Separating invariants and finite reflection groups (Q1028353)

This paper introduces the notion of a geometric separating algebra, for distinguishing between the orbits of a group on some geometric or algebraic space. Given a representation of a group \(G\) on some finite-dimensional space \(V\) over a field \(k\), let \(k[V]\) be the symmetric algebra on the vector space dual of \(V\), and let \(k[V]^G\) be the graded subalgebra of \(k[V]\) formed by the elements that are fixed by \(G\). Then any subalgebra \(A\) of \(k[V]^G\) with the property that for all \(u,v \in V \otimes_k {\overline k}\) (where \({\overline k}\) is the algebraic closure of \(k\)), no element of \(k[V]^G\) distinguishes \(u\) and \(v\) if and only if no element of \(A\) distinguishes \(u\) and \(v\), is called a \textit{geometric separating algebra} for the representation. The paper's main theorem is that for finite \(G\), if some geometric separating algebra is a polynomial ring, then the action of \(G\) on \(V\) must be generated by reflections. This generalises (and gives a new proof of) a theorem of [\textit{J.-P. Serre}, Colloque d'algébre (Paris, 1967), Secrétariat mathématique, Paris, Exp. 8, 11 p. (1968; Zbl 0200.00002)]. It is also shown that the converse holds when the characteristic of \(k\) does not divide the order of \(G\), and that if some graded geometric separating algebra is a complete intersection, then the action of \(G\) is generated by bireflections. The latter generalises results of \textit{N. L. Gordeev} [J. Sov. Math. 27, 2919--2927 (1984; Zbl 0548.20030)] and \textit{V. Kac} and \textit{K.-I. Watanabe} [Bull. Am. Math. Soc., New Ser. 6, 221--223 (1982; Zbl 0483.14002)].