Complex Reflection Groups

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

Last update: 10 January 2014

Section II

Proposition 2. Let Γ∈𝒞ℓ. Then W(Γ) admits an antiautomorphism, denoted w→w′, which fixes the generators r1,…,rℓ.

Proof.

W=F/N where F is a free group on generators y1,…,yℓ and N is generated, as a normal subgroup, by the elements uij = yiyj⋯yi ⏟qij factors yj-1yi-1⋯yj-1 ⏟qij factors qij odd uij = yiyj⋯yiyj ⏟qij factors yi-1yj-1⋯yi-1yj-1 ⏟qij factors qij odd together with the ℓ elements yipi. Now F has an antiautomorphism fixing the generators y1,…yℓ. We denote this by x→x′ for x∈F. Put u=uij. If qij is odd, yjyi⋯yj ⏟qij u′ = yiyj⋯yi ⏟qij = u yjyi⋯yj ⏟qij . If qij is even, yiyj⋯yiyj ⏟qij u′ = yjyi⋯yjyi ⏟qij = u-1 yiyj⋯yiyj ⏟qij . If the first case u′ is conjugate to u and in the second u′ is conjugate to u-1. Thus u′∈N. It follows that N=N′ and hence W(Γ) has an antiautomorphism fixing r1,…,rℓ.

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Proposition 3. Let Γ∈𝒞ℓ and let V be an ℓ dimensional complex vector space. Define ρ:W(Γ)→GL(V) by ρ(w)=θ(w′)t for w∈W(Γ). Then ρ is a representation of W(Γ).

Proof.

Obvious.

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Keeping in mind that ρ(ri)=Sit, the connection between the representations θ and ρ of W(Γ) is further clarified by

Proposition 4. Let Γ∈𝒞ℓ and let A denote the matrix for the Hermitian form H(Γ) with respect to the basis {v1,…,vℓ}. By abuse of notation, for 1≤i≤ℓ, we let Si denote the matrix for the linear transformation Si=θ(ri) in the basis {v1,…,vℓ}. Then ASi=SitA.

Proof.

We view all matrices as elements of End(V) which have been written with respect to the basis {v1,…,vℓ} of column vectors for V and we write (x,y) for H(Γ)(x,y) if x,y∈V. Then letting 1≤k≤ℓ we compute ASi(vk) = A ( vk+(εi-1) (vk,vi) (vi,vi) vi ) = ∑j=1ℓ (vj,vk)vj+ (εi-1) (vk,vi) (vi,vi) ∑j=1ℓ (vj,vi)vi = ∑j=1ℓ [ (vj,vk)+ (εi-1) (vk,vi) (vi,vi) (vj,vi) ] vj and SitA(vk) = Sit ( ∑j=1ℓ (vj,vk) vj ) = ∑j=1ℓ (vj,vk) Sit(vj) = ∑j=1j≠iℓ (vj,vk)vj+ (vi,vk) ∑j=1j≠iℓ (vj,vi) (vi,vi) (εi-1)vj+ (vi,vk)εivi = ∑j=1j≠iℓ [ (vj,vk)+ (vi,vk) (vj,vi) (vi,vi) (εi-1) ] vj+(vi,vk) εivi = ∑j=1ℓ [ (vj,vk)+ (εi-1) (vi,vk) (vi,vi) (vj,vi) ] vj. Since (vi,vk)=(vk,vi) we have the result.

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Corollary 2. Let Γ∈𝒞. If H(Γ) is non degenerate, the representations ρ and θ are equivalent.

Proof.

Since ρ(ri)=Sit this is immediate from Proposition 4.

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Definition: Let Γ∈𝒞 and let a and b be two distinct vertices in Γ. We say a and b are connected if and only if there is a finite sequence of vertices a=a1,a2,…,an=b in Γ such that there is an edge between ai and ai+1, 1≤i≤n-1. If any two distinct vertices in Γ are connected, Γ is said to be connected.

Definition: A connected graph Γ∈𝒞 is said to be a linear graph if the vertices of Γ can be numbered so if |i-j|>1 there is no edge joining the ith and jth vertices. Thus a linear graph Γ∈𝒞 looks like p1 q12 p2 q23 p3 ⋯ pℓ-1 qℓ-1ℓ pℓ . Coxeter [Cox1967] has introduced the convenient abbreviation p1[q12] p2[q23] ⋯ pℓ-1[qℓ-1ℓ] pℓ for such a graph and we shall make use of it later. For a linear graph Γ∈𝒞ℓ Coxeter [Cox1967, p.130] gives a representation of W(Γ) by ℓ×ℓ matrices. Using the identity εk-1 sin(π/pk) =2ieπi/pk one sees that this representation is precisely the representation ρ of Proposition 3.

Consider a graph Γ∈𝒞ℓ with the stipulation that pi=2 for 1≤i≤ℓ. Thus all the generators ri for W(Γ) are involutions. These Coxeter groups have been studied extensively [Bou1968]. Note that since pi=2 we have H(Γ)(vi,vi)=1 and thus the form H(Γ) is precisely the form B of [Bou1968, p.90] and the representation θ of W(Γ) is exactly the representation σ of [Bou1968, p.91].

