Showing papers on "Symmetric group published in 2013"

Schubert calculus and torsion explosion

Abstract: We observe that certain numbers occurring in Schubert calculus for SL_n also occur as entries in intersection forms controlling decompositions of Soergel bimodules and parity sheaves in higher rank. These numbers grow exponentially. This observation gives many counterexamples to Lusztig's conjecture on the characters of simple rational modules for SL_n over a field of positive characteristic. We explain why our examples also give counter-examples to the James conjecture on decomposition numbers for symmetric groups.

Representation stability in cohomology and asymptotics for families of varieties over finite fields

Abstract: We consider two families X_n of varieties on which the symmetric group S_n acts: the configuration space of n points in C and the space of n linearly independent lines in C^n. Given an irreducible S_n-representation V, one can ask how the multiplicity of V in the cohomology groups H*(X_n;Q) varies with n. We explain how the Grothendieck-Lefschetz Fixed Point Theorem converts a formula for this multiplicity to a formula for the number of polynomials over F_q (or maximal tori in GL_n(F_q), respectively) with specified properties related to V. In particular, we explain how representation stability in cohomology, in the sense of [CF, arXiv:1008.1368] and [CEF, arXiv:1204.4533], corresponds to asymptotic stability of various point counts as n goes to infinity.

Quivers as calculators: counting, correlators and Riemann surfaces

Abstract: The spectrum of chiral operators in supersymmetric quiver gauge theories is typically much larger in the free limit, where the superpotential terms vanish. We find that the finite N counting of operators in any free quiver theory, with a product of unitary gauge groups, can be described by associating Young diagrams and Littlewood-Richardson multiplicities to a simple modification of the quiver, which we call the split-node quiver. The large N limit leads to a surprisingly simple infinite product formula for counting gauge invariant operators, valid for any quiver with bifundamental fields. An orthogonal basis for the operators, in the finite N CFT inner product, is given in terms of quiver characters. These are constructed by inserting permutations in the split-node quivers and interpreting the resulting diagrams in terms of symmetric group matrix elements and branching coefficients. The fusion coefficients in the chiral ring - valid both in the UV and in the IR - are computed at finite N. The derivation follows simple diagrammatic moves on the quiver. The large N counting and correlators are expressed in terms of topological field theories on Riemann surfaces obtained by thickening the quiver. The TFTs are based on symmetric groups and defect observables associated with subgroups play an important role. We outline the application of the free field results to the construction of BPS operators in the case of non-zero super-potential.

Results and conjectures on simultaneous core partitions

Abstract: An n-core partition is an integer partition whose Young diagram contains no hook lengths equal to n. We consider partitions that are simultaneously a-core and b-core for two relatively prime integers a and b. These are related to abacus diagrams and the combinatorics of the affine symmetric group (type A). We observe that self-conjugate simultaneous core partitions correspond to the combinatorics of type C, and use abacus diagrams to unite the discussion of these two sets of objects. In particular, we prove that (2n)- and (2mn+1)-core partitions correspond naturally to dominant alcoves in the m-Shi arrangement of type C_n, generalizing a result of Fishel--Vazirani for type A. We also introduce a major statistic on simultaneous n- and (n+1)-core partitions and on self-conjugate simultaneous (2n)- and (2n+1)-core partitions that yield q-analogues of the Coxeter-Catalan numbers of type A and type C. We present related conjectures and open questions on the average size of a simultaneous core partition, q-analogs of generalized Catalan numbers, and generalizations to other Coxeter groups. We also discuss connections with the cyclic sieving phenomenon and q,t-Catalan numbers.

Genus expansion of HOMFLY polynomials

Abstract: In the planar limit of the 't Hooft expansion, the Wilson-loop average in 3d Chern-Simons theory (i.e. the HOMFLY polynomial) depends in a very simple way on representation (the Young diagram), so that the (knot-dependent) Ooguri-Vafa partition function becomes a trivial KP tau-function. We study higher genus corrections to this formula in the form of expansion in powers of z = q-q^{-1}. Expansion coefficients are expressed through the eigenvalues of the cut-and-join operators, i.e. symmetric group characters. Moreover, the z-expansion is naturally exponentiated. Representation through cut-and-join operators makes contact with Hurwitz theory and its sophisticated integrability properties. Our formulas describe the shape of genus expansion for the HOMFLY polynomials, which for their matrix model counterparts is usually controlled by Virasoro like constraints and AMM/EO topological recursion. The genus expansion differs from the better studied weak coupling expansion at finite number of colors N, which is described in terms of the Vassiliev invariants and Kontsevich integral.

