Classification of Irreducible Representations for Rank 2

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

Last update: 27 April 2013

Classification of Irreducible Representations for Rank 2

In this section we analyze the structure of all simple -modules for rank 2 graded Hecke algebras . The results, the classification of simple modules and various other data (central character γ, P(γ), Z(γ), dimension, calibrated or not calibrated, Langlands parameters), are listed in Table 1. An irreducible representation that is calibrated (see (2.10)) has all its weights of the form wγ with w(γ,J) for a unique J, and this is the set that is displayed in the fourth column of Table 1. The notation ‘nc’ indicates that the representation is not calibrated. The Langlands parameters of a simple -module of central character γ consists of a pair (U,I) where I is a subset of {1,2} and U is a tempered representation of I (see Theorem 2.4). If I is empty there is a unique tempered representation of I of central character γ so we place the pair (γ,) in the corresponding entry of column 5 of Table 1. If I consists of one element, then IA1 and each I-tempered representation is naturally indexed by its maximal weight μ so we place (μ,I) in column 5 of Table 1. If I={1,2}, then the corresponding simple -module is tempered.

The classification of the simple -modules is accomplished in three steps:

  1. The central character of a simple module is a W-orbit in 𝔥, and we label the orbit by a representative element γ. The structure of the simple modules with central character γ is, in a large part, controlled by the sets Z(γ) and P(γ) and the first step is to classify the central characters γ according to their sets Z(γ) and P(γ). The resulting partition of the central characters is given in Table 1 and the derivation of this list presented in Section 3.2. The derivation is accomplished by considering, case by case, the possibilities (0, 1, or 2) for Card(Z(γ))).
  2. For each central character γ we use the knowledge of Z(γ) and P(γ) and Lemma 2.7 and Corollary 2.6 to determine the simple modules of central character γ and their weight space structure. This case by case analysis is in Section 3.3.
  3. Finally, we determine the Langlands parameters for each simple -module. Since the Langlands parameters depend on the weight space structure (in particular, the maximal weights, see Section 2.4) these are determined in conjunction with the derivation of the weight space structure of each simple module in Section 3.3.

The root system

The reflection group I2(n) is the dihedral group of order 2n. Let ε1, ε2 be an orthonormal basis of 𝔥*=2 and define

βk=cos(kθ) ε1+sin(kθ) ε2,whereθ =π/n. Hβ0 Hβ1 Hβ2 Hβ3 Hβ4 Hβ5 Hβ6 Hβ0 Hβ1 Hβ2 Hβ3 Hβ4 Hβ5 Hβ6 β0 β1 β2 β3 β4 β5 β6 β7 β8 β9 β10 β11 β12 β13 Hβ0 Hβ1 Hβ2 Hβ3 Hβ4 Hβ5 Hβ6 Hβ7 Hβ0 Hβ1 Hβ2 Hβ3 Hβ4 Hβ5 Hβ6 Hβ7 β0 β1 β2 β3 β4 β5 β6 β7 β8 β9 β10 β11 β12 β13 β14 β15 Figure 1. Hyperplanes and roots forI2(7)andI2(8)

Fix the roots, positive roots and simple roots for the reflection group I2(n) by

R = {βk|0k2n-1}, R+ = {βk|0kn-1},

and

α1 = β0, α2 = βn-1.

For 0kn-1, -βk=βn+k, s1βk=βn-k and s2βk=βn-2-k. If n is even there are two orbits of roots, {±β2k|0k<n/2} and {±β2k+1|0k<n/2}. Let ck=cβk be a choice of parameters for the graded Hecke algebra . When n is odd all of the ck are equal and, when n is even, there are two, possibly unequal, parameters c0=c2k and c1=c2k+1. Figure 1 displays the roots βk and hyperplanes Hβk={x2|βk,x=0} for I2(7) and I2(8). When n is even each root βk lies on the hyperplane Hβk+n/2 and this is why, in the picture of hyperplanes and roots for I2(8) there are multiple labels on each line.

Figure 2 displays, using thin and thick lines, the hyperplanes

Hβk= {x2|βk,x=0} andHβk±δ= {x2|βk,x=±ck}

for I2(7) and I2(8) (and a particular choice of the parameters ck).

