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:X→Y is a map such that f-1(V) is open in X for all open subsets V⊆Y. 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) | x∈X} 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×X→ℝ≥0 such that A Cauchy sequence is a sequence (pi∈V | i∈ℤ>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 (pi∈V | i∈ℤ≥0) converges if there is a p∈V such that, for every ε∈ℝ>0, there is an N∈ℤ>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 of X} ⟶ {rings} U ⟼ 𝒪X(U) such that if {Uα} is an open cover of U and fα∈𝒪X(Uα) are such that fα|Uα∩Uβ= fβ|Uα∩Uβ, for all α,β, then there is a unique f∈𝒪X(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 x∈X 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 𝒪→𝒪x(U) ⟶i∏α 𝒪x(Uα) ⟶k⟶j ∏α,β𝒪x (Uα∩Uβ) is exact where i is the map induced by the inclusions Uα↪U,
j is the map induced by the inclusions Uα∩Uβ↪Uα,
k is the map induced by the inclusions Uα∩Uβ↪Uβ,
and exactness of the sequence means im i=ker(j-k).

Smooth manifolds

A manifold is a topological space X which is locally homeomorphic to ℝn. Locally homeomorphic to ℝn means that for each x∈X there is an open neighborhood U of x, an open set V in ℝn and a homeomorphism ϕ:U→V. The map ϕ:U→V is a chart. An atlas is an open covering (Uα) of X, a set of open sets (Vα) of ℝn and a collection of charts ϕα:Uα→Vα. 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 ϕβ∘ϕα-1 :ϕα (Uα∩Uβ)⟶ ϕβ (Uα∩Uβ) 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→ℝ that are smooth at every point of U, i.e. If x∈U then there is a chart ϕα:Uα→Vα such that x∈Uα and f∘ϕα-1: Vα→ℝ,is  C∞.

Let Vα be an open set of ℝn. For each open set V of Vα let C∞(V) be the set of functions f:V→ℝ that are C∞ at every point of V. If V↪V′ then we have a map C∞(V′) ⟶ C∞(V) f ⟼ f|V. Thus C∞: {open sets of Vα} ⟶ {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 ℝn, 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 ℝn.

Varieties

A affine algebraic variety over 𝔽‾ is a set X= { (x1,…,xn) |  fα(x1,…,xn) =0 for all fα∈S } 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:U→𝔽‾ that are regular at every point of x∈U, i.e. For each x∈U there is a neigborhood Uα⊆U of x and functions g,h∈𝔽‾[t1,…,tn] such that h(y)≠0 and f(y)=g(y)/h(y) for all y∈Uα. 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) | x∈X}  is closed in X×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=Hom𝔽‾alg (A,𝔽‾). By definition, the closed sets of X in the Zariski topology are the sets CJ= {M∈X | J⊆M} for J⊆A, 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/h g,h∈A,  x(h)≠0  for all x∈U } . 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 x∈X 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 x∈X the local ring 𝒪X,x has no nonzero nilpotent elements,
(d) (X,𝒪X) satisfies the separation axiom, i.e. ΔX= {(x,x) | x∈X}  is closed in X×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,c∈G,
(b) There is an identity 1∈G,
(c) Every element of G is invertible. Let [x,y]= xyx-1 y-1, for x,y∈G. The lower central series of G is the sequence C1(G)⊇ C2(G)⊇⋯, where  C1(G)=G  and Ci+1 (G)=[G,Ci(G)]. The derived series of G is the sequence D0(G)⊇ D2(G)⊇⋯, where D0(G)= G and Di+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=ℝ/ℤ=U1(ℂ). A torus is a Lie group G is isomorphic to S1×⋯S1 (k factors), for some k∈ℤ>0.

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

Let G be a Lie group and let x∈G. A tangent vector at x is a linear map ξx:C∞(G)→ℝ such that ξx(f1f2)= ξx(f1)f2(x)+ f1(x)ξx(f2), for all f1,f2∈ C∞(G). A vector field is a linear map ξ:C∞(G)→C∞(G) such that ξ(f1f2)= ξ(f1)f2+ f1ξ(f2), for f1,f2∈ C∞(G). A left invariant vector field on G is a vector field ξ:C∞(G)→C∞(G) such that Lgξ=ξLg, for all g∈G. A one parameter subgroup of G is a smooth group homomorphism γ:ℝ→G. If γ is a one parameter subgroup of G define ddtf(γ(t))= limh→0 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 1∈G}.