On genus expansion of knot polynomials and hidden structure of Hurwitz tau-functions

Abstract: In the genus expansion of the HOMFLY polynomials their representation dependence is naturally captured by symmetric group characters. This immediately implies that the Ooguri–Vafa partition function (OVPF) is a Hurwitz tau-function. In the planar limit involving factorizable special polynomials, it is actually a trivial exponential tau-function. In fact, in the double scaling Kashaev limit (the one associated with the volume conjecture) dominant in the genus expansion are terms associated with the symmetric representations and with the integrability preserving Casimir operators, though we stop one step from converting this fact into a clear statement about the OVPF behavior in the vicinity of q=1. Instead, we explain that the genus expansion provides a hierarchical decomposition of the Hurwitz tau-function, similar to the Takasaki–Takebe expansion of the KP tau-functions. This analogy can be helpful to develop a substitute for the universal Grassmannian description in the Hurwitz tau-functions.

Public key exchange using matrices over group rings

Abstract: We offer a public key exchange protocol in the spirit of Diffie-Hellman, but we use (small) matrices over a group ring of a (small) symmetric group as the platform. This "nested structure" of the platform makes computation very efficient for legitimate parties. We discuss security of this scheme by addressing the Decision Diffie-Hellman (DDH) and Computational Diffie-Hellman (CDH) problems for our platform.

Genus expansion of HOMFLY polynomials

Abstract: In the planar limit of the’ t Hooft expansion, the Wilson-loop vacuum average in the three-dimensional Chern-Simons theory (in other words, the HOMFLY polynomial) depends very simply on the representation (Young diagram), HR(A|q)|q=1 = (σ1(A)|R|. As a result, the (knot-dependent) Ooguri-Vafa partition function \(\sum olimits_R {H_{R\chi R} \left\{ {\bar pk} \right\}}\) becomes a trivial τ -function of the Kadomtsev-Petviashvili hierarchy. We study higher-genus corrections to this formula for HR in the form of an expansion in powers of z = q − q−1. The expansion coefficients are expressed in terms of the eigenvalues of cut-and-join operators, i.e., symmetric group characters. Moreover, the z-expansion is naturally written in a product form. The representation in terms of cut-and-join operators relates to the Hurwitz theory and its sophisticated integrability. The obtained relations describe the form of the genus expansion for the HOMFLY polynomials, which for the corresponding matrix model is usually given using Virasoro-like constraints and the topological recursion. The genus expansion differs from the better-studied weak-coupling expansion at a finite number N of colors, which is described in terms of Vassiliev invariants and the Kontsevich integral.

FI_W-modules and stability criteria for representations of the classical Weyl groups

Abstract: In this paper we develop machinery for studying sequences of representations of any of the three families of classical Weyl groups, extending work of Church, Ellenberg, Farb, and Nagpal on the symmetric groups S_n to the signed permutation groups B_n and the even-signed permutation groups D_n. For each family W_n, we present an algebraic framework where a sequence V_n of W_n-representations is encoded into a single object we call an FI_W-module. We prove that if an FI_W-module V satisfies a simple finite generation condition then the structure of the sequence is highly constrained. One consequence is that the sequence is uniformly representation stable in the sense of Church-Farb, that is, the pattern of irreducible representations in the decomposition of each V_n eventually stabilizes in a precise sense. Using the theory developed here we obtain new results about the cohomology of generalized flag varieties associated to the classical Weyl groups, and more generally the r-diagonal coinvariant algebras. We analyze the algebraic structure of the category of FI_W-modules, and introduce restriction and induction operations that enable us to study interactions between the three families of groups. We use this theory to prove analogues of Murnaghan's 1938 stability theorem for Kronecker coefficients for the families B_n and D_n. The theory of FI_W-modules gives a conceptual framework for stability results such as these.

