\(k\)-double Schur functions and equivariant (co)homology of the affine Grassmannian (Q2392797): Difference between revisions

According to Bott periodicity the loop group \(\Omega SU\) and the classifying space \(BU\) are homotopy equivalent \(h\)-spaces. Their cohomologies \(H^*(\Omega SU)\simeq H^*(BU)\) are isomorphic to the Hopf algebra of symmetric functions in infinite number of variables. The classifying space \(BU\simeq Gr_\infty\) is the infinite Grassmannian and it admits a decomposition into Schubert cells. The space \(\Omega SU\) is approximated by the loop group \(\Omega SU(n)\) which is homotopy equivalent to the space of polynomial loops, known as the affine Grassmannian \(Gr_{SL(n)}\). The later also admits a decomposition into algebraic cells [\textit{A. Pressley}, Topology 19, 65--79 (1980; Zbl 0434.58013)]. Moreover all the decompositions are invariant with respect to the natural tori actions. Therefore homologies and cohomologies of \(Gr_\infty\) and \(Gr_{SL_n}\) and their equivariant refinements have distinguished bases defined by algebraic cells. The aim of the paper is to give an algebraic definition of the equivariant homology and cohomology of \(Gr_{SL(n)}\) and describe the distinguished bases. The results are equivariant versions of [\textit{T. Lam}, J. Am. Math. Soc. 21, No. 1, 259--281 (2008; Zbl 1149.05045)]. Also the structure of Hopf comultiplication is given in algebraic terms. The present construction is related to previous results for \(H^*_T(Gr_\infty)\). Let \(T=(\mathbb{C}^*)^{\mathbb{Z}}\) and \(H^*_T(pt)\simeq\mathbb{Q}[a]=\mathbb{Q}[\dots, a_{-1},a_0,a_1,\dots]\) : 1) The equivariant cohomology \(H^*_T(Gr_\infty)\) is a free \(\mathbb{Q}[a]\)-algebra generated by the classes of Schubert varieties. Algebraically it is the algebra of double symmetric functions \(\Lambda(x||a)\) with the distinguished basis consisting of the double Schur functions \(s_\lambda(x||a)\) indexed by the Young diagrams \(\lambda\), see [\textit{A. I. Molev}, Electron. J. Comb. 16, No. 1, Research Paper R13, 44 p. (2009; Zbl 1182.05128)] and [\textit{A. Knutson} and \textit{T. Tao}, Duke Math. J. 119, No. 2, 221--260 (2003; Zbl 1064.14063)]. There is given another description of \(\Lambda(x||a)\) based on localization to the fixed points and the Goresky-Kottwitz-MacPherson graph. 2) Let \(T_n\) be the maximal torus of \(GL_n\). The ring \(H^*_{T_n}(pt)\) is a quotient of \(\mathbb{Q}[a]\). Two dual Hopf algebras over \(H^*_{T_n}(pt)\) are defined: a quotient algebra \(\Lambda^{(n)}(x||a)\) which is isomorphic to \(H^*_{T_n}(Gr_{SL_n})\) and a subalgebra \(\hat\Lambda_{(n)}(y||a)\) of the dual of \(\Lambda(x||a)\), which is isomorphic to the equivariant homology \(H_{T_n,*}(Gr_{SL_n})\). The GKM-description of these algebras are given. There are introduced bases \(\tilde F_\lambda(x||a)\in\Lambda^{(n)}(x||a) \) called affine double Schur functions and \(s^{(k)}_\lambda(y||a)\in\hat\Lambda_{(n)}(y||a)\) called \(k\)-double Schur functions, both corresponding to the geometric bases. 3) Setting \(a_i=0\) the bases of nonequivariant (co)homology is obtained: \(\tilde F_\lambda(x||a)\) specializes to the affine Stanley symmetric function defined in [\textit{T. Lam}, Am. J. Math. 128, No. 6, 1553--1586 (2006; Zbl 1107.05095)] and \(s^{(k)}_\lambda(y||a)\) specializes to \(k\)-Schur functions of [\textit{L. Lapointe, A. Lascoux} and \textit{J. Morse}, Duke Math. J. 116, No. 1, 103--146 (2003; Zbl 1020.05069)]. 4) Letting \(n\to\infty\) the affine double Schur functions \(\tilde F_\lambda(x||a)\in\Lambda^{(n)}(x||a) \) reduce to the double Schur functions \(s_\lambda(x||a)\). This is an important paper and it seems that the authors discusses all the issues related to the structure of \(H^*_T(BU)\simeq \lim_n H^*_{T_n}(\Omega SL_n)\). The treatment of the subject is mainly algebraic. Some geometric issues are not explained yet. The authors state a positivity conjecture: Let \(Gr_{SL_n}\to Gr_{SL_m}\) for \(n\) dividing \(m\) be the natural map following e.g. from Pressley construction. Then the pull-backs of \(F_\lambda(x||a)\)-function for \(SL_m\) is a nonnegative (in the sense of Graham) combination of \(F_\lambda(x||a)\)-functions for \(SL_n\).