The maps {left invariant vector fields} ⟶ {tangent vectors at 1} ξ ⟼ ξ1 and {{one paramemeter subgr} ⟶ {tangent vectors at 1} 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 [,]:𝔤⊗𝔤→𝔤 given by [ξ1,ξ2]= ξ1ξ2-ξ2ξ1, forξ1,ξ2 ∈𝔤. Let ϕ:G→H be a Lie group homomorphism and let 𝔤=Lie(G) and 𝔥=Lie(G). Then C∞(H) ⟶ϕ* C∞(G) f ⟼ f∘ϕ and the differential of ϕ is the Lie group homomorphism 𝔤⟶dϕ𝔥 given by dϕ(ξ1)= ξ1∘ϕ*, if ξ1 is a tangent vectors at the identity, dϕ(ξ)=ξ∘ ϕ*, if ξ is a left invariant vector field, dϕ(γ)=ϕ ∘γ, if γ is 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(ℝ) and SOn(ℝ) 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 X∈𝔤. 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∈ℝ, X∈𝔤𝔩n}, whereetX= ∑k≥0 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 x∈G, there is a map Ad: G ⟶ GL(𝔤) x ⟼ Adx andAdxAdy =Adxy,for  x,y∈G, 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,Y∈𝔤. Define a (right) action of G on C∞(G) by (Rxf)(g)=f (gx),for x∈G, f∈C∞(G),g∈G. Then Adxξ=Rxξ Rx-1,for all  x∈G,ξ∈𝔤, since, for x∈G, Intx*(Adxξ)= ξ∘Intx*= 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,ℂ) given by (gϕ)(X)=ϕ (Adg-1X), for g∈G, ϕ∈ 𝔤*, X∈𝔤. A coadjoint orbit is the set produced by the action of G on an element ϕ∈𝔤*, i.e. Gϕ⊆𝔤* 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 ℝ whose identity component (in the Zariski topology) is reductive and a morphism ν:G→G(ℝ) with finite kernel, whose image is an open subgroup of G(ℝ). For the definition of Harish-Chandra class see Knapp’s article.

(a) U(n)={x∈Mn(ℂ) | xx‾t=id}.
(b) Sp(2n,ℂ)= {A∈Mn(ℂ) | AtJA=J}.
(c) Sp2n=Sp(2n,ℂ)∩U(2n).

The simple compact Lie groups are

(a) (Type A) SUn(ℂ)
(b) (Type Bn) SO2n+1(ℝ), n≥1,
(c) (Type Cn) Sp2n(ℂ)∩Un, n≥1,
(d) (Type Dn) SO2n(ℝ), n≥4,
(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×ℝm 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={g∈G | 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 ⟼ -x‾t 𝔩={x∈𝔤 | θx=x}, 𝔭={s∈𝔤 | θx=-x}, 𝔤=𝔩⊕𝔭, 𝔲=𝔩⊕i𝔭, 𝔤ℂ=𝔤⊕i𝔤=𝔲⊕i𝔲.

(a) There is an equivalence of categories {compact connected Lie groups} ⟷ {connected reductive algebraic groups over ℂ} 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 of G} ⟶ {representations of K} 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 ℂ and ℝ 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(ℂ) SUn ⟷ SLn(ℂ) SO2n+1(ℝ) ⟷ SO2n+1(ℂ) Sp2n ⟷ Sp2n(ℂ) SO2n(ℝ) ⟷ SO2n(ℂ) Other examples are GLn(ℂ), SLn(ℂ), PGLn(ℂ), On(ℂ), SOn(ℂ), Pinn, Spinn, Sp2n, PSp2n, Un(ℂ), SUn(ℂ), Un(ℂ)/Z(Un(ℂ)), On(ℝ), SOn(ℝ), ….

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 ℂ. 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:G⟶GL(V) and the statement that the representation is a group action means V(xy)=V(x) V(y),for all  x,y∈G. 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(ℂ) g ⟼ 1 If V and W are G-modules the tensor product is the action of G on V⊗W given by g(v⊗w)=gv⊗gw, for v∈V, w∈W,  g∈G. If V is a G-module the dual G-module to V is the action of G on V*=Hom(V,ℂ) (linear maps ψ:V→ℂ) given by (gψ)(v)=ψ (g-1v), forg∈G,ψ∈V* ,v∈V. The maps 1⊗V ⟶∼ V 1⊗v ⟼ v and V⊗1 ⟶∼ V v⊗1 ⟼ v are G-module isomorphisms for any V. The maps V*⊗V ⟶ 1 ϕ⊗v ⟼ ϕ(v) and 1 ⟶ V⊗V* 1 ⟼ ∑ibi⊗βi* where {bi} is a basis of V and {βi*} is the dual basis in  V* are G-module homomorphisms.

If V:G→GL(V) is a homomorphism of Lie groups then the differential of V is a map dV:𝔤⟶End(V) which satisfies dV([x,y])= [dV(x),dV(y)]= dV(x)dV(y)- dV(y)dV(x), for x,y∈𝔤. 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:𝔤→End(V) such that V([x,y])= [V(x),V(y)]= V(x)V(y)- V(y)V(x), for all x,y∈𝔤, where V(x) is the linear transformation of V determined by the action of x∈𝔤. The trivial representation of 𝔤 is the map 1: 𝔤 ⟶ ℂ x ⟼ 0 If V is a 𝔤-module, the dual 𝔤-module is the 𝔤-action on V*=Hom(V,ℂ) given by (xϕ)(v)=ϕ (-xv),for x∈ 𝔤, ϕ∈V*,  v∈V. If V and W are 𝔤-modules the tensor product of V and W is the 𝔤-action on V⊗W given by x(v⊗w)=xv⊗w+ v⊗xw,x∈𝔤,v∈ V,w∈W. 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 (etX⊗etX) |t=0 = ddt (1+tX+t2X22!+⋯)⊗ (1+tX+t2X22!+⋯) |t=0 = ddt ( 1⊗1+ t(X⊗1+1⊗X)+⋯ ) |t=0 = X⊗1+1⊗X.

