Invariants for the modular cyclic group of prime order via classical invariant theory (Q1949964)

There is a connection between the modular invariant theory of a cyclic group of prime order \(p\) and the covariants of classical invariant theory. Suppose \(\sigma\) is an integer matrix in Jordan form with characteristic polynomial \((t-1)^n\). Further suppose that the Jordan blocks have size at most \(p\). The matrix \(\sigma\) induces an automorphism of the polynomial ring \(S:=\mathbb{Z}[x_1,\ldots,x_n]\). Suppose \(f\in S\) satisfies \(\sigma(f)=f\). Using the inclusion of \(\mathbb{Z}\) into \(\mathbb{C}\), we can interpret \(f\) as an element of \(\mathbb{C}[x_1,\ldots,x_n]\). Since \(\sigma(f)=f\), we can take \(f\) as the source of a covariant of a system of binary forms, where the degrees of the binary forms are determined by the sizes of the Jordan blocks. On the other hand, reducing modulo \(p\) gives an element \(\bar{f}\in \bar{S}:=\mathbb{F}_p[x_1,\ldots,x_n]\). The assumption that the Jordan blocks of \(\sigma\) have size at most \(p\), means that \(\bar{\sigma}\) generates a cyclic group of order \(p\) and, since \(\bar{\sigma}(\bar{f})=\bar{f}\), we see that \(\bar{f}\) is an element of the ring of invariants \(\bar{S}^{\langle \bar{\sigma} \rangle}\). An element of \(\bar{S}^{\langle \bar{\sigma} \rangle}\) constructed in this fashion is called an integral invariant (the term rational invariant has also been used). It was conjectured by the reviewer [in: Invariant theory in all characteristics. Proceedings of the workshop on invariant theory, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada, April 8--19, 2002. CRM Proceedings \& Lecture Notes 35, 241--249 (2004; Zbl 1094.13008)] (see also [the reviewer, Comment. Math. Helv. 73, No. 4, 548--565 (1998; Zbl 0929.13001)] that \(\bar{S}^{\langle \bar{\sigma}\rangle}\) is generated, modulo the image of the transfer map, by integral invariants and the orbit products of the variables. The conjecture essentially reduces computing generators for \(\bar{S}^{\langle \bar{\sigma}\rangle}\) to a problem in classical invariant theory. The paper under review proves the conjecture and uses the result to construct generating sets for \(\bar{S}^{\langle \bar{\sigma}\rangle}\) for a range of different \(\sigma\). The proof of the conjecture relies on a subtle understanding of the interaction between taking tensor products of modules and reducing modulo \(p\).