The partition algebras and a new deformation of the Schur algebras (Q1265554)

The partition algebras \({\mathcal P}_{\mathbb{Z}[v]}(n)\) are algebras defined over the ring \(\mathbb{Z}[v]\) of integral polynomials. Let \(k\) be a \(\mathbb{Z}[v]\)-algebra which is a field, and let \({\mathcal P}_k(n)\) be the algebra obtained from \(\mathcal P_{\mathbb{Z}[v]}(n)\) by base change to \(k\), a finite dimensional \(k\)-algebra. If \(\text{char }k=0\) the representation theory of \({\mathcal P}_k(n)\) is generically semisimple, and the exceptional cases are completely known. In [J. Algebra 217, No. 1, 156-169 (1999)], the authors showed that if \(\text{char }k>0\) and the image of \(v\) does not lie in the prime subfield of \(k\), \({\mathcal P}_k(n)\) is Morita equivalent to \(k{\mathfrak S}_0\times\cdots\times k{\mathfrak S}_n\), a product of group algebras of symmetric groups. In the present paper they show that in the remaining cases in positive characteristic the representation theory of \({\mathcal P}_k(n)\) can be obtained by localization from that of a suitably chosen classical Schur algebra. The localization functor is directly analogous to the Schur functor, and provides a tool for the transfer of information from the Schur algebras to the partition algebras. In particular they express the decomposition matrices of the partition algebras as submatrices of those of the Schur algebras. Their approach also allows to recover the exceptional structure of the partition algebra in characteristic zero by passing to large positive characteristic and applying the Jantzen sum formula. The key of their analysis is a new algebra \({\mathcal T}_k\) which forms a bridge between the representation theory of the partition algebras and of the general linear groups.