The central characters

Using the orthonormal basis ε1,ε2 we can identify 𝔥 with 2 and 𝔥 with 2. If γ𝔥, then

Z(γ)= {βkR+|γ,βk=0} andP(γ)= {βkR+|γ,βk=±ck} .

In terms of the pictures in Figure 2, if γ is a point in 2, then the elements of Z(γ) label the Hβk (thin lines) that γ is on and the elements of P(γ) label the set of Hβk±δ (thick lines) that γ is on.

Let us analyze the possibilities for Z(γ) and P(γ) as γ runs over representatives of W-orbits in 𝔥.

If γ(α)=cα, then (1/cα)γ(α)=1 and so we may, without loss of generality, assume that ck=1 for all k when n is odd, and c2k=1 and c2k+1=c when n is even.

a. If Z(γ) contains 2 roots or more, then γ=0, since any two distinct positive roots are linearly independent. This is the central character γ0 in Table 1.
b. If Z(γ) contains one root, then, by choosing our representative γ of the W-orbit Wγ appropriately, we may arrange that Z(γ)={β0} when n is odd, and Z(γ)={β0} or Z(γ)={βn-1}, when n is even. When n is even there is an automorphism τ of the root system (and of the graded Hecke algebra) which switches α1=β0 and α2=βn-1. The automorphism τ extends linearly to 𝔥 and if Z(γ)={βn-1}, then Z(τ(γ))={β0} and τ(P(γ))=P(τγ). Thus, even when n is even, it will be sufficient to analyze the case Z(γ)={β0}.
b'. If Z(γ)={β0} and βkP(γ), then the equations 0=γ(β0)=γ(ε1) and ck=γ(βk) =γ ( cos(kθ)ε1+ sin(kθ)ε2 ) =sin(kθ)γ(ε2) (3.1) uniquely determine γ. Since sin(kθ)=sin((n-k)θ), βn-l must also be in P(γ). This happens for the central characters γb,k,γb,n/2 and γq in Table 1.
b''. If Z(γ)={β0}, βk,βP(γ) and n-k, then equation (3.1) for k and forces ckc which forces n even and k and to be of different parity. Furthermore, the parameters must satisfy ck/c=sin(kθ)/sin(θ) and, when this happens, it happens for a unique choice of the 4-tuple (k,,n-k,n-). Thus, the only possible option is P(γ)={βk,βn-k,β,βn-} (if =n/2, then P(γ)={βn/2,βk,βn-k}). This is the central character γq in Table 1.
c. If Z(γ)= and βk,βP(γ) such that ck=c=c, then γ is uniquely determined by the equations c=cos(kθ)γ (ε1)+sin (kθ)γ(ε2) =cos(θ)γ(ε1) +sin(θ)γ(ε2). These equations force β(n+k+)/2Z(γ) if (n+k+) is even (the easiest way to see this is to look at the pictures in Figure 2). Since we assumed Z(γ)=, it follows that n+k+ is odd. If P(γ) contains 3 elements, then at least two of them would satisfy n+k+ even, and so it follows that P(γ) contains a maximum of two elements. By appropriately choosing our representative γ of the orbit Wγ we can assume that P(γ)={βk-1,βn-k} for some 1kn/2. This case corresponds to the central character γc,k in Table 1.

This analysis shows that Table 1 covers all (P(γ),Z(γ)) possibilities.

Figure 2. Hyperplanes forI2(7)andI2(n).

The irreducible representations

The following analysis determines the structure of each of the irreducible -modules: the dimensions of each generalized weight space and the Langlands parameters. The derivation of the irreducible representations proceeds by considering, separately, each central character γ. In each case we have included a picture showing the local regions (γ,J). In these pictures the solid lines correspond to hyperplanes Hα for αZ(γ) and the dotted lines correspond to hyperplanes Hα for αP(γ). Each local region is labeled by the corresponding set J of roots which determines its location in the picture (see the discussion before Corollary 2.6).

The Langlands parameters of an irreducible -module M are determined by the real parts of weights of M. This means that, according to the labeling of the simple modules as in Table 1, the Langlands parameters can depend on the choice of the parameters ck. In our calculations of Langlands parameters, and in the Langlands data displayed in Table 1, we assume that all ck>0 (this assumption is used only in the analysis of Langlands parameters).