We will be interested in determining when the linear group G=θ(W(Γ)) acts irreducibly on V. It is clear that if the graph Γ is not connected then G will decompose as the direct product of the subgroups θ(W(Γ′)) corresponding to the connected components Γ′ of Γ, since each of these subgroups θ(W(Γ′)) operates non trivially only in the subspace V′ of V generated by those basis vectors corresponding to the vertices of the connected component Γ′ of Γ.

Proposition 5. Suppose Γ∈𝒞ℓ is connected. Let V⊥= { x∈V | H(x,y) =0 for all y∈V } . Then

(1) G acts trivially on V⊥ and
(2) If U⫋V is stable under G, then U⊂V⊥.

Proof.

We will write (x,y) to denote the value of H(Γ)(x,y) for x,y∈V. For (1) take 1≤i≤ℓ. Now Si(x)=x+ (εi-1) (x,vi) (vi,vi) vi . Thus if x∈V⊥ we have (x,vi)=0 and hence Si(x)=x. Since all generators of G operate trivially on V⊥ we are done. We now consider (2). Assume there is some basis vector vi∈U. Let vj be any other basis vector. We shall show vj∈U also. Since Γ is connected there is a sequence of vertices ai=ai1,…,ain=aj such that there is an edge in Γ between aim and aim+1 (1≤m≤n-1). By relabeling we can assume this sequence is a1,a2,…,an. We now show by induction that vm∈U for 1≤m≤n. If m=1, this is our hypothesis. So assume vk∈U with 1≤k≤n-1. Now qk,k+1≥3 and hence (vk,vk+1)2 = cos2π/qk,k+1- sin2(π2pk-π2pk+1) = 12 [ cos(2πqk,k+1) +cos(πpk-πpk+1) ] ≠ 0. Since Sk+1(vk)= vk+ (εk+1-1) (vk,vk+1) (vk+1,vk+1) vk+1, the fact that vk, Sk+1(vk)∈U implies vk+1∈U. Thus every basis vector is in U and we have U=V a contradiction. Hence no basis vector is in U. Now let 1≤i≤ℓ and let x∈U. Then Si(x)=x+(εi-1)(x,vi)(vi,vi)vi and this vector must be in U also. Hence (x,vi)=0 and x∈V⊥.

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We can now give two conditions sufficient to insure that the linear group G=θ(W(Γ)) associated with a connected graph Γ∈𝒞 acts irreducibly on V. The first of these is

Corollary 3. Suppose Γ∈𝒞 is connected. If H(Γ) is non degenerate on V then G acts irreducibly on V.

Proof.

This is immediate from Proposition 5.

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The second condition can be stated as

Corollary 4. Let Γ∈𝒞 be connected. Assume G=θ(W(Γ)) is finite. Then G acts irreducibly on V.

Proof.

Suppose false. Then V=U⊕U′ a direct sum of two proper non zero subspaces stable under G. Applying Proposition 5 we obtain U⊂V⊥ and U′⊂V⊥. Hence V=V⊥, a contradiction.

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One very interesting and obvious question to ask about the groups W(Γ) under consideration is which of these groups are finite. A necessary condition is given by

Proposition 6. Let Γ∈𝒞 be connected. If W=W(Γ) is finite, then the Hermitian form H=H(Γ) is positive definite.

Proof.

Certainly the finiteness of W implies that of G=θ(W). Since G is a finite linear group there is a positive definite Hermitian form H∘ stable under the action of G [Bur1955](section 195). But we are assuming that Γ is connected; so we can apply Corollary 4 to yield that G acts irreducibly on V. Now by [Bur1955](section 206), the space of Hermitian forms invariant under a finite irreducible linear group is one dimensional and H is also invariant under G. Thus there is some non zero scalar α∈ℂ such that H∘=αH. Applying both sides to v1 we obtain 0<H∘(v1,v1) =αH(v1,v1)= α·sin(π/p1). Hence α is a positive real number. Thus H, being a positive real scalar multiple of the positive definite form H∘, is also positive definite.

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Definition: Let Γ∈𝒞. Γ is said to be positive definite if and only if the corresponding Hermitian form H (=H(Γ)) is positive definite and we denote by 𝒞+ the collection of all the positive definite graphs Γ∈𝒞. We also put 𝒞k+=𝒞k∩𝒞+ and we remark that Γ∈𝒞+ if and only if all the connected components of Γ are in 𝒞+.

Because of Proposition 6 it is of interest to determine all the graphs Γ∈𝒞+. To this end we begin with a definition.

Definition: Let Γ∈𝒞. A graph Γ′∈𝒞 is said to be a subgraph of Γ and we write Γ′⊂Γ if Γ′ can be obtained from Γ by performing any of the following operations in any order subject to the restriction that after each operation is performed the graph thus obtained is still in 𝒞.

1) Removing some of the vertices together with all adjoining edges.
2) Decreasing the marks on some of the edges.
3) Decreasing the marks on the vertices subject to the restriction: if there is an edge in Γ′ joining the vertices ai and aj then |1pi-1pj|≤ |1pi′-1pj′| where pi, pj are the marks on ai, aj in Γ and pi′, pj′ are the marks on ai, aj in Γ′.

Proposition 7. Suppose Γ∈𝒞 is positive definite. If Γ′∈𝒞 is a subgraph of Γ, then Γ′ is also positive definite.

Proof.