Lie algebras

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

(1) [x,y]=-[y,x], for all x,y∈𝔤,
(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 D0𝔤⊇D1𝔤⊇⋯, where D0𝔤=𝔤  and Di+1𝔤= [Di𝔤,Di𝔤]. The lower central series of 𝔤 is the sequence C1𝔤⊇C2𝔤⊇⋯, where C0𝔤=𝔤  and Ci+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 0⊆nil(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 ℂ are

(a) (Type An-1) 𝔰𝔩n(ℂ), n≥2,
(b) (Type Bn) 𝔰𝔬2n+1(ℂ), n≥1,
(c) (Type Cn) 𝔰𝔭2n(ℂ), n≥1,
(d) (Type Dn) 𝔰𝔬2n(ℂ), n≥4, and
(e) the five simple Lie algebras E6, E7, E8, F4, G2.

The finite dimensional simple Lie algebras over ℝ 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:G→GLn(F) for some n∈ℤ>0.

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

A matrix x∈Mn(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∈ℤ>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:G→GLn(F) be an injective homomorphism. An element g∈G 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:G→GLn(ℂ).

(Jordan decomposition) Let G be a linear algebraic group and let g∈G. Then there exist unique gs,gu∈G 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∈ℤ>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 1⊆Ru(G)⊆ R(G)⊆G0⊆G 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 G≅TU 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·G2⋯Gk and Gi∩(G1⋯Gˆi⋯Gk) is finite.

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

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 ⋱ 0Aℓ-1 Aℓ ) ,det(Ai)=1, A = ( a1Id a2Id0 ⋱ 0aℓ-1Id aℓId ) ,ai>0, N = ( Id Id* ⋱ 0Id Id ) , and there is a corresponding decomposition 𝔭=𝔪⊕𝔞⊕𝔫 at the Lie algebra level.

The Iwasawa decomposition of G is G=KAN where K = a maximal compact subgroup of G, A = ( a1 a20 ⋱ 0aℓ-1 aℓId ) ,det(Ai)=1, N = ( 1 1* ⋱ 01 1 ) , and the corresponding Lie algebra decomposition is 𝔤=𝔩⊕𝔭=𝔩⊕𝔞⊕𝔫, where 𝔩 = {x∈𝔤 | θx=x}, 𝔭={x∈𝔤 | θx=-x}, 𝔞 = a maximal abelian subspace of 𝔭, 𝔫 = the set of positive roots with respect to 𝔞. 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 all α∈R.
Let G be a Chevalley group over ℂ 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 all α∈R, t∈ℂ.
(c) A maximal compact subgroup of G is K={g∈G | 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= { h∈H | μ(h) >0 for all μ∈L } .
Let Θ be a P.I.D., k the quotient field, and Θ* the group of units of Θ (examples: Θ=ℤ, Θ=F[t], Θ=ℤp). 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+= { h∈H | α(h) ∈Θ for all α∈ R+ } .
(c) If Θ is not a field (in particular if Θ=ℤ) then K is maximal in its commensurability class.
(d) If Θ=ℤp and k=ℚp 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=⋃w∈WIwI.
(3) IwI=IwUw,Θ with the last component determined uniquely mod Uw,p.

Classification Theorems

{semisimple algebraic groups over ℂ} ⟷1-1 {lattices and root systems} {complex semisimple Lie groups} ⟷1-1 {semisimple algebraic groups over ℂ} {connected reductivealgebraic groups over ℂ} ⟷1-1 {compact connected Lie groups} G ⟼ U=maximal compact subgroup of G 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 supp f={g∈G | f(g)≠0}. If it exists, the convolution of functions f1:G→ℂ and f2:G→ℂ is the function (f1*f2):G→ℂ given by (f1*f2)(g)= ∫Gf1(h)f2 (h-1g)dμ(g). (0.11) Define an involution on functions f:G→ℂ by f*(g)=f (g-1), for all g∈G. Useful norms on functions f:G→ℂ are defined by ‖f‖1 = ∫G|f(g)| dμ(g), ‖f‖22 = ∫G |f(g)|2 dμ(g), ‖f‖∞ = sup{|f(g)| | g∈G}, If it exists, the inner product of functions f1:G→ℂ and f2:G→ℂ is ⟨f1,f2⟩= ∫Gf1(g) f2(g-1)‾ dμ(g). The left and right actions of G on functions f:G→ℂ are defined by (Lgf)(x)= f(g-1x), and(Rgf)(x) =f(xg),g, x∈G. Some space of functions are ℂG = {functions f:G→ℂ with finite support}. ℓ1(G) = { functions f:G→ℂ  with countable support and ‖f‖= ∑g∈G |f(g)| <∞ } . L1(G,μ) = { functions f:G→ℂ  such that ‖f‖= ∫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 ℬ containing all open sets of X. A Borel measure is a function μ:ℬ→[0,∞] which is countably additive, i.e. μ(⨆i=1∞Ai) =∑i=1∞μ(Ai), for every disjoint collection of Ai from ℬ. A regular Borel measure is a Borel measure which satisfies μ(E)=sup {μ(K) | K⊆E, for K compact} =inf{μ(U) | E⊆U, for U open}, for all E∈ℬ. A complex Borel measure is a function μ:ℬ→ℂ 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)| ,for E∈ℰ, where the sup is over all countable collections {Ei} of disjoint sets of ℬ 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 ℂG maps to measures ν with finite support, ℓ(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 functions f:X→ℂ with compact support}. Then Cc(X) is a normed vector space (not always complete) under the norm ‖f‖∞=sup {|f(x)| | x∈X}. The completion C0(X) of Cc(X) with respect to ‖·‖∞ is a Banach space. A distribution is a bounded linear functional μ:Cc(X)→ℂ. The Riesz representation theorem says that with the notation μ(f)=∫Xf(x) dμ(x),for f∈ 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)→ℂ. 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 x∈X such that for each neighborhood U of x there is f∈Cc(X) such that supp(f)⊆U and μ(f)≠0. Define ℰc(X)= {distributions μ on X with compact support}. If ϕ:X→Y is a morphism of locally compact spaces then ϕ*:ℰc(X)→ ℰc(Y)is given by (ϕ*μ)(f)= μ(f∘ϕ), for f∈Cc(Y).