In the case when n is even not all roots are in the orbit of α1=β0 and one should really consider central characters γ which have Z(γ)={βn-1}={α2} (see the remark in Section 3.2(b)). These central characters τ(γa), τ(γb,k), τ(γc,k) are the images of the central characters γa, γb,k and γc,k under the automorphism τ of the root system which switches α1 and α2. This automorphism extends to an automorphism of and thus it follows that the modules with central characters τ(γa), τ(γb,k), τ(γc,k) have exactly the same structures as the modules with central characters γa, γb and γc,k, respectively.

Central character γa. Z(γa)=, P(γa)=.

By Theorem 2.10 the principal series module M(γa) is irreducible and, by Proposition 2.8(a), this is the unique irreducible module with central character γa. Since γa is regular, M(γa) is calibrated.

Central character γb,k. Z(γb,k)={β0}, P(γb,k)={βk,βn-k}, 1k(n-1)/2.

The weight γb,k is uniquely determined by the fact that γb,k(β0)=γ(ε1)=0 and ck=γ(βk)=sin(kθ)γ(ε2), where θ=π/n.

Hβ0 Hβk Hβn-k kchambers kchambers kchambers kchambers n-2kchambers n-2kchambers J= J={βn-k} J={βk,βn-k}

Suppose M is an irreducible module with central character γ and Mγb,kgen0. Then by Lemma 2.7(a), for all w(γb,k,),

2dim Mwγb,kgen dimM(γb,k)wγb,kgen =2,and so dim Mwγb,kgen =2.

Now apply τ operators of the form τ1τ2 to Mγb,kgen. If w(γb,k,) but sjw(γb,k,{βn-k}), then w-1αj,α10 and kerτj0. Therefore, by Lemma 2.7(b),

1dim Msjwγb,kgen 1.

Thus, by Corollary 2.6,

dimMwγb,kgen =1for allw (γb,k,{βn-k}) .

By applying more τ operators, if w(γb,k,{βn-k}) but sjw(γb,k,{βk,βn-k}). then dimMsjwγb,kgen=0. Thus, by Corollary 2.6,

dim Mwγb,kgen=0 for allw (γb,k,{βk,βn-k}) .

The module M is n-dimensional.

Similar reasoning applied to an irreducible module N with central character γb,k and Nwγb,kgen0 for some w(γb,k,{βk,βn-k}) yields the dimensions of the generalized weight spaces of N, which sum to n. Thus the decomposition of the principal series module M(γb,k) consists of two irreducible modules M and N with central character γb,k and

dim(Mwγb,kgen) =2 forw (γb,k,) , dim(Mwγb,kgen) =1 forw (γb,k,{βn-k}) , dim(Mwγb,kgen) =2 forw (γb,k,{βn-k}) , dim(Mwγb,kgen) =1 forw (γb,k{βk,βn-k}) ,

and all other weight spaces of M and N are 0. Neither of the two irreducible modules M and N with central character γb,k are calibrated.

The maximal weight of M is γb,k which is dominant and on the hyperplane Hα1. The Langlands set for this weight is I={1}. The maximal weight of N is on the hyperplane Hβk if k is even, and on the hyperplane Hβn-(k+1) if k is odd. This observation determines the set I in the Langlands decomposition of the (real part) of the maximal weight of N (equation (2.11)).

Central character γb,n/2. n even, Z(γb,n/2)={β0}, P(γb,n/2)={βn/2}.

Hβ0 Hβn/2 n/2chambers n/2chambers n/2chambers n/2chambers J= J={βn/2}

We use Lemma 2.7 and an argument similar to that for central character γb,k to decompose the principal series module M(γb,n/2) and conclude that there are two irreducible modules M and N with central character γb,n/2 with

dim(Mwγb,n/2gen) =2 forw (γb,n/2,) , dim(Nwγb,n/2gen) =2 forw (γb,k,{βn/2}) .

All other weight spaces of M and N are 0. Neither of the two irreducible modules M and N with central character γb,n/2 are calibrated.

The maximal weight of M is γb,n/2 which is dominant and on the hyperplane Hα1. The Langlands set for this weight is I={1}. The module N is tempered with maximal weight s1s2 n/2factors γb,n/2.

