Refined Dynkin data for nilpotent elements (Q1328488)

For a complex semisimple Lie group \(G\), whose Lie algebra \(\mathfrak g\) acts by vector fields on the flag variety \({\mathcal B} (G/B)\), the class \(\text{cl}_B(x)\) (Cartan algebra of \(\mathfrak g\)) of nilpotent elements \(x \in \mathfrak g\) with respect to the Borel subgroup \(B \in {\mathcal B}\) in \(G\) is defined and studied in detail. The class \(\text{cl}_B(x)\) is treated as the homology class of an integral (algebraic) curve passing through \(B\) of the vector field defined by nilpotent elements \(x\) and belongs to the lattice \({\mathfrak h}_\mathbb{Z}\) generated in the Cartan algebra \(\mathfrak h\) by the dual roots. The investigation is based on the use of the ``refined'' weighted Dynkin diagram [\textit{E. B. Dynkin}, Trudy Moskovsk. mat. Obshch. 1, 39-166 (1952; Zbl 0048.016); \textit{B. Kostant}, Am. J. Math. 81, 973-1032 (1959; Zbl 0099.256)] corresponding to the orbit \({\mathfrak O} =^Gx\) defined by a nilpotent element \(x \in {\mathfrak g}\) and considered here as a linear form \({\mathfrak h}^* \in {\mathfrak h}\) called Dynkin datum \(D_0\). It is shown that the Dynkin datum \(D_0\) coincides with the class \(\text{cl}_B(x)\) for \(x\) belonging to an open subset \({\mathcal U} \in {\mathfrak O}\) which is the image of the ``big cell'' of \(G\) where the class \(\text{cl}_B(x)\) takes a finite set of values and is constant. In the description of the possible values of these classes the Bott-Samelson scheme \(Z\) [\textit{R. Bott} and \textit{R. Samelson}, Sympos. Int. Topologia Algebraica 282-284 (1958; Zbl 0101.397)] the choice of which depends on \(w \in W\) where \(W\) is the Weyl algebra and where there is a morphism \(\mu : Z \to G/B\) are used. Thus, as the main result of the paper, a complete description (calculation) of the classes \(\text{cl}_B(x)\) for any regular nilpotent element \(x \in n^+\) and for any choice of the Bott-Samelson scheme \(Z\) is obtained.