The adjoint representation of group algebras and enveloping algebras (Q2366855)

The main concern of this article is the investigation of the kernel of the adjoint representation for group algebras \(K[G]\) and (restricted) enveloping algebras \(U(L)\) (resp. \(u(L)\)). For group algebras, the (left) adjoint action is given by \(g\cdot x=gxg^{-1}\) (\(g\in G\), \(x\in K[G]\)), in the case of enveloping algebras by \(\ell\cdot x=\ell x - x\ell\) (\(\ell\in L\), \(x\in U(L)\) or \(u(L)\)). Letting \(H\) denote either \(K[G]\), \(U(L)\), or \(u(L)\), the main results show that the kernel, \(I\), of this representation satisfies \(I=(I\cap H_ \Delta)H=H(I\cap H_ \Delta)\). Here \(H_ \Delta \subseteq H\) is the group algebra of the f.c. center of \(G\) in case \(H=K[G]\), and \(H_ \Delta\) is the (restricted) enveloping algebra of the span of all finite-dimensional ideals of \(L\) in case \(H=U(L)\) (resp. \(u(L)\)). In particular, the adjoint representation is faithful (\(I=0\)) if \(H_ \Delta=K\). The converse is not true, as is shown via explicit calculations of \(I\) in a number of important special cases (e.g., symmetric groups, Frobenius groups). In general, however, the problem of determining exactly when \(I=0\) remains open.