We order the vertices a1,…,aℓ of Γ in such a way that a1,…,ak are the vertices of Γ′. We will denote the marks on the vertices and edges of Γ by the usual pi and qij, 1≤i, j≤ℓ, and those of Γ′ by pi′ and qij′, 1≤i, j≤k. We let (αij) be the matrix for H(Γ) with respect to the basis {v1,…,vℓ} and we let (αij′) be the matrix for H(Γ′) with respect to the basis {v1,…,vk}. We claim αij≤αij′.

Since Γ′⊂Γ, for all 1≤i, j≤k, pi′≤pi, qij′≤qij, and if there is an edge joining ai and aj in Γ′ then |′pi′-1pj′|≥ |1pi-1pj|. Now pi′≤pi implies sin(π/pi′)≥sin(π/pi) and thus αii′≥αii. So assume i≠j. Now in general, αij≤0. Hence if there is no edge in Γ′ joining ai and aj, αij′=0 and thus αij≤αij′. So assume there is an edge in Γ′ joining ai and aj. Then we have |1pi′-1pj′|≥ |1pi-1pj|, so sin2(π2pi-π2pj)≥ sin2(π2pi-π2pj). Also, qij′≤qij implies cos2(π/qij)≥ cos2(π/qij′). Hence - { cos2(π/qij)- sin2(π2pi-π2pj) } 12 ≤ - { cos2(π/qij′)- sin2(π2pi′-π2pj′) } 12 , i.e., αij≤αij′.

Now assume the proposition is false. So there is a vector v=x1v1+…+xkvk, v≠0, such that H(Γ′)(v,v)≤0. For each 1≤j≤k write xj=cj+idj and define yj=|cj|+i|dj|. Put w=y1v1+…+ ykvk+0·vk+1 +…+0·vℓ. Then v≠0 implies w≠0. We have 0≥H(Γ′) (v,v) = ∑1≤m,n≤k αmn′Xm X‾n = ∑mαmm′ XmX‾m+ ∑1≤m<n≤k αmn′ (XmX‾n+XnX‾m) = ∑mαmm′ XmX‾m+ ∑1≤m<n≤k 2αmn′ (cmcn+dmdn) ≥ ∑αmmym y‾m+ ∑1≤m<n≤k 2αmn′ ( |cm| |cn| + |dm| |dn| ) ≥ ∑αmmym y‾m+ ∑1≤m<n≤k αmn ( ymy‾n+ yny‾m ) = ∑1≤m,n≤k αmnymy‾n = H(Γ)(w,w) > 0, which is a contradiction.

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Definition: Let A=(aij) be an n×n matrix over ℂ. Let A(k) for 1≤k≤n, denote the matrix formed by the upper left hand k×k corner of A, i.e., A(k)=(aij) 1≤i,j≤k. The principal minors of A are the n scalars Det(A(k)) 1≤k≤n.

If At=A‾ we say A is positive definite if and only if ∑i,jaijxix‾j≥0 for all x1,…,xn∈ℂ, and ∑i,jaijxix‾j=0 if and only if all xi=0.

We will be using the following fact from linear algebra.

Proposition 8. A is positive definite if and only if all the principal minors of A are positive.

Proof.

See [Hal1958].

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If Γ∈𝒞 we write Det(Γ) for Det(H(Γ)) and we denote by 𝒞∘ the collection of all graphs Γ in 𝒞 such that Det(Γ)=0, but if Γ′⫋Γ then Γ′∈𝒞+. We also put 𝒞k∘=𝒞∘∩𝒞k.

Theorem 2. The connected graphs in 𝒞+ are precisely those in List 1. (The subscript on the letter denoting the graph indicates the number of vertices.) List 1 p  (p≥2) q  (q≥3), 3 3 , 3 6 , 3 4 3 , 4 4 , 3 8 , 4 6 , 4 4 3 , 3 5 3 , 5 5 , 3 10 , 5 6 , 5 4 3 . 3 3 3 , 3 3 4 ,H3 5 , F4 4 ,H4 5 , 3 3 3 3 E6 E7 E8 Aℓ (ℓ≥2) , , ,⋯ Bℓp (ℓ,p≥2) p 4 , p 4 , p 4 ,⋯ Dℓ (ℓ≥4) , , ,⋯

Theorem 3. The connected graphs in 𝒞∘ are precisely those in List 2. (The subscript on the letter denoting the graph is one less than the number of vertices.) List 2 6 6 , 3 4 6 , 4 4 4 , 6 6 , 3 6 3 , 8 4 , 12 3 4 p 4 (p≥3), 6 , 4 4 4 , 4 4 4 , 3 3 4 3 3 3 3 3 , 3 3 4 , 3 3 3 4 F∼4 4 , 3 3 3 3 3 E∼6 E∼7 E∼8 D∼ℓ (ℓ≥4) , , ,⋯ B∼ℓp (ℓ≥3) p 4 , p 4 , p 4 ,⋯ B∼ℓp,p′  (ℓ≥2) p 4 4 p , p 4 4 p , p 4 4 p ,⋯ A∼ℓ (ℓ≥2) , , ,⋯

We will prove Theorems 2 and 3 simultaneously.

Lemma 2.

