Polynomial representations, algebraic monoids, and Schur algebras of classical type (Q1380035)

Linear representations of some classical groups are considered using both classical methods (Schur algebras) and modern ones (connections between an affine algebraic monoid and its unit group). Let \(K\) be an infinite field, let \(M_n(K)\) be the monoid of all \(n\times n\)-matrices over \(K\), and let \(G\) be a Zariski closed subgroup of the full linear group \(\text{GL}_n(K)\). A representation of \(G\) over \(K\) is said to be polynomial if all the coefficients of this representation are given by polynomials in the matrix entries of \(G\). Assume \(M\) is the Zariski closure of \(G\) in \(M_n(K)\). Then \(M\) is an affine algebraic monoid, and the polynomial representations of \(G\) turn out to be equivalent with rational representations of \(M\). The author is interested in the case the algebra of all polynomial functions on \(G\) is graded. If this is the case, then \(G\) is said to admit a graded polynomial representation theory; e.g. the group \(\text{GL}_n(K)\) admits such a theory, but the group \(\text{SL}_n(K)\) does not. Suppose that \(G\) admits a graded representation theory. Then, for such a \(G\), it is possible to extend Schur's classical representation theory. In particular, every polynomial representation of such a \(G\) is a direct sum of homogeneous ones. Moreover, the homogeneous representations in a given degree \(n\) are equivalent to the representations of a certain finite-dimensional algebra \(S_d(G)\). If \(G=\text{GL}_n(K)\), then \(S_d(G)\) is the ordinary Schur algebra \(S(n,d)\). In general, \(S_d(G)\) may be considered as a subalgebra of \(S(n,d)\). Special attention is paid to the cases \(\text{GO}_n(K)\), \(\text{GSp}_n(K)\) (both these groups admit a graded polynomial representation theory), and to the monoids \(OM_n(K)\), \(SpM_n(K)\) that are the Zariski closures of the groups \(\text{GO}_n(K)\), \(\text{GSp}_n(K)\) respectively. Theorems 5.4, 6.5, 7.5 describe the matrices belonging to \(OM_n(K)\), \(SpM_n(K)\). The paper ends with the characterization of the algebras \(S_d(\text{GO}_n(K))\), \(S_d(\text{GSp}_n(K))\) as centralizer algebras for the action of the appropriate Brauer algebra on tensor space for the case \(\text{char }K=0\). The author conjectures that, for \(G\) reductive, the algebras \(S_d(G)\) are generalized Schur algebras as introduced by \textit{S. Donkin} [J. Algebra 104, 310-328 (1986; Zbl 0606.20038)]. It is so for \(G=\text{GSp}_n(K)\) with \(K\) algebraically closed as has already been shown by \textit{S. Donkin} [Proc. Symp. Pure Math. 47, 69-80 (1987; Zbl 0648.20048)].