Quivers as Calculators: Counting, Correlators and Riemann Surfaces

Abstract: The spectrum of chiral operators in supersymmetric quiver gauge theories is typically much larger in the free limit, where the superpotential terms vanish. We find that the finite N counting of operators in any free quiver theory, with a product of unitary gauge groups, can be described by associating Young diagrams and Littlewood-Richardson multiplicities to a simple modification of the quiver, which we call the split-node quiver. The large N limit leads to a surprisingly simple infinite product formula for counting gauge invariant operators, valid for any quiver with bifundamental fields. An orthogonal basis for the operators, in the finite N CFT inner product, is given in terms of quiver characters. These are constructed by inserting permutations in the split-node quivers and intepreting the resulting diagrams in terms of symmetric group matrix elements and branching coefficients. The fusion coefficients in the chiral ring - valid both in the UV and in the IR - are computed at finite N. The derivation follows simple diagrammatic moves on the quiver. The large N counting and correlators are expressed in terms of topological field theories on Riemann surfaces obtained by thickening the quiver. The TFTs are based on symmetric groups and defect observables associated with subgroups play an important role. We outline the application of the free field results to the construction of BPS operators in the case of non-zero super-potential.

On genus expansion of knot polynomials and hidden structure of Hurwitz tau-functions

Abstract: In the genus expansion of the HOMFLY polynomials their representation dependence is naturally captured by symmetric group characters. This immediately implies that the Ooguri-Vafa partition function (OVPF) is a Hurwitz tau-function. In the planar limit involving factorizable special polynomials, it is actually a trivial exponential tau-function. In fact, in the double scaling Kashaev limit (the one associated with the volume conjecture) dominant in the genus expansion are terms associated with the symmetric representations and with the integrability preserving Casimir operators, though we stop one step from converting this fact into a clear statement about the OVPF behavior in the vicinity of q=1. Instead, we explain that the genus expansion provides a hierarchical decomposition of the Hurwitz tau-function, similar to the Takasaki-Takebe expansion of the KP tau-functions. This analogy can be helpful to develop a substitute for the universal Grassmannian description in the Hurwitz tau-functions.

The Young Bouquet and Its Boundary

Abstract: The classification results for the extreme characters of two basic “big” groups, the infinite symmetric group S(∞) and the infinite-dimensional unitary group U(∞), are remarkably similar. It does not seem to be possible to explain this phenomenon using a suitable extension of the Schur–Weyl duality to infinite dimension. We suggest an explanation of a different nature that does not have analogs in the classical representation theory. We start from the combinatorial/probabilistic approach to characters of “big” groups initiated by Vershik and Kerov. In this approach, the space of extreme characters is viewed as a boundary of a certain infinite graph. In the cases of S(∞) and U(∞), those are the Young graph and the Gelfand–Tsetlin graph, respectively. We introduce a new related object that we call the Young bouquet. It is a poset with continuous grading whose boundary we define and compute. We show that this boundary is a cone over the boundary of the Young graph, and at the same time it is also a degeneration of the boundary of the Gelfand–Tsetlin graph. The Young bouquet has an application to constructing infinite-dimensional Markov processes with determinantal correlation functions.

Monotone Hurwitz Numbers in Genus Zero

Abstract: Hurwitz numbers count branched covers of the Riemann sphere with specified ramification data, or equivalently, transitive permutation factorizations in the symmetric group with specified cycle types. Monotone Hurwitz numbers count a restricted subset of these branched covers related to the expansion of complete symmetric functions in the Jucys-Murphy elements, and have arisen in recent work on the the asymptotic expansion of the Harish-Chandra-Itzykson-Zuber integral. In this paper we begin a detailed study of monotone Hurwitz numbers. We prove two results that are reminiscent of those for classical Hurwitz numbers. The first is the monotone join-cut equation, a partial differen- tial equation with initial conditions that characterizes the generating function for monotone Hurwitz numbers in arbitrary genus. The second is our main result, in which we give an explicit formula for monotone Hurwitz numbers in genus zero.

The Length of the Longest Increasing Subsequence of a Random Mallows Permutation

Abstract: The Mallows measure on the symmetric group S n is the probability measure such that each permutation has probability proportional to q raised to the power of the number of inversions, where q is a positive parameter and the number of inversions of π is equal to the number of pairs iπ j . We prove a weak law of large numbers for the length of the longest increasing subsequence for Mallows distributed random permutations, in the limit that n→∞ and q→1 in such a way that n(1−q) has a limit in R.