Let G be a locally compact topological group. Define an involution on distributions by μ*(f)=μ (f*), for f∈Cc(G). The convolution of distributions is defined by ∫Gf(g)d (μ1*μ2) (g)=∫G∫G 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 all f∈Cc(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)→ℂ. Let ℰ1(X)= {continuous linear functionals μ:C∞(X)→ℂ} and, for a compact subset K⊆X, ℰ1(X,K)= { μ∈ℰ1(X) |  supp(μ)⊆K } . If ϕ:X→Y is a morphism of smooth manifolds then ϕ*:ℰ1(X) →ℰ1(Y)is given by (ϕ*μ) (f)=μ(f∘ϕ).

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)→ℂ such that

(a) (continuity) μ is continuous with respect to the topology on C0(G) given by ‖f‖∞=sup {|f(g)| | g∈G},
(b) (positivity) If f(g)∈R≥0 for all g∈G then μ(f)∈R≥0,
(c) (left invariance) μ(Lgf)=μ(f), for all g∈G and f∈C0(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:G→ℝ≥0 given by μ(f)=Δ(g) μ(Rgf),for all  f∈C0(G). The fact that the image of Δ is in ℝ≥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) or∫Gf(g)dμ (gh)=∫Gf(g) Δ(h)dμ(g) ,orμ(f)= μR(Δf), for all f∈C0(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  f∈C0(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)= |det Adg|, for all g∈G.

Examples

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

Vector spaces and linear transformations

A vector space is a set V with an addition +:V×V→V and a scalar multiplication ℂ×V→V 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∈ℂ and v,v1,v2∈V. A linear transformation from a vector space X to a vector space Y is a map T:X→Y such that T(c1v1+c2v2)=c1T(v1)+c2T(v2), for all c1,c2∈ℂ and v1,v2∈V. 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 C⊆V is convex if tx+(1-t)y∈C, for all x,y∈C, 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 ‖·‖:V→ℝ≥0 such that

(a) ‖x+y‖≤‖x‖+‖y‖, for x,y∈V,
(b) ‖αx‖=|α|‖x‖, for α∈ℂ, x∈V,
(c) ‖x‖=0 implies x=0.
A linear transformation T:X→Y between normed vector spaces X and Y is an isometry if ‖Tx‖=‖x‖ for all x∈X. The norm of a linear transformation T:X→Y is ‖T‖=sup { ‖Tx‖ | x∈ X,‖x‖≤1 } . (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:X→Y 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→ℂ such that for all c,c1,c2∈ℂ and v,v1,v2,v3∈V,

(a) ⟨v1,v2⟩=⟨v2,v1⟩‾,
(b) ⟨c1v1+c2v2,v3⟩= c1⟨v1,v3⟩+ c2⟨v2,v3⟩,
(c) ⟨v,v⟩=0 only if v=0,
(d) V is a Banach space with respect to the norm given by ‖v‖2=⟨v,v⟩.
If H is a Hilbert space the adjoint T* of a linear transformation T:H→H is the linear transformation defined by ⟨Th1,h2⟩= ⟨h1,T*h2⟩, for all h1,h2∈H, (0.16) and T is unitary if ⟨Tx1,Tx2⟩= ⟨x1,x2⟩ for all x1,x2∈H.

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‖≤ ‖a1‖‖a2‖, for all a1,a2 ∈A. A *-algebra is a Banach algebra with an involution *:A→A 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‖= ‖a‖2, for all a∈A. An idempotented algebra is an algebra A with a set of idempotents ℰ such that

(1) For each pair e1,e2∈ℰ there is an e0∈ℰ such that e0e1=e1e0=e1 and e0e2=e2e0=e2, and
(2) For each a∈A there is an e∈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→ℂ | ‖f‖2<∞} 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:V1→V2 of A-modules is a linear transformation such that T(av)=aT(v), for all a∈A and v∈V. 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 all v1,v2∈V , a∈A. A *-representation of A on H is nondegenerate if AV={av | a∈A,v∈V} 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×V→V is a continuous map.

