Geometric construction of crystal bases (Q1365159)

Let \({\mathfrak g}\) denote a complex semisimple Lie algebra. \textit{G. Lusztig} has constructed a basis (called the canonical basis) of \(U_q^-({\mathfrak g})\) by considering perverse sheaves on quiver varieties [J. Am. Math. Soc. 3, 447-498 (1990; Zbl 0703.17008)]. In this paper the authors give an example of such a simple perverse sheaf whose singular support is not irreducible. The example is for type \(A_5\). It gives a negative answer to a problem posed by \textit{G. Lusztig} in [J. Am. Math. Soc. 4, 365-421 (1991; Zbl 0738.17011)]. The authors proceed to establish a connection to a conjecture by \textit{D. Kazhdan} and \textit{G. Lusztig} [Adv. Math. 38, 222-228 (1980; Zbl 0458.20035)] on the characteristic variety of the regular holonomic \({\mathfrak D}\)-module associated to a highest weight module for \({\mathfrak g}\). This conjecture says that for type \(A\) such varieties are always irreducible. Here the authors prove this conjecture for type \(A_n\), \(n<7\), and give an example which shows that it fails for type \(A_7\).