A note on preservers of decomposability (Q1801457)

Let \(V\) be an \(n\)-dimensional vector space over an algebraically closed field of characteristic 0, and let \(W_ m\) be the \(m\)th tensor power of \(V\). An element of \(W_ m\) is called ``decomposable'' if it has the form \(v_ 1\otimes\cdots\otimes v_ m\) for some vectors \(v_ i\) in \(V\); it is ``\(m\)-decomposable'' if, in addition, the \(v_ i\) are linearly independent. The symmetric group \(S_ m\) acts in a natural way (componentwise) on \(W_ m\), and for each \(c\) in the group ring \(KS_ m\) we define the \(c\)- symmetrized tensors to be the tensors in \(W_ m\) which are images under \(c\). For example, the Grassmann space \(\Lambda^ m\) \(V\) of degree \(m\) is the space of \(c\)-symmetrized tensors where \(c\) is the alternating sum of the elements of \(S_ m\). A symmetrized tensor is called decomposable if it is the image of a decomposable tensor. The author investigates properties of linear transformations \(L\) of \(W_ m\) into itself which preserve decomposibility of \(c\)-symmetrized tensors. In particular, using elementary algebraic geometry, he shows that \(L\) has this property provided it preserves the decomposibility of the \(m\)-decomposable \(c\)- symmetrized tensors.