define χλ= aλ+ρaρ ,forλP+, so that the {χλ|λP+} are the basis of [P]W obtained by taking the inverse image of the basis {aλ+ρ|λP+} of A. Extend these functions to all of U by setting χλ(gtg-1) =χλ(t), for allgU. Since TXλ(t)Xμ(t)dt=δλμ, for λ,μP, Taλ+ρ(t) aμ+ρ(t) dt=δλμ|W|, and thus, by (???), δλμ=Gχλ (g)χμ(g) dg,for allλ,μP+. Thus the χλ, λP+ are an orthonormal basis of the set of class functions in C(G)rep. If Uλ is an irreducible representation of U then TrUλ(G)= i=1dMiiλ (g),whereMijλ =viλ,gvjλ, for an orthonormal basis v1λ,,vnλ of Uλ. Then GTrUλ(g) TrUμ(g) dg=δλμ, and so the functions TrUλ are another orthonormal basis of the set of class functions in C(G)rep. It follows that χλ=±TrUλ.

It only remains to check that the sign is positive to show that the χλ are the irreducible characters of U. This follows from the following computation. χλ(1) = limt0χλ (etρ) = limt0 wW ε(w) Xw(λ+ρ) (etρ) wW ε(w) Xwρ (etρ) = limt0 wW ε(w) ew(λ+ρ),tρ wW ε(w) ewρ,tρ = limt0 wW ε(w) etλ+ρ,w-1ρ wW ε(w) etρ,w-1ρ = limt0 aρ (et(λ+ρ)) aρ (etρ) = limt0 α>0 (Xα/2-X-α/2) (et(λ+ρ)) α>0 (Xα/2-X-α/2) (etρ) = limt0 α>0 ( etλ+ρ,α/2 - e-tλ+ρ,α/2 ) α>0 ( etρ,α/2 - e-tρ,α/2 ) = limt0 α>0 sinh(tλ+ρ,α/2) sinh(tρ,α/2) = α>0 λ+ρ,α/2 ρ,α/2 = α>0 λ+ρ,α ρ,α .

Let U be a compact connected Lie group and let T be a maximal torus and L the corresponding lattice.

(a) The irreducible representations of U are indexed by dominant integral weights λL+ under the correspondence irreducible representations 1-1 P+ Vλ highest weight ofVλ
(b) The character of Vλ is χλ= wW ε(w) ww(λ+ρ) wW ε(w) wwρ , where ρP+ is defined by ρ,αi=1 for 1in and ε(w)=det(w).
(c) The dimension of Vλ is dλ= α>0 λ+ρ,α α>0 ρ,α .
(d) χλ=p𝒫λ ep(1), where 𝒫λ is the set of all paths obtained by acting on pλ by root operators.

Remark. By part (d) dim((Vλ)μ)= # paths in𝒫λwhich end atμ. (For the path model some copying can be done from the Barcelona abstract.)

Remark. Point out that R(T)=L, where L is the lattice corresponding to T. Also point out that R(U)=R(T)W(L)W.

Notes and references

This is a typed exert of Representation theory Lecture notes: Chapter 4 by Arun Ram. Research supported in part by National Science Foundation grant DMS-9622985.

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