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Understanding Group Representations

A group representation is a homomorphism from a group G to the general linear group GL(V) of invertible matrices, allowing the study of group properties through matrix properties. Key concepts include faithful representations, irreducibility, degrees of representation, and sub-representations, alongside important results like Schur's Lemma and Maschke's Theorem. Exercises demonstrate the application of these concepts in proving properties of operators and projectors in finite-dimensional vector spaces.

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16 views4 pages

Understanding Group Representations

A group representation is a homomorphism from a group G to the general linear group GL(V) of invertible matrices, allowing the study of group properties through matrix properties. Key concepts include faithful representations, irreducibility, degrees of representation, and sub-representations, alongside important results like Schur's Lemma and Maschke's Theorem. Exercises demonstrate the application of these concepts in proving properties of operators and projectors in finite-dimensional vector spaces.

Uploaded by

amelfaki222
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Group Representations

A group representation is a way to view a group as a group of invertible


matrices, with the goal of understanding certain properties of the group using
the properties of the associated matrices.

Definition
Let G be a group and V a vector space. A representation of the
group G in V is any group homomorphism of G into GL(V ), that is,
any map
ρ : G → GL(V )
satisfying

ρ(g1 g2 ) = ρ(g1 ) ◦ ρ(g2 ), for all g1 , g2 ∈ G.

Most often, we work with a finite group G and a finite-dimensional vec-


tor space V (which we will assume from now on). Let us establish some
associated definitions:
• A representation ρ : G → GL(V ) is called faithful if ρ is an injective
morphism.
• A representation ρ : G → GL(V ) is called irreducible if V is non-zero
and the only subspaces of V invariant under ρ are V and {0V }.
(A subspace W ⊂ V is invariant under ρ if
ρ(g)(W ) ⊂ W for all g ∈ G.
In this case, we can define a representation ρW : G → GL(W ) by
defining ρW (g) as the restriction of ρ(g) to W .)
• The degree of the representation is the dimension of V .
• If W is a subspace of V that is stable under all elements of ρ(G), then
we can define a mapping
ρW : G → GL(W ), g 7→ ρ(g)|W ,

1
which is a group morphism. The representation ρW : G → GL(W ) is
then called a sub-representation of ρ : G → GL(V ).

• The direct sum of a family of representationsLρi : G → Vi (of the


same group G) is the representation ρ of G on i Vi , defined by
M
ρ(g) = ρi (g).
i

• A morphism of the representation ρ : G → GL(V ) to the representa-


tion σ : G → GL(W ) is a linear map

φ:V →W

satisfying the intertwining relation

φ ◦ ρ(g) = σ(g) ◦ φ for all g ∈ G.

Schur’s Lemma
Every irreducible representation of an abelian group in a finite-
dimensional vector space over an algebraically closed field has degree
1.

Exercise 1 (Proof of Schur’s Lemma)

Let E be a finite-dimensional K-vector space, and let U be an


irreducible subset of L(E), meaning that the only subspaces of E that
are invariant under all elements of U are {0} and E. Let ϕ ∈ L(E) be
an operator that commutes with all elements of U .

1. Prove that ϕ is either the zero map or an automorphism.


2. Assume that K = C. Deduce that there exists λ ∈ C such that
ϕ = λ IdE .

Solution:

1. Since for all u ∈ U , u ◦ ϕ = ϕ ◦ u, it follows that ker ϕ is invariant


under all elements of U . In particular, ker ϕ = {0} or ker ϕ = E. In
the first case, ϕ is injective, hence it is an automorphism of E (which
is finite-dimensional). In the second case, ϕ is the zero map.

2
2. Let λ be an eigenvalue of ϕ. Then ϕ − λ IdE is not an automorphism of
E, but ϕ − λ IdE commutes with all elements of U . From the previous
question, it follows that ϕ − λ IdE = 0. Thus, ϕ = λ IdE .

Exercise 2 (Maschke’s Theorem)

Let E be a finite-dimensional vector space over a field K, where K = R


or K = C. Let G be a finite subgroup of GL(E) of order m, and let
F be a subspace invariant under all elements of G. Denoting by p a
projector onto F , we define:
1 X
p0 = u ◦ p ◦ u−1 .
m u∈G

1. Prove that p0 is a projector onto F .

2. Prove that, for all v ∈ G,

v ◦ p0 = p0 ◦ v.