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

(a) V=⋃e∈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 ℂG 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 ℂG on V and this induces an equivalence of categories between the representations of G and the representations of ℂG.
(2) Let G be a locally compact topological group and fix a Haar measure μ on G. Let L1(G,μ)= { f:G→ℂ |  ‖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),g∈G, 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 ℰc= {distributions on G with compact support} Then ℰc 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 ℰc on V by the formula μv=∫Ggvdμ(g), f∈ℰc,g∈G, and this induces an equivalence of categories between the representations of G on a complete locally convex vector space V and the representations of ℰc(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 functions f:G→ℂ} . 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  K⊆G, 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 on G}. 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 ℰ(G,K)fin= { μ∈ℰc(G) |  supp(μ)⊆K and μ  is left and right K finite } . Then ℰ(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  K⊆G, where χK denotes the characteristic function of the subgroup K. Any (𝔤,K)-module extends uniquely to a smooth representation of ℰ(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 ℰ(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 ℰ(G,K)fin. By Knapp and Vogan Cor. 1.7.1 ℰ(G,K)fin= C(K)fin⊗U(𝔩ℂ) U(𝔤ℂ).
(7) Let G be a compact Lie group. Let C(G)fin= {f∈C∞(G) | f is G finite}. Then C(G)fin is an idempotented algebra with idempotents corresponding to the identity on a finite sum of blocks ⨁λGλ⊗G‾λ.

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: x∈𝔤, and
Relations: xy-yx=[x,y], for all x∈𝔤.
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 [,]:A⊗A→ℂ defined by [a1,a2]= a1a2-a2 a1,for all a1 ,a2∈A. This means that HomLie(𝔤,LA)≅ Homalg(U𝔤,A), for all associative algebras A. (0.18) Let ι:𝔤→U𝔤 be the map given by ι(x)=x. Then (???) is equivalent to the following universal property satisfied by U𝔤: If ϕ:𝔤→A is a map from 𝔤 to an associative algebra A such that ϕ([x,y])= ϕ(x)ϕ(y) -ϕ(y)ϕ(x) ,for all x,y∈𝔤, then there exists an algebra homomorphism ϕ∼:U𝔤→A such that ϕ∼∘ι=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=ℂ⊗ℝ𝔤ℝ be the complexification of the Lie algebra 𝔤ℝ=Lie(G) of G. Let ℰ(G,{1}) be the algebra of distributions μ:C∞(G)→ℂ on G such that supp(μ)={1}. Then U𝔤 ⟶ ℰ(G,{1}) x ⟼ μx whereμx (f)=ddt f(etx) |t=0,for  x∈𝔤, 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), for x∈G, f∈C (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 (,):V⊗V→ℂ be an inner product on V and define a new innner product ⟨,⟩:V⊗V→ℂ 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(ℂ) g ⟼ V(g), then V‾: G ⟶ Mn(ℂ) 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), f∈C(G), v∈V. (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= { v∈V | the  G-module generated by v is finite dimensional } .

The vector space C(G)rep of representative functions consists of all functions f:G→ℂ 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 f∈C(G)rep. Let v, w be vectors in a finite dimensional representation V such that f(g)=⟨v,gw⟩ for all g∈G. 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⟩, 1≤j≤k. 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 f∈W. For each 1≤i≤k (xfi)(g)= f∼i(x-1g) =⟨vi,x-1gw⟩ =⟨xvi,gw⟩= ⟨∑j=1kcjvj,gw⟩ =∑j=1kcj fj(g) for some constants cj∈ℂ. So the G-module generated by f is contained in the finite dimensional representation W. So f∈C(G)fin. So C(G)rep⊆C(G)fin.

Let f∈C(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 {w‾1,…,w‾k} and G action given by gw‾i= ∑j=1k ⟨fj,g-1fi⟩‾ w‾j,1≤i≤k. It is straightforward to check that g1(g2w‾)=(g1g2)w‾, for all g1,g2∈G. Since ⟨w‾j,gw‾i⟩=⟨fj,g-1fi⟩, f(g)= ⟨∑j=1kcjw‾j,gw‾1⟩ where cj=fj(1) and so f∈C(G)rep. So C(G)fin⊆C(G)rep.

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(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:G→GLn(ℂ) for some n.
(d) Let Gˆ be an index set for the finite dimensional representations of G. For each finite dimensional irreducible representation Gλ, λ∈Gˆ, fix an orthonormal basis {viλ | 1≤i≤dλ} of Gλ. Define Mijλ∈C(G)rep by Mijλ(g)= ⟨viλ,gvjλ⟩ ,g∈G. Then ⨁λ∈GˆGλ⊗Gλ ⟶ C(G)rep viλ⊗vjλ ⟼ Mijλ is an isomorphism of G×G-modules.
(e) The map ⨁λ∈GˆMdλ(ℂ) ⟶ 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)finV⊆Vfin. 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 v∈V 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 B⊆C(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,f2∈C(G).

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

(a) ‖K‖= sup{‖Kf‖ | ‖f‖≤1} 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-Kxj‖2= |λ2| ‖x1-xj‖2 =2‖λ‖2 and this never goes to zero.