(a) Det(Aℓ)= (ℓ+1)/2ℓ.
(b) Det(Bℓp)= sin π/p2ℓ-1.
(c) Det(B∼ℓp,p′) =0.
(d) Det(Dℓ)= 12ℓ-2.
(e) Det(B∼ℓp)= 0.
(f) Det(A∼ℓ) =0.
(g) Det(D∼ℓ) =0.
(h) Det(E∼ℓ) =0ℓ=6,7,8.
(g) Det(F∼4) =0.

Proof.

(a) See [BGr1971, p.58].

(b) If ℓ=2 this is a trivial computation. So assume ℓ≥3. Expanding Det(Bℓp) along the first row we find Det(Bℓp) = sin π/p Det (Aℓ-1)- 12sin π/p  Det(Aℓ-2) = sin π/p· ℓ2ℓ-1- sin π/p· ℓ-12ℓ-1 = sin(π/p) 2ℓ-1 .

(c) If ℓ=2, this is an easy calculation. So we assume ℓ≥3. Expanding Det(B∼ℓp,p′) along the last column we have Det(B∼ℓp,p′) = sin π/p′  Det(Bℓp)- 12sin π/p′  Det(Bℓ-1p) = sin π/p′· sin π/p 2ℓ-1 -sin π/p′· sin π/p 2ℓ-1 = 0.

(d) See [BGr1971, p.59].

(e) Again expanding by minors we obtain Det(B∼ℓp) = sin π/p  Det(Dℓ)-12 sin π/p  Det(Dℓ-1) = sin π/p 2ℓ-2 - sin π/p 2ℓ-2 = 0.

For proofs of (f) through (i) see [BGr1971, pp.60-61].

Notice that the kth principal minor of Aℓ (respectively Bℓp, Dℓ) is just Det(Ak) (respectively Det(Bkp), Det(Dk)) and thus the combination of Proposition 8 and parts (a), (b), and (d) of Lemma 2 justify the presence of these graphs in List 1. Note further that because of Proposition 7, no graph which has any of B∼ℓp,p′, B∼ℓp, A∼ℓ, D∼ℓ, E∼ℓ (ℓ=6,7,8), or F∼4 as a subgraph can be positive definite and hence is to be excluded from List 1.

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We can now begin in earnest to prove Theorems 2 and 3. It is obvious that 𝒞1⊂𝒞+.

Step I. We will determine the connected graphs in 𝒞2+ and the connected graphs in 𝒞2∘. Suppose Γ∈𝒞2 is connected. Thus Γ is p1[q]p2 with q≥3. Now the matrix for H(Γ) in the basis {v1,v2} is ( α11 α12 α21 α22 ) the first principal minor of which is α11=sin π/p1>0. So by Proposition 8, Γ will be positive definite if and only if Det(Γ)>0. Now Det(Γ) = sin π/p1  sinπ/p2- cos2(π/q)+ sin2(π2p1-π2p2) = -12 ( cos(2πq)+ cos(πp1+πp2) ) . Thus, Det(Γ)>0 if and only if cos(π-2πq)> cos(πp1+πp2), and Det(Γ)=0 if and only if cos(π-2πq)= cos(πp1+πp2). Since both arguments lie in the interval [0,π] over which cosine is strictly decreasing we have Det(Γ)>0 if and only if (2) 1p1+ 1p2> 1-2/q [Cox1962, p.94] and Det(Γ)=0 if and only if (3) 1p1+ 1p2= 1-2/q [Cox1974, p.110]. The solutions to (2) subject to the restrictions q≥3, p1,p2≥2, and p1=p2 if q is odd are given in [Cox1962, p.96] and reproduced here: p[4]2, 2[q]2, 3[3]3, 3[6]2, 3[4]3, 4[3]4, 3[8]2, 4[6]2, 4[4]3, 3[5]3, 5[3]5, 3[10]2, 5[6]2, 5[4]3 (p1≥p2). These are precisely the graphs in List 1 with two vertices. The solutions to (3) subject to the restrictions above occur in [Cox1974, p.111] and we give them here also: 6[3]6, 3[4]6, 4[4]4, 2[6]6, 3[6]3, 2[8]4, 2[12]3 (p1≥p2). Now by the definition of a subgraph it is easy to verify that if Γ∈𝒞2 and if Γ′⫋Γ, then Det(Γ′)>Det(Γ). Thus if Γ occurs amongst those graphs just listed, we have Det(Γ′)>0. So every proper subgraph of Γ is positive definite and these graphs comprise the set of connected graphs in 𝒞2∘ as indicated in List 2.

Step II. We determine all linear graphs in 𝒞3+ and all linear graphs in 𝒞3∘. Let Γ∈𝒞3 be linear. Thus Γ is p′[q′]p[q″]p″. Putting s=sin π/p, s′=sin π/p′, s″=sin π/p″, c=cos π/p, c′=cos π/p′, and c″=cos π/p″ we find (after using some trigonometric identities) that Det(Γ) = 12 (s′+s″) - s′ ( cos2π/q″+ 12cc″ ) - s″ ( cos2π/q′+ 12cc′ ) . We will determine the linear graphs in 𝒞3+ first. The condition that Det(Γ)>0 is (4) 12(s′+s″)> s′ ( cos2π/q″+ 12cc″ ) +s″ ( cos2π/q′+ 12cc′ ) . Since cos2π/4=12, if (4) is to hold, we cannot have both q″≥4 and q′≥4. So one of them must be 3. Without loss of generality, q′=3. Hence, p=p′, so Γ is p[3]p[q″]p″.

