Sign types and Kazhdan-Lusztig cells (Q1175587)

Let \(\phi\) be an irreducible reduced root system in a Euclidean space \(E\). Let \(W\) (resp. \(W_ a\)) be the Weyl (resp. affine Weyl) group determined by \(\phi\). For any subset \(X\subset W\), let \(\langle X\rangle\) denote the union of all alcoves in \(E\) corresponding to the elements of \(X\). The sign types of \(W_ a\) have been considered by \textit{J. Y. Shi} [J. Lond. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 35, 56-74 (1987; Zbl 0681.20033)]. In this paper, the relations between sign types and left cells in \(W_ a\) are discussed, moreover, it is proved that if \(L\) is a left cell, then there are finitely many contractible polyhedra \(\langle L_ i\rangle\) such that \(L= \bigcup_ i L_ i\). This result is associated with the conjecture of Lusztig that if \(L\) is a left cell, then \(\langle L\rangle\) is a contractible polyhedron [cf. \textit{G. Lusztig} et al., Open problems in Algebraic Groups (1983; Zbl 0527.14002)]. A geometric explanation of the finiteness of cells in \(W_ a\) is given.