Sects (Q2193199)

For \(p+q=n\) let \(\mathbf{L}_{p,q}\subset\mathbf{SL}_n=\mathbf{SL}_n(\mathbb C)\) be the subgroup of block-diagonal matrices \(\begin{pmatrix}A&0\\ 0&B\end{pmatrix}\) with \(A\in\mathbf{GL}_p\), \(B\in\mathbf{GL}_q\), \(\det(A)\det(B)=1\). The quotient space \(\mathbf{E}_{p,q} =\mathbf{SL}_n/\mathbf{L}_{p,q}\) fibers over the Grassmannian \(\mathbf{Gr}(p,n)\) with the fibers isomorphic to the affine space consisting of \(p\times q\) matrices. The integral cohomology and the Chow ring of the space \(\mathbf{E}_{p,q}\) are isomorphic to those of the Grassmannian. The basis is given by classes of the inverse images of the Schubert varieties. On the other hand the decomposition of \(\mathbf{E}_{p,q}\) into orbits of the Borel subgroup \(\mathbf{B}_n\subset\mathbf{SL}_n\) is more complicated. The set of orbits is ordered by the straight forward generalization of the Bruhat order given by the inclusion of closures. The combinatorics of the orbits is governed by \emph{signed involutions} or alternatively by \((p,q)\)-\emph{clans}. The inverse images of a Schubert cell is a union of \(\mathbf{B}_n\)-orbits. The orbits projecting to the same Schubert cell is called a sect. The \emph{big sect} corresponding to the open Schubert cell is a maximal upper order ideal in the Bruhat poset. For \(p=q\) there is a poset isomorphism between the big sect and the rook monoid parameterizing \(\mathbf{B}_p\times\mathbf{B}_p\) orbits in the space of \(p\times p\) matrices. Some results are stated in a greater generality, for a semisimple group instead of \(\mathbf{SL}_n\).