Now if q″≥6, cos2(π/q″)≥34. Thus if q″≥6, (4) forces 12(s+s″)> s(34+12cc″)+ s″(14+12c2) or (5) 14s″>14s+ 12scc″+12 s″c2. Comparing the left side with the first term on the right we see p>p″, so in particular p>2. But comparing the left side with the last term on the right we see that c2<12 and thus 4>p. So we must have p=3 and p″=2. But substituting these values in (5) yields 14>3+18 a contradiction. Hence, q″≤5.

If q″=3, then p″=p and (4) becomes s>s(12+c2) which holds if and only if p=2 or p=3.

If q″=4 (4) becomes (6) 12s″>12scc″ +s″(14+12c2). Comparing the left side with the second term on the right we see we must have p=2 or p=3. Substituting p=2 in (6) we obtain 12s″>14s″ and thus p″ is arbitrary in this case. Substituting p=3 in (6) we obtain 18s″>38c″ or tan π/p″>3 which forces p″=2.

If q″=5, p=p″ and (4) becomes 1>cos2π/5+14+c2 which forces p=2.

Thus Det(Γ)>0 forces Γ to be one of: A3, 3[3]3[3]3, B3p, 3[3]3[4]2, 2[3]2[5]2.

Now for such Γ the first principal minor of H(Γ) is obviously positive and the second principal minor is the determinant of the Hermitian form associated with the graph obtained from Γ by deleting its third vertex. One quickly determines by referring to Step I that the graphs so obtained have positive determinants. We have thus enumerated all the linear graphs in 𝒞3+ and we mention that these are precisely those linear graphs with three vertices in List 1.

We now proceed to determine the linear graphs 𝒞3∘. For a linear graph Γ∈𝒞3 the expression for Det(Γ) appears at the beginning of Step II and we see that the condition that Det(Γ)=0 is (4') 12(s′+s″)=s′ ( cos2(π/q″)+ 12cc″ ) +s″ ( cos2(π/q′)+ 12cc′ ) . Again, since cos2π/4=12, we see that if q′≥4 and q″≥4 we must have q′=q″=4 and cc″=cc′=0. Hence, either p=2 and p′ and p″ are arbitrary or p′=p″=2 and p is arbitrary. Thus if q′≥4 and q″≥4 (4') forces Γ to be either B∼2p′,p″ or 2[4]p[4]2. Thus we assume without loss of generality that q′=3. Hence p=p′ and Γ is p[3]p[q″]p″. We rearrange (4') to obtain (5') 14s″=s ( cos2π/q″ -12 ) +12scc″+ 12s″c2. Recalling that cos2π/6=34 we see that if q″≥7 we must have s″>s and thus p>p″. In particular, p>2. Further, if q″≥7, the first term on the right is positive, the second is now negative and thus comparing the left side with the last term on the right we must have c2<12, so p<4. Hence, q″≥7 forces p=3 and p″=2. Substituting these values in (5') we obtain 18 = 32 (cos2π/q″-12) > 32 (cos2π/6-12) = 38a contradiction. Thus we may assume q″≤6. If q″-6, (5') becomes 14s″=14s+12scc″+12s″c2. Now since the first term on the right is positive and the second nonnegative, by comparing the left side with the last term on the right we see that c2<12 so p=3 or p=2. If p=2 we must have s″=s and thus p″=2 also. If p=3, the last term on the right is positive and thus comparing the left side with the first term on the right yields s″>s, so p>p″ and thus p″=2. Substituting these values in the equation above we obtain 14=3+18 a contradiction. So if q″=6, Γ is 2[3]2[6]2.

If q″=5 we have p=p″ and going back to (5') we once again compare the left side with the last term on the right and (since the first term on the right is positive and the second, non negative) conclude that c2=12 so p=2 or p=3. However, substituting either of these values in (5') yields a contradiction.

If q″=4 (5') becomes 14s″=12scc″+12s″c2. In particular, p≠2. Now comparing the left with the last term on the right we see c2≤12 and c2=12 forces c″-0. Thus p=3 or p=4 and p″=2. If p=3 we have 18s″=38c″, or tan π/p″=3 and thus p″=3. So if q″=4, Γ is either 4[3]4[4]2 or 3[3]3[4]3.

If q″=3, p=p″ and (5') becomes c2=12. Thus, p=4 and Γ is 4[3]4[3]4.

We have now shown that if Γ∈𝒞3 is linear and satisfies Det(Γ)=0, then Γ is one of B∼2p′,p″, 2[4]p[4]2, 2[3]2[6]2, 4[3]4[4]2, 3[3]3[4]3, 4[3]4[3]4. Notice that these graphs are precisely those linear graphs with three vertices occurring in List 2. To complete Step II, we need to show that if Γ is one of the graphs just listed and if Γ′⫋Γ, then Γ′∈𝒞+. In light of the first parts of Steps I and II, this task amounts to no more than seeing if the subgraph Γ′ has its connected components occurring in List 1. We omit the details of this verification.