Central character γq. Z(γq)={β0}, P(γq)={βk,βn-k,β,βn-}.

It may be that =n/2=n- so that the hyperplanes Hβ and Hβn- are the same and P(γ) contains only 3 roots. We do not have to consider this situation separately.

In some sense, the special central character γq occurs when the parameters are exactly right so that the central characters γb,k and γb, “coalesce”. This occurs only if n is even, k and are of different parity, and the parameters satisfy ck/c=sin(kθ)/sin(θ). For a fixed choice of parameters, there is at most one choice of the quadruple (k,,n-k,n-).

Hβ0 Hβk Hβn-k Hβ Hβn- kchambers -kchambers n-2chambers -kchambers kchambers J= J={βn-k} J={βn-k,βn-} J={β,βn-,βn-k} J=P(γq)

We use Lemma 2.7 and Corollary 2.6 in an argument similar to that for central character γb,k to see that there are five nonisomorphic irreducible -modules L, M, N, P and Q with central character γq, unless =n/2, in which case there are only four (N has dimension 0).

dim(Lwγqgen) =2 forw (γq,) , dim(Lwγqgen) =1 forw (γq,{βn-k}) , dim(Mwγqgen) =1 forw (γq,{βn-k}) , dim(Nwγqgen) =1 forw (γq,{βn-k,βn-}) , dim(Pwγqgen) =1 forw (γq,{β,βn-k,βn-}) , dim(Qwγqgen) =1 forw (γq,{β,βn-k,βn-}) , dim(Qwγqgen) =2 forw (γq,{βk,β,βn-k,βn-}) ,

and all other weight spaces of these modules are 0.

Both modules P and Q are tempered and have the same maximal weight s1s2 n-factors γq.

Central character γc,k. Z(γc,k)=, P(γc,k)={βk-1,βn-k}, 1k(n-1)/2.

The weight γc,k is uniquely determined by γ(βk-1)=ck-1 and γ(βn-k)=cn-k.

Hβ0 Hβk-1 Hβn-k kchambers k-1chambers n-2k+1chambers n-2k+1chambers kchambers k-1chambers J= J={βn-k} J={βk-1} J=P(γc,k)

The dashed line in this picture is for reference only, it does not correspond to a root in Z(γ) or P(γ).

Since γc,k is regular, the irreducible -modules with central character γc,k are calibrated and can be indexed by the sets J. The irreducible calibrated module (γc,k,J) indexed by the set J has

dim((γc,k,J))wγc,k =1forw (γc,k,J)

and all other weight spaces 0. A construction of (γc,k,J) is given in Theorem 4.5.

To compute the Langlands parameters of these modules we first assume that n is odd and m=n-12. If J={βk-1}, the maximal weight of the module (γc,k,J) is in the same chamber as βm-k if k is even, and in the same chamber as βm+k if k is odd. If J={βn-k}, the maximal weight of (γc,k,J) is in the same chamber as βm-k if k is odd, and in the same chamber as βm+k if k is even. In each case this information determines the set I in the Langlands parameters. If J={βk-1,βn-k}, the module (γc,k,J)is tempered with maximal weights

s2s1 n-k+1factors γc,kand s1s2 kfactors γc,k.

If n is even and all parameters ck are equal, then the Langlands parameters are as in the previous paragraph. In the case that n is even and c2kc2k+1, then it may happen that γc,k is not in the dominant chamber. The structure of the modules with central character γc,k does not change but the Langlands parameters of the representations may change significantly. One of the four irreducibles with central character γc,k will always be tempered, but which one (and thus the dimension of the tempered module with this central character) depends on the values of the parameters c2k and c2k+1.

Central character γd. Z(γd)=, P(γd)={β0}

Hβ0 nchambers nchambers J= J={β0}

Since γd is regular the irreducible modules with central character γd are calibrated and can be indexed by the sets J. The module (γd,J) has

dim ((γc,k,J)) wγc,k =1forw (γc,k,J)

and all other weight spaces 0. A construction of (γd,k,J) is given in Theorem 4.5.

The Langlands parameters given in Table 1 for irreducible representations with central character γd assume that γdWγd where n is odd and γd=ξ·β(n-1)/2, ξ>0. In the particular case where n is odd and γdWγd the irreducible module indexed by the set J={β0} is tempered.

