Degree bounds for separating invariants (Q2275764)

Given a linear algebraic group \(G\) and a \(G\)-module \(V\) (finite dimensional over a fixed algebraically closed base field) on which \(G\) acts regularly, denote by \(\beta_{\mathrm{sep}}(G,V)\) the minimal nonnegative integer \(d\) such that the \(G\)-invariant polynomial functions on \(V\) of degree at most \(d\) constitute a separating set in the algebra of all \(G\)-invariant polynomial functions on \(V\). Moreover, denote by \(\beta_{\mathrm{sep}}(G)\) the supremum of \(\beta_{\mathrm{sep}}(G,V)\) over all \(G\)-modules \(V\). The first main result of the present paper is that \(\beta_{\mathrm{sep}}(G)\) is finite if and only if \(G\) is finite. (Recall that it is known that for a finite group \(G\) the number \(\beta_{\mathrm{sep}}(G)\) is bounded by the order of \(G\).) The second main result is that for a subgroup \(H\) of a finite group \(G\) we have the inequalities \(\beta_{\mathrm{sep}}(H)\leq \beta_{\mathrm{sep}}(G)\leq [G:H]\beta_{\mathrm{sep}}(H)\), and when \(H\) is normal, then \(\beta_{\mathrm{sep}}(G)\leq \beta_{\mathrm{sep}}(H)\beta_{\mathrm{sep}}(G/H)\). These results extend to separating sets known statements on generating sets in algebras of polynomial invariants, due to \textit{R. M. Bryant} and \textit{G. Kemper} [J. Algebra 284, 80--90 (2005; Zbl 1085.13001)], \textit{H. Derksen} and \textit{G. Kemper} [CRM Proceedings \& Lecture Notes 35, 37--41 (2004; Zbl 1072.14056)], and \textit{B. J. Schmid} [Lect. Notes Math. 1478, 35--66 (1991; Zbl 0770.20004)].