Step III. We will determine all the linear graphs in 𝒞4+ or in 𝒞4∘. Suppose Γ∈𝒞4+∪𝒞4∘ is linear. Say Γ is p1[q12]p2[q23]p3[q34]p4. Then either by Proposition 7 (if Γ∈𝒞4+) or by definition (if Γ∈𝒞4∘) the pair of subgraphs p1[q12]p2[q23]p3 and p2[q23]p3[q34]p4 must lie in 𝒞3+. Since we have previously determined the linear graphs in 𝒞3+ we search that list for suitable pSirs and we obtain the following graphs as candidates for membership in 𝒞4+∪𝒞4∘.

(i) A4
(ii) B4p
(iii) H4
(iv) F4
(v) 3[3]3[3]3[3]3
(vi) B∼3p′,p
(vii) 3[3]3[4]2[3]2
(viii) 3[3]3[3]3[4]2
(ix) 2[5]2[3]2[4]p
(x) 2[4]3[3]3[4]2
(xi) 2[3]2[5]2[3]2
(xii) 2[5]2[3]2[5]2
Now A4 and B4p are positive definite as remarked after Lemma 2. H4 and F4 are shown to be positive definite in [BGr1971, p.59]. Glancing back at the linear graphs with two or three vertices in List 1 whose presence there has been previously justified we see that the first three principal minors of (v) are positive and we easily compute its determinant to be 116. B∼3p′,p has determinant zero by Lemma 2.

The determinants of both (vii) and (viii) are computed to be zero. In (ix), by reducing the 5 to 4 we obtain B∼32,p which has determinant zero as a subgraph. We compute that the determinants for both (x) and (xi) are negative. Finally, in (xii) we can reduce both 5's to 4's to obtain B∼32,2 as a subgraph. Hence the linear graphs in 𝒞4+ are precisely the graphs (i) through (v) and the linear graphs of determinant zero amongst our candidates are the graphs (vi), (vii) & (viii), which we easily see by inspection have the property that all their proper subgraphs are positive definite. We finally remark that graphs (i) through (v) are precisely the linear graphs with four vertices in List 1 and the graphs (vi), (vii) & (viii) are precisely the linear graphs with four vertices in List 2.

Step IV. We will determine all linear graphs in 𝒞5+∪𝒞5∘. By the same type of reasoning as that used at the beginning of Step III we see that 𝒞5+∪𝒞5∘ must consist of some of the graphs from the following possibilities:

(i) A5
(ii) B5p
(iii) B∼4p,p′
(iv) F∼4
(v) 3[3]3[3]3[3]3[3]3
(vi) 2[5]2[3]2[3]2[3]2
(vii) 2[5]2[3]2[3]2[4]p
(viii) 2[5]2[3]2[3]2[5]2
As remarked before A5 and B5p are positive definite. B∼4p,p′ and F∼4 have determinant zero by Lemma 2. For (v) we compute its determinant to be zero, and for (vi) we compute its determinant to be negative. In (vii) we can change the 5 to 4 and in (viii) we can change both 5's to 4's to obtain B∼42,2 as a subgraph. Thus the linear graphs in 𝒞5+ are A5 and B5p. We again remark that it is an easy task to see that all proper subgraphs of B∼4p,p′ or of the graph (v) are positive definite and hence the linear graphs in 𝒞5∘ are just the graphs B∼4p,p′ and the graph (v).

Step V. (a) For ℓ≥5 the linear graphs in 𝒞ℓ+ are Aℓ and Bℓp. (b) For ℓ≥6 the linear graphs in 𝒞ℓ∘ are B∼ℓ-1p,p′.

Arguing as we have in the previous steps and using Det(B∼np,p′)=0 the proof of (a) is an easy induction. Then using, (a) the proof of (b) is an easy induction.

At this point we have determined all linear graphs in 𝒞+∪𝒞∘. We next show that a connected graph in 𝒞+ must be a tree and that the graphs A∼ℓ, (ℓ≥2) are the only connected graphs in 𝒞∘ which are not trees. This is done in Step VI through Step IX. We remark here that it is obvious that all the proper subgraphs of A∼ℓ are positive definite and since Det(A∼ℓ)=0 by Lemma 2 we have A∼ℓ-1∈𝒞ℓ∘.

Step VI. Let Γ denote the 3 cycle p p″ p′ q″ q q′ . If Γ∈𝒞3+∪𝒞3∘ then Γ=A∼2.

Proof.

Put a={12cos(πp-πp′)}12, b={12cos(πp-πp″)}12, c={12cos(πp′-πp″)}12, s=sin π/p, s′=sin π/p′, s″=sin π/p″, c=cos π/p, c′=cos π/p′, and c″=cos π/p″.

Case (1) None of q, q′, q″ is three. Then Γ0, p p″ p′ 4 4 4 , is a subgraph (perhaps not proper) and hence Det(Γ0)≥0. Now the matrix for the form H(Γ0) is ( s -a -b -a s′ -c -b -c s″ ) . Thus, Det(Γ0) = ss′s″-2abc- b2s′-c2s- a2s″ = -12ss′s″- 2abc-12s′ cc″-12s′c c″-12s′cc ″-12s″cc′ < 0, giving a contradiction.

Case (2) Exactly one of q, q′, q″ is 3. Without loss of generality q=3. Thus p=p′, and Γ0, p p″ p′ 4 4 , is a subgraph. So again we must have Det(Γ0)≥0. But the matrix for H(Γ0) is ( s -12 -b -12 s -b -b -b s″ ) , and thus Det(Γ0) = s2s″-b2-2s b2-14s″ = -b2-scc″-14 s″ < 0, yielding a contradiction.

