What is a unipotent representation?

Abstract: The concept of a unipotent representation has its origins in the representation theory of finite Chevalley groups. Let G(Fq) be the group of Fq-rational points of a connected reductive algebraic group G. In 1984, Lusztig completed the classification of irreducible representations of G(Fq). He showed:

1) All irreducible representations of G(Fq) can be constructed from a finite set of building blocks -- called `unipotent representations.'

2) Unipotent representations can be classified by certain geometric parameters related to nilpotent orbits for a complex group associated to G(Fq).

Now, replace Fq with C, the field of complex numbers, and replace G(Fq) with G(C). There is a striking analogy between the finite-dimensional representation theory of G(Fq) and the unitary representation theory of G(C). This analogy suggests that all unitary representations of G(C) can be constructed from a finite set of building blocks -- called `unipotent representations' -- and that these building blocks are classified by geometric parameters related to nilpotent orbits. In this talk I will propose a definition of unipotent representations, generalizing the Barbasch-Vogan notion of `special unipotent'. The definition I propose is geometric and case-free. After giving some examples, I will state a geometric classification of unipotent representations, generalizing the well-known result of Barbasch-Vogan for special unipotents.

This talk is based on forthcoming joint work with Ivan Loseu and Dmitryo Matvieievskyi.

representation theory

Audience: researchers in the topic

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MIT Lie groups seminar

Series comments: Description: Research seminar on Lie groups

This seminar will take place entirely online: Zoom Meeting Link. You should be able to watch live video at this link. Your microphone will be muted, but you are welcome to unmute it (microphone icon on the lower left of the Zoom window, perhaps visible only when you put your mouse near there) to ask a question.

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