3. Let S = ker(p0 ). Prove that S is invariant under all elements of


G.

4. State the theorem that has been demonstrated.

Solution:
1. First, let us note that p0 maps into F , since every u ∈ G maps into
F and F is a vector subspace. Next, choose x ∈ F and prove that
p0 (x) = x. For u ∈ G, we have u−1 ∈ G, and hence u−1 (x) ∈ F .
Therefore,
u ◦ p ◦ u−1 (x) = u ◦ u−1 (x) = x.
Hence, p0 (x) = x. It remains to verify that, for any x ∈ E, p0 ◦ p0 (x) =
p0 (x). This follows from the two properties above, since p0 (x) ∈ F and
p0 acts as the identity on F .

2. We need to prove that

v ◦ p0 ◦ v −1 = p0 .

Note that the map G → G, defined by u 7→ v ◦ u, is a bijection. In


other words, when u runs over G, so does v ◦ u. From this, we deduce

3
that:
1 X 1 X
v ◦ p0 ◦ v −1 = v ◦ (u ◦ p ◦ u−1 ) ◦ v −1 = (v ◦ u) ◦ p ◦ (v ◦ u)−1 .
m u∈G m u∈G

Since v ◦ u also runs over G, we obtain:

v ◦ p0 ◦ v −1 = p0 .

3. This is straightforward! If x ∈ S = ker(p0 ), then p0 (v(x)) = v(p0 (x)) =


0, which implies v(x) ∈ ker(p0 ).

4. We have shown that F has a complementary subspace that is also


invariant under all elements of G.

Common questions

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According to Schur's Lemma, every irreducible representation of an abelian group in a finite-dimensional vector space over an algebraically closed field has degree 1 .

In morphisms of group representations, the intertwining condition is given by a linear map \( \phi : V \rightarrow W \) such that \( \phi \circ \rho(g) = \sigma(g) \circ \phi \) for all \( g \in G \). This condition ensures that \( \phi \) respects the group action and relates the two representations \( \rho \) and \( \sigma \).

Maschke’s Theorem holds for a finite-dimensional vector space over a field \( K \), where \( K = \mathbb{R} \) or \( \mathbb{C} \), and \( G \) is a finite subgroup of \( GL(E) \). If a subspace is invariant under all elements of \( G \), there exists a complementary subspace that is also invariant under \( G \).

An irreducible representation is important because it ensures that the only subspaces of the vector space that are invariant under the representation are the entire space and the zero vector. This simplicity can be used to understand representations in terms of simpler, non-complex parts, facilitating the analysis of group properties .

In a finite-dimensional vector space over \( \mathbb{C} \), Schur’s Lemma implies that if \( \phi \) commutes with all elements of an irreducible subset, then for an eigenvalue \( \lambda \) of \( \phi \), \( \phi = \lambda Id_E \), making \( \phi \) a scalar multiple of the identity .

Schur’s Lemma implies that if an operator \( \phi \) commutes with all elements of an irreducible subset of operators, then \( \phi \) must either be the zero map or it must be an automorphism .

The projector \( p' \) is constructed as \( p' = \frac{1}{m} \sum_{u \in G} u \circ p \circ u^{-1} \), where \( p \) is a projector onto a subspace \( F \) that is invariant under all elements of the group \( G \). This construction ensures \( p' \) acts as a projector onto \( F \) and commutes with group elements, providing a way to decompose representations into simpler, invariant subspaces .

A representation \( \rho : G \rightarrow GL(V) \) is called faithful if \( \rho \) is an injective morphism .

A sub-representation of \( \rho : G \rightarrow GL(V) \) is defined by a subspace \( W \subset V \) that is stable under all elements of \( \rho(G) \), allowing for a mapping \( \rho_W : G \rightarrow GL(W) \), where \( \rho_W(g) \) is the restriction \( \rho(g) \) to \( W \).

The direct sum of a family of representations \( \rho_i : G \rightarrow V_i \) allows us to build a representation \( \rho : G \rightarrow \bigoplus_i V_i \) defined by \( \rho(g) = \bigoplus_i \rho_i(g) \). This facilitates the study of the original representations as components of a larger, unified structure, revealing comprehensive insights about the group's properties .

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