An approach to the Steinberg character of a finite group of Lie type via the orthogonal geometry of its adjoint module (Q1327047)

In this interesting paper the author mainly presents a new method how to get the Steinberg character \(St\) for Chevalley groups and their twisted analogues. Roughly speaking, his construction is done by exploiting the geometry on the adjoint module which is induced by the Killing form. This connection with the geometry reflects in the sign which appears in Steinberg's formula \(St(x) = \pm | C(x) |_ p\) for any semisimple element \(x\) of the group \(G\) defined over \(GF(q)\) with \(q = p^ s\). In order to get an impression how the author's method works we have to fix some notation. Let \(\mathbf F\) denote the algebraic closure of \(GF(q)\), \(L\) a simple complex Lie-algebra of rank \(\ell\), \(L_{\mathbf F}\) the corresponding Lie-algebra over \(\mathbf F\) and \(G = G_ L({\mathbf F})\) the adjoint Chevalley group over \(\mathbf F\). The finite Chevalley group over \(GF(q)\) or its twisted version may be obtained as the group \(G_ \sigma\) of fixed points of a Frobenius mapping \(\sigma\) on \(G\). If \(L_ \sigma\) denotes the set of fixed points of \(\sigma\) on \(L_{\mathbf F}\), then the Killing form \(\mathcal K\) defines a \(G_ \sigma\)-invariant symmetric bilinear form on the Lie-algebra \(L_ \sigma\) over \(GF(q)\). Suppose for the moment -- the other case takes more work -- that \(\mathcal K\) is non- degenerate. The difference of the permutation action of \(G_ \sigma\) on the set of isotropic vectors and the permutation action of \(G_ \sigma\) on the set of vectors of length 1 defines a generalized character \(\pi\) which takes values \(\pi(x) = \varepsilon(x)q^{[\ell/2] + a(x)}\) for semisimple elements \(x\). Here \(\varepsilon(x)\) is a sign which is determined by the geometry on \(L_ \sigma\) (via Witt-indices for \(p \neq 2\)) and \(q^{a(x)} = | C_{G_ \sigma}(x)|_ p\). Now standard arguments lead to a generalized character \(\pi'\) with \(\pi'(x) = \varepsilon(x)q^{a(x)}\) for any semisimple \(x\). Of course, \(\pi'\) must be the Steinberg character! Indeed, the irreducibility of \(\pi'\) is shown by proving simultaneously that the number of unipotent elements of \(G_ \sigma\) is equal to \((| G_ \sigma|_ p)^ 2\) (Steinberg's argument). Section 1 of the paper which is devoted to the construction of generalized characters in vector spaces with geometries is of its own interest. In his paper [J. Lond. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 48, No. 3, 441-451 (1993; Zbl 0799.20007)] the author has shown how the methods of section 1 are applicable to prove the \(k(GV)\) conjecture for selfdual \(V\).