Case (3) Two of q, q′, q″ are 3. Without loss of generality say q and q′ are 3. Thus, p=p′=p″ and if necessary we reduce all of them simultaneously to 2. Further we then reduce q″ to 3 if necessary to obtain A∼2 as a subgraph. But this cannot be a proper subgraph as Det(A∼2)=0. Hence Γ=A∼2.

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Step VII. Let Γ denote the 4 cycle p1 p2 p3 p4 q12 q23 q34 q14 . If Γ∈𝒞4+∪𝒞4∘, then Γ is A∼3.

Proof.

Note that if all the pi, 1≤i≤4, are the same we can reduce them simultaneously to 2 and then reduce the marks on the four edges to 3's to obtain A∼3 as a subgraph. But since Det(A∼3)=0 this cannot be a proper subgraph and hence Γ=A∼3.

Thus we can assume that at least two of the edges of Γ are not labelled with the number 3. Further any two such edges cannot have a vertex in common because a glance at List 1 reveals that no linear graph in 𝒞3+ has both its edges marked with numbers larger than 3. Thus at most two of the edges of Γ can be so marked and hence Γ0, p p p′ p′ 4 4 , is a subgraph of Γ. Further, p[4]p′[3]p′ is a subgraph and must occur in List 1. Thus one of p, p′ is 2. Glancing back at Γ0 we see it does not matter which is 2, so without loss of generality, p′=2. Thus writing s=sin π/p and a=-(s/2)12 the matrix for H(Γ0) is ( s -12 0 a -12 s a 0 0 a 1 -12 a 0 -12 1 ) , and Det(Γ0)=-s4-316<0, giving a contradiction.

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Step VIII. Let Γ denote the 5 cycle p1 p2 p3 p4 p5 q12 q23 q34 q23 q15 . If Γ∈𝒞5+∪𝒞5∘ then Γ is A∼4.

Proof.

Arguing as in Step VII we see that if all the pi, 1≤i≤5, are the same we will have Γ=A∼4. So we assume that not all the edges of Γ are labeled with the number 3. Without loss of generality, say q34≠3. Now the subgraph Γ′: p2[q23] p3[q34] p4[q45] p5 must occur in List 1 and thus q34≠3 implies that Γ′ is F4, forcing pi=2, 2≤i≤5. Further we can now conclude that the subgraph Γ″: p1[q12] p2[q23] p3[q34] p4 is p1[q12]2[3]2[4]2 and must also occur in List 1. Glancing at that list we see that Γ″ must be 2[3]2[3]2[4]2. So pi=2, 1≤i≤5 and thus Γ=A∼4 as remarked at the beginning of this step. This is a contradiction as we're assuming q34≠3.

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Step IX. Let Γ denote an ℓ cycle. If Γ∈𝒞ℓ+∪𝒞ℓ∘, then Γ is A∼ℓ-1.

Proof.

We may assume ℓ≥6. Consider any two adjacent vertices ai and ai+1 (1≤i≤ℓ, if i=ℓ, read i+1=1) of Γ. We will show pi=pi+1=2 and qi,i+1=3. By relabelling we may assume i=2. Now the subgraph Γ′ p1[q12]p2[q23]p3[q34]p4[q45]p5 must occur in List 1 and hence Γ′ is either A5 or B5p. In either case p2=p3=2 and q23=3. Thus Γ=A∼ℓ-1.

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Now Proposition 7 together with Step IX imply that every connected graph in 𝒞+ is a tree and that the graphs A∼ℓ (ℓ≥2) are the only connected graphs in 𝒞∘ which are not trees. Also we have previously determined all the linear graphs in 𝒞+∪𝒞∘. So we must consider non linear trees which leads us to the

Definition: Let Γ∈𝒞 and suppose a is a vertex of Γ. The degree of a, written Deg(a), is the number of vertices b of Γ such that there is an edge in Γ between a and b. We say that a is a branch point of Γ if Deg(a)≥3.

Our determination of the connected graphs in 𝒞+∪𝒞∘ will be complete if we determine those which contain a branch point.

Step X. Let Γ denote the graph p4 p3 p2 p1 q12 q23 q24 . If Γ∈𝒞4+, Γ=D4. If Γ∈𝒞4∘, Γ=B∼3p or Γ is 3 3 3 3 .

Proof.

Suppose Γ∈𝒞4+∪𝒞4∘.

Case (1) q12=q23=q34=3.

Thus p4[3]p2[3]p1 and p3[3]p2[3]p1 are subgraphs. Consulting List 1 we see we must have pi=2, 1≤i≤4 or pi=3, 1≤i≤4. The first alternative is D4 which is positive definite as remarked after Lemma 1. The second alternative has the value zero as the determinant of its Hermitian form, and all its proper subgraphs are positive definite.

Now glancing at List 1 we see that no linear graph in 𝒞3+ has both its edges marked with numbers larger than 3. We are thus led to the remaining

Case (2) Exactly one of the marks on the edges of Γ is not 3. Without loss of generality, q12≠3. Thus Γ is p p p p′ q . Here again p[3]p[3]p is a subgraph and hence p=2 or p=3.