(c) If not then U⊥=(⨁λC(G)λ‾)⊥ is nonzero. Then K:U⊥→U⊥ 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).

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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 ‖f‖22=∫ f(g)f(g)‾ dμ(g)≤∫ |f(g)f(g)‾| dμ(g)≤ ‖f‖∞2. So the L2 and sup norms compare. For norms of operators ‖δ*f‖∞≤ ‖δ‖∞‖f‖∞.

(c) ⟹ (a): If ι:G→GLn(ℂ) is an injection then the algebra C(G)alg generated (under pointwise multiplication) by the functions ιij and ι‾ij, where ιij(g)= ι(g)ij, andιij (g)=ιij(g)‾ ,for g∈G, 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 g∈G 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 gi∉Ki-1 we can find a sequence g1,g2,… of elements of G such that K1⊇K2⊇…, where Kj=ker (Vg1⊕⋯⊕Vgj), and Ki≠Ki+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=Vg1⊕⋯Vgn 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 ( (x⊗y) (viλ⊗vjλ) ) (g) = (Φ(xviλ⊗yvjλ)) (g) = xviλ⊗gy vjλ = viλ⊗x-1g yvjλ = Mijλ (x-1gy) = (LxRyMijλ) (g).

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Note that Tr(Eijλ) =⟨viλ,vjλ⟩ =δij. Consider the L2 norm on C(G)rep. ‖f‖22 = ∫Gf(g) f(g)‾ dμ(g) = ∫Gf(g) f*(g-1) dμ(g) where f*(g) =f(g-1)‾ = (f*f*)(1). More generally, ⟨f1,f2⟩2=(f1*f2)(1). Now τ: C(G)rep ⟶ ℂ f ⟼ f(1) is a trace on C(G)rep, i.e. τ(f1*f2)=τ(f2*f1) for all f1,f2∈C(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(ℂ) on itself. Then, if f=(fˆλ) then τ(f)=∑λ∈Gˆ dλTr(fλ). So ‖f‖22= (f*f*)(1) =τ(f*f*)= τ(fˆλ(fˆλ)t) =∑λ∈Gˆdλ Tr(fˆλ(fˆλ)t). Note that Tr(Idλ)=dλ and τ(Idλ)=???.

Fourier analysis for compact groups

A function f:G→ℂ is

(a) representative if there is a finite dimensional representation V of G and vectors v,w∈V such that f(g)=⟨v,gw⟩ for all g∈G.
(b) square integrable if ‖f‖22=∫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 functions f:G→ℂ}, L2(G) = {square integrable functions f:G→ℂ}, C∞(G) = {smooth functions f:G→ℂ}, Cω(G) = {real analytic functions f:G→ℂ},
We have a map ∏λ∈Gˆ Mdλ(ℂ)⟶ functions f:G→ℂ. The set Gˆ has a norm ‖·‖:Gˆ→ℝ≥0. For (fˆλ)∈∏λ∈GˆMdλ(ℂ) 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 ∑λ∈Gˆ 1dλ‖fλ‖2 <∞.
(c) (fˆλ) is rapidly decreasing if, for all k∈ℤ>0, {‖λ‖k‖fˆλ‖ | λ∈Gˆ} is bounded,
(d) (fˆλ) is exponentially decreasing if, for some K∈ℝ>1, {K‖λ‖‖fˆλ‖ | λ∈Gˆ} is bounded.

Under the map {functions f:G→ℂ} ⟶ ∏λ∈GˆMdλ(ℂ), 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× ℝn-k, for some n∈ℤ>0, 0≤k≤n.
(b) If G is a compact abelian Lie group then G≅(S1)k× ℤ/m1ℤ×ℤ/ m2ℤ×⋯×ℤ/ mℓℤ, for some k∈ℤ≥0, m1,…,mℓ∈ℤ>0.

Proof.

(Sketch) (a) 0⟶K⟶𝔤⟶exp G⟶0,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 K≅ℤk since it is a discrete subgroup of a vector space. So G≅𝔤/K≅ℝn /ℤk≅ (ℝk/ℤk)× ℝn-k.

Let T=G0. Then 0→T→G→G/T→0 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× (ℤ/m1ℤ)× (ℤ/m2ℤ)×⋯× (ℤ/mℓℤ).

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(a) The finite dimensional irreducible representations of ℤ/rℤ are Xλ: ℤ/rℤ ⟶ ℂ* e2πik/r ⟼ e2πikλ/r ,0≤λ≤r-1.
(b) The finite dimensional irreducible representations of S1 are Xλ: ℤ/rℤ ⟶ ℂ* e2πiβ ⟼ e2πiβλ ,λ∈ℤ.
(c) The finite dimensional irreducible representations of ℤ are z: ℤ ⟶ ℂ* r ⟼ zr=e2πiλr ,z∈ℂ*, λ∈ℂ.
(d) The finite dimensional irreducible representations of ℝ are z: ℝ ⟶ ℂ* r ⟼ zr=e2πiλr ,z∈ℂ*, λ∈ℂ.