Tautological and non-tautological cohomology of the moduli space of curves

Abstract: After a short exposition of the basic properties of the tautological ring of Mg,n, we explain three methods of detecting non-tautological classes in cohomology. The first is via curve counting over finite fields. The second is by obtaining length bounds on the action of the symmetric group n on tautological classes. The third is via classical boundary geometry. Several new non-tautological classes are found.

Splitting fields of characteristic polynomials of random elements in arithmetic groups

Abstract: We discuss rather systematically the principle, implicit in earlier works, that for a “random” element in an arithmetic subgroup of a (split, say) reductive algebraic group over a number field, the splitting field of the characteristic polynomial, computed using any faitfhful representation, has Galois group isomorphic to the Weyl group of the underlying algebraic group. Besides tools such as the large sieve, which we had already used, we introduce some probabilistic ideas (large deviation estimates for finite Markov chains) and the general case involves a more precise understanding of the way Frobenius conjugacy classes are computed for such splitting fields (which is related to a map between regular elements of a finite group of Lie type and conjugacy classes in the Weyl group which had been considered earlier by Carter and Fulman for other purposes; we show in particular that the values of this map are equidistributed).

Anti-trees and right-angled Artin subgroups of braid groups

Abstract: We prove that an arbitrary right-angled Artin group $G$ admits a quasi-isometric group embedding into a right-angled Artin group defined by the opposite graph of a tree. Consequently, $G$ admits quasi-isometric group embeddings into a pure braid group and into the area-preserving diffeomorphism groups of the 2--disk and the 2--sphere, answering questions due to Crisp--Wiest and M. Kapovich. Another corollary is that a pure braid group contains a closed hyperbolic manifold group as a quasi-isometrically embedded subgroup up to dimension eight. Finally, we show that the isomorphism problem, conjugacy problem, and membership problems are unsolvable in the class of finitely presented subgroups of braid groups.

Deformations of permutation representations of Coxeter groups

Abstract: The permutation representation afforded by a Coxeter group W acting on the cosets of a standard parabolic subgroup inherits many nice properties from W such as a shellable Bruhat order and a flat deformation over ?[q] to a representation of the corresponding Hecke algebra. In this paper we define a larger class of "quasiparabolic" subgroups (more generally, quasiparabolic W-sets), and show that they also inherit these properties. Our motivating example is the action of the symmetric group on fixed-point-free involutions by conjugation.

The probability of long cycles in interchange processes

Abstract: We examine the number of cycles of length k in a permutation as a function on the symmetric group. We write it explicitly as a combination of characters of irreducible representations. This allows us to study the formation of long cycles in the interchange process, including a precise formula for the probability that the permutation is one long cycle at a given time t, and estimates for the cases of shorter cycles.

Kronecker products, characters, partitions, and the tensor square conjectures

Abstract: We study the remarkable Saxl conjecture which states that tensor squares of certain irreducible representations of the symmetric groups S_n contain all irreducibles as their constituents. Our main result is that they contain representations corresponding to hooks and two row Young diagrams. For that, we develop a new sufficient condition for the positivity of Kronecker coefficients in terms of characters, and use combinatorics of rim hook tableaux combined with known results on unimodality of certain partition functions. We also present connections and speculations on random characters of S_n.

Equivariant CW-complexes and the orbit category

Abstract: We give a general framework for studying G-CW complexes via the orbit category. As an application we show that the symmetric group G = S5 admits a nite G-CW complex X homotopy equivalent to a sphere, with cyclic isotropy subgroups.

Weingarten calculus for matrix ensembles associated with compact symmetric spaces

Abstract: A method for computing integrals of polynomial functions on compact symmetric spaces is given. Those integrals are expressed as sums of functions on symmetric groups.

Arc spaces and DAHA representations

Abstract: A theorem of Y. Berest, P. Etingof and V. Ginzburg states that finite-dimensional irreducible representations of a type A rational Cherednik algebra are classified by one rational number m/n. Every such representation is a representation of the symmetric group Sn. We compare certain multiplicity spaces in its decomposition into irreducible representations of Sn with the spaces of differential forms on a zero-dimensional moduli space associated with the plane curve singularity xm = yn.

Probabilistic Galois theory

Abstract: We show that there are at most $O_{n,\epsilon}(H^{n-2+\sqrt{2}+\epsilon})$ monic integer polynomials of degree $n$ having height at most $H$ and Galois group different from the full symmetric group $S_n$, improving on the previous 1973 world record $O_{n}(H^{n-1/2}\log H)$.