Subcase (i). Suppose p=2. Then 2[3]2[q]p′ is a subgraph and thus q=4 with p′ arbitrary or q=5 and p′=2. In the first instance Γ=B∼3p′ and all its proper subgraphs are positive definite, while in the second instance we can reduce the 5 to 4 to obtain B∼32 as a proper subgraph yielding a contradiction.

Subcase (ii). Suppose p=3. Then 3[3]3[q]p′ is a subgraph and thus q=4 and p′=2. Hence Γ is 3 3 3 4 and we compute Det(Γ)<0, giving a contradiction.

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Step XI. Suppose Γ∈𝒞+ is connected and contains a branch point a. Then Γ is one of Dℓ, E6, E7, E8.

Proof.

Step X together with the fact that D∼4 has determinant zero imply that Deg(a)=3 and that the subgraph of Γ formed by a and the three vertices to which a is joined is D4. Further all edges of Γ are unlabelled; otherwise some B∼ℓp would occur as a subgraph. So all vertices are unlabelled also. So by the classification of positive definite graphs for Coxeter groups [BGr1971, p. 62] Γ is Dℓ, E6, E7, or E8.

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Step XII. Let ℓ≥5 and suppose Γ∈𝒞ℓ∘ is connected and contains a branch point a. Then Γ is one of D∼ℓ-1, B∼ℓ-1p, E∼6, E∼7, E∼8.

Proof.

If Deg(a)≠3, Step X forces Γ to contain D∼4 as a subgraph and hence Γ=D∼4. So we assume Deg(a)=3. Then again by Step X the subgraph of Γ formed by a and the three vertices to which a is joined is D4. Now if some edge is labelled with a number larger than 3 then Γ would have some B∼kp as a subgraph and hence Γ=B∼ℓ-1p. Thus we can assume all edges are unlabelled. Hence all vertices are unlabelled also. Now if Γ contains another branch point distinct from a, then Γ would contain some D∼k as a subgraph and hence Γ=D∼ℓ-1. Thus we can assume that a is the unique branch point of Γ. It follows that Γ is E∼6, E∼7, or E∼8 for the only other graphs which have a unique branch point of degree 3 and have all vertices and edges unlabelled are either Dk, E6, E7, E8 (all of which are positive definite) or graphs which contain E∼6, E∼7, or E∼8 as proper subgraphs. We remark that by inspection one easily verifies that each of D∼ℓ-1, B∼ℓ-1p, E∼6, E∼7, E∼8 has the property that all of its proper subgraphs are positive definite and hence these graphs are elements of 𝒞∘.

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This last step completes the proof of Theorems 2 and 3.

Let Γ∈𝒞 be a connected graph. Recalling Proposition 6 we see that if W(Γ) is finite then Γ must occur in List 1. But referring to [Cox1967, pp. 132,133] we see that every graph in List 1 occurs in the table given there and the groups corresponding to the graphs in this table are, according to [Cox1967], finite. So the combination of [Cox1967] and List 1 yields

Theorem 4: Let Γ∈𝒞 be connected. Then the following statements are equivalent.

(a) W(Γ) is finite.
(b) Γ is positive definite.
(c) Γ occurs in List 1.

As mentioned before, if Γ∈𝒞ℓ with pi=2, 1≤i≤ℓ, then the representation θ given by Theorem 1 for the Coxeter group W(Γ) is the same representation as that given in [Bou1968]. Thus, by [Bou1968, p.93], for such Γ, θ is a faithful representation of W(Γ). Now our representation θ fails to be faithful in general but we can prove the following.

Corollary 5. Let Γ∈𝒞ℓ be connected. If W=W(Γ) is finite, then θ is a faithful representation of W.

Proof.

By the remarks preceding the corollary we can assume that not all pi, 1≤i≤ℓ, are 2. Now since W is finite, Γ appears in List 1. But a glance at List 1 reveals the fact that since not all pi are 2, Γ must be linear. As remarked before, for such I, Coxeter [Cox1967] gives a representation of W which is the representation ρ of Proposition 3. But according to [Cox1967] this representation is a faithful representation of W. Now since W is finite the form H(Γ) is positive definite so in particular it is non degenerate and thus Corollary 2 yields that ρ and θ are equivalent representations of W and hence θ is also a faithful representation of W.

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The fact that θ is not in general faithful is illustrated in the following example. Let Γ denote the graph 3[6]3 in 𝒞2∘. The representation θ of W(Γ) is given by θ(r1)=S1= (ω1-ω01) θ(r2)=S2= (101-ωω) where ω=e2πi/3. One easily sees that S1S2 has order 3. However, putting S∼1= ( ω1-ωx 010 001 ) S∼2= ( 100 1-ωωy 001 ) where x,y∈ℂ are to be chosen later we see that S∼13=S∼23=I and (S∼1S∼2)3= (S∼2S∼1)3= ( 103ω(y-x) 013ω(x-y) 001 ) . Thus if x≠y, S∼1S∼2 has infinite order and so does r1r2. In fact by looking carefully at the computations done at the very end of the proof of Theorem 1 one sees that for all the groups W(Γ) associated with connected graphs Γ∈𝒞2∘ we have r1r2 has infinite order but θ(r1r2)=S1S2 has finite order.

Notes and references

This is a typed version of David W. Koster's thesis Complex Reflection Groups.

This thesis was submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Mathematics) at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, 1975.

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