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, where NG(T)= {g∈G | 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 g∈G. It follows from this that

(a) Every element g∈G 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 ℤ, P≅ℤk. The set P is called the weight lattice of G. If λ∈Pthen Xλ:T→ℂ*, 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 all t∈T. A representation V of G is a representation of T, by restriction, and, as a T-module, V=⨁λ∈PVλ, whereVλ= { v∈V | tv=Xλ (t)v for all t∈T } . 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 all w∈W and  λ∈P. 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 𝔤ℂ=𝔲⊕i𝔲=ℂ⊗ ℝ𝔲. By ???, this representation extends to a representation of the complex algebraic group Gℂ which is the complexification of G. Since G is compact, the adjoint representation of Gℂ on 𝔤ℂ, and thus the adjoint representation of 𝔤ℂ on itself, is completely decomposable. This shows that 𝔤ℂ is a complex semisimple Lie algebra.

The adjoint representation 𝔤ℂ of G has a weight decomposition 𝔤ℂ=⨁α∈P 𝔤α, and the root system of G is the set R={α∈P | α≠0,𝔤α≠0} of nonzero weights of the adjoint representation. The roots are the elements of R. Set 𝔥=𝔤0. Then 𝔤ℂ=𝔥⨁ (⨁α∈R𝔤α) is the decomposition of 𝔤ℂ into the Cartan subalgebra 𝔥 and the root spaces 𝔤α. (Note that the usual notation is 𝔥ℝ=i𝔥, 𝔥ℂ=𝔥⊕i𝔥, where 𝔥 is a Cartan subalgebra of 𝔤, i.e. a maximal abelian subspace of 𝔤. Also 𝔤0=𝔥ℂ since 𝔥 is maximal abelian in 𝔤. Also 𝔥=𝔱⊕i𝔱 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 ⟶ ℂ* t ⟼ Xλ(t) eh ⟼ eλ(h) , λ: 𝔥 ⟶ ℂ h ⟼ λ(h)

(?) The Weyl group W is generated by sα, α∈R. The action of W on 𝔥α is generated by the transformations sα: 𝔥* ⟶ 𝔥* λ ⟼ λ-⟨λ,α∨α⟩ whereα∨= 2α⟨α,α⟩, and ⟨,⟩:𝔥*×𝔥*→ℝ 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(ℝ) and the two fold simply connected cover of SO3(ℝ).

Proof.

(1) Suppose that α is a root and that x∈𝔤α. Xα: T ⟶ ℂ* eh ⟼ eα(h) and X-α: T ⟶ ℂ* eh ⟼ eα(h)‾=e-α(h) since α(h)∈iℝ for h∈t. Then, for all h∈𝔱, [hx‾]= [h‾,x‾]= [h,x]‾= α(h)‾ x‾=-α(h) x‾, and so x‾∈𝔤-α. Thus 𝔤-α≠0 and -α is a root. Note that [x,x‾]∈𝔥 since it has weight 0.

(2) Consider Xα:T→ℂ*. Then Tα=ker Xα 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 ℂ⊗ℝLie(Zα)= 𝔱⊕i𝔱⊕(⊕h∈Tαβ(h)=1𝔤β) =𝔥⊕⨁k∈ℤ 𝔤kα. Now Zα ⟶ Zα/Tα∘ ∪| ∪| T ⟶ T/Tα∘ So T/Tα∘ is a maximal torus of Zα/Tα∘ and dim T/Tα∘=1. Then ℂ⊗ℝLie(Zα)= 𝔥α⊕ℂHα⊕ (⨁k∈ℤ𝔤kα). If Xα=𝔤α then [Xα,X-α]=λHα and λ≠0 since ℂH is maximal abelian in Lie(Zα/Tα∘) =ℂH⊕ (⨁k∈ℤ𝔤kα). Now consider the action of Hα on ℂH⊕ (⨁k∈ℤ>0𝔤kα) ⊕ℂXα. Then Tr(H)=1λTr ([Xα,X-α]) =1λTr ( adXαadX-α -adX-α adXα ) =0. But this implies 0=0+∑k∈ℤ>0 dim(𝔤kα)kα (Hα)-α(Hα). So 𝔤kα=0 for k>1 and 𝔤α=ℂXα. So span{Xα,X-α,Hα} is a 3 dimensional subalgebra of 𝔤.

If U is a compact connected Lie group such that dim T=1 then U has Lie algebra 𝔤=span{Xα,X-α,Hα} =𝔲⊕i𝔲. 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, α∈R.

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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:G→SO(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).

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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=∫T∏α∈R (Xα(t)-1) ∫Gf(gtg-1) dgdt.

Proof.

First note that the map G/T×T→G 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 y∈T, ∫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×T→G 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-1∘ϕ∘Lg,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/𝔥⊕𝔥 ⟼ 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/𝔥⊕𝔥 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→ℂ* is the character of T associated to the root α. Since G is unimodular det(Adg)=1, and since 𝔤/𝔥=⨁α∈R𝔤α, J(gT,t)= ∏α∈R (Xα(t-1)-1) =∏α∈R (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).