Tempered representations and the Springer correspondence

The Springer correspondence for Weyl groups (see [BMo1989, p. 34]) associates to each tempered representation M of with real central character, the unique “maximal” irreducible W-module which is contained in M. For Weyl groups (crystallographic reflection groups) this is a one-to-one correspondence between tempered representations of and irreducible representations of W. Using our classification of -modules in Table 1, we can establish a similar correspondence for the noncrystallographic groups I2(n).

If n is odd, then the group I2(n) has 2 one-dimensional irreducible representations and (n-1)/2 two-dimensional irreducible representations. The trivial (resp. sign) representation of I2(n) corresponds to the tempered irreducible -module with central character γ0 (resp. γc,1). The two-dimensional representations of I2(n) correspond to the tempered -modules with central characters γdWγd and γc,k,1k(n-1)/2. Note that γ0,γd and γc,k,1k(n-1)/2, can all be taken to be multiples of the root β(n-1)/2 and in the dominant chamber. In this normalization the 1-dimensional representations correspond to the two extreme elements of this chain of weights.

If n is even and the parameters ck are all equal, the trivial (resp. sign) representation of I2(n) corresponds to the tempered irreducible -module with central character γ0 (resp. γc,1) and the other two 1-dimensional representations of I2(n) correspond to the tempered -modules with central characters γb,n/2 and τ(γb,n/2), where τ is the involution that switches α1=β0 and α2=βn-1. The 2-dimensional I2(n)-modules correspond to the tempered -modules with central characters γc,k,2kn/2. As in the case where n is odd, the central characters γ0 and γc,k,1k(n-1)/2, can be taken to be in the dominant chamber and on the line through the origin and the point βn/2+βn/2-1. In this normalization the trivial and the sign representations correspond to the two extreme elements of this chain of weights. In the case when the parameters are unequal, two of the points on this chain may coalesce in the weight γq and “become” the two tempered representations of with central character γq. The case where P(γq) contains only 3 roots comes from one of the central characters γb,n/2 or τ(γb,n/2) coalescing with one of the γc,k.

This analysis establishes the “Springer correspondence” for all dihedral groups and all choices of the parameters ck of with ck>0.

Table 1. Irreducible representations ofI2(n)up to outer automorphism Character Z(γ),P(γ) Dimension J Langlands Parameters γ0=0 R+, 2n nc tempered γa {β0}, 2n nc (γa,{1}) γb,k {β0},{βk,βn-k} n nc (γb,k,{1}) 1k<n/2 n nc ( s1s2 kfactors γb,k,{1} ) keven ( s1s2 kfactors γb,k,{2} ) kodd γb,n/2 {β0},{βn/2} n nc (γb,n/2,{1}) (neven) n nc tempered γq {β0}, +k nc (γq,{1}) (neven) {βk,βn-k,β,βn-} -k {βn-k} ( s1s2 kfactors γq,{1} ) keven 0<k<n/2 ( s1s2 kfactors γq,{2} ) kodd n-2 {βn-k,βn-} ( s1s2 factors γq,{1} ) keven ( s1s2 factors γq,{2} ) kodd -k {βn-k,βn-,β} tempered +k nc tempered γc,k ,{βk-1,βn-k} 2k-1 (γc,k,) 1kn/2 n-2k+1 {βk-1} ( s2s1 kfactors γc,k,{1} ) kodd ( s2s1 kfactors γc,k,{2} ) keven n-2k+1 {βn-k} ( s1s2 kfactors γc,k,{1} ) keven ( s1s2 kfactors γc,k,{2} ) kodd 2k-1 {βk-1,βn-k} tempered γd ,{β0} n (γd,) n {β0} (s1γd,{1}) γgen , 2n (γgen,) This module is tempered ifnis odd and γdWγd , withγd=ξ ·β(n-1)/2 ,ξ>0.

Notes and References

This is an excerpt of a paper entitled Representations of graded Hecke algebras, written by Cathy Kriloff (Department of Mathematics, Idaho State University, Pocatello, Idaho 83209-8085) and Arun Ram.

Research of the first author supported in part by an NSF-AWM Mentoring Travel Grant. Research of the second author supported in part by National Security Agency grant MDA904-01-1-0032 and EPSRC Grant GR K99015.

page history