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It follows from this theorem that, if χ and η are class functions on G then ∫Gχ(g) η(g)‾ dg = 1|W|∫T ∏α∈R (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,ℝ)={α:𝔱→ℝ} with the inner product, 𝔱 ⟶∼ 𝔱* α ⟼ ⟨α,·⟩. For a root α define α∨=2α⟨α,α⟩ andHα= {x∈𝔱 | 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,α∨⟩α. PICTURE OF HYPERPLANE AND REFLECTION. So

(a) W acts on 𝔱, and
(b) 𝔱-⋃α∈RHα=ℝn\(⋃α∈RHα) 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, w∈C. (See Bröcker-tom Dieck V (2.3iv) and the Claim at the bottom of p. 193. PICTURE OF CHAMBERS LABELED BY wC

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

(a) addition given by [Gλ]+[Gμ]=[Gλ⊕Gμ], and
(b) multiplication given by [Gλ][Gμ]=[Gλ⊗Gμ].
Thus, in R(G) it makes sense to write ∑λ∈Gˆ mλ[Gλ] instead of⨁λ∈Gˆ (Gλ)⊕mλ. Define ℂP=span-{eλ | λ∈P} with multiplicationeλeμ =eλ+μ, for λ,μ∈P. Then ℂP≅R(T),since R(T)=span-{[Xλ] | λ∈P}. The action of W on R(T) (see (???)) induces an action of W on ℂP given by weλ=ewλ, for w∈W, λ∈P. 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 ℂ[P]W = { f∈ℂP | wf=f  for all w∈W } ,and 𝒜 = { f∈ℂP |  wf==ε(w)f  for all w∈W } , respectively. Note that ℂ[P]W is a ring but 𝒜 is only a vector space.

Define P+=P∩C‾ andP++=P∩C. 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=∑γ∈Wλ eγ,λ∈P+, forms a basis of ℂ[P]W. Define aμ=∑w∈Wε (w)ewμ, for μ∈P. Then

(a) waμ=ε(w)aμ, for all w∈W and all μ∈P,
(b) aμ=0, if μ∈Hα for some α, and
(c) {aμ | μ∈P++} 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⟩> 0 for all λ∈C. Then ρ = ∑i=1nωi = 12∑α>0α, is the element of 𝔱 defined by ⟨ρ,αi∨⟩ =1,for all α1,…, αn.

The map P+ ⟶ P++ λ ⟼ λ+ρ is a bijection, and ℂ[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=∑λ∈P gλeλ∈𝒜. Then, for a positive root α, -g=sαg= ∑λ∈P gλesαλ, and so g=∑λ⟨λ,α⟩>0 gλ(eλ-ssαλ). Since eλ-esαλ= ( eλ-α+⋯+ eλ-⟨λ,α∨⟩α ) (eα-1), the element g is divsible by eα-1. Thus, since all the factors in the product are coprime in ℂP, g is divisible by ∏α>0 (eα-1)= eρ∏α>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 g∈𝒜 is divisible by aρ the map ℂP→𝒜 is invertible.

□

Define χλ= aλ+ρaρ ,for λ∈P+, so that the {χλ | λ∈P+} are the basis of ℂ[P]W obtained by taking the inverse image of the basis {aλ+ρ | λ∈P+} of A. Extend these functions to all of U by setting χλ(gtg-1) =χλ(t), for all g∈U. Since ∫TXλ(t)Xμ(t)dt=δλμ, for λ,μ∈P, ∫Taλ+ρ(t) aμ+ρ(t)‾ dt=δλμ|W|, and thus, by (???), δλμ=∫Gχλ (g)χμ(g)‾ dg,for all λ,μ∈P+. Thus the χλ, λ∈P+ 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) = limt→0χλ (etρ) = limt→0 ∑w∈W ε(w) Xw(λ+ρ) (etρ) ∑w∈W ε(w) Xwρ (etρ) = limt→0 ∑w∈W ε(w) e⟨w(λ+ρ),tρ⟩ ∑w∈W ε(w) e⟨wρ,tρ⟩ = limt→0 ∑w∈W ε(w) et⟨λ+ρ,w-1ρ⟩ ∑w∈W ε(w) et⟨ρ,w-1ρ⟩ = limt→0 aρ (et(λ+ρ)) aρ (etρ) = limt→0 ∏α>0 (Xα/2-X-α/2) (et(λ+ρ)) ∏α>0 (Xα/2-X-α/2) (etρ) = limt→0 ∏α>0 ( et⟨λ+ρ,α/2⟩ - e-t⟨λ+ρ,α/2⟩ ) ∏α>0 ( et⟨ρ,α/2⟩ - e-t⟨ρ,α/2⟩ ) = limt→0 ∏α>0 sinh(t⟨λ+ρ,α/2⟩) sinh(t⟨ρ,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 λ∈L+ under the correspondence irreducible representations ⟶1-1 P+ Vλ ⟼ highest weight of Vλ
(b) The character of Vλ is χλ= ∑w∈W ε(w) ww(λ+ρ) ∑w∈W ε(w) wwρ , where ρ∈P+ is defined by ⟨ρ,αi∨⟩=1 for 1≤i≤n and ε(w)=det(w).
(c) The dimension of Vλ is dλ= ∏α>0 ⟨λ+ρ,α∨⟩ ∏α>0 ⟨ρ,α∨⟩ .
(d) χλ=∑p∈𝒫λ 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 in 𝒫λ which end at μ. (For the path model some copying can be done from the Barcelona abstract.)

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