Quiver varieties and the character ring of general linear groups over finite fields. (Q2375901)

Summary: Given a tuple \((\mathcal X_1,\ldots,\mathcal X_k)\) of irreducible characters of \(\text{GL}_n(\mathbb F_q)\) we define a star-shaped quiver \(\Gamma\) together with a dimension vector \(\mathbf v\). Assume that \((\mathcal X_1,\ldots,\mathcal X_k)\) is generic. Our first result is a formula which expresses the multiplicity of the trivial character in the tensor product \(\mathcal X_1\otimes\cdots\otimes\mathcal X_k\) as the trace of the action of some Weyl group on the intersection cohomology of some (non-affine) quiver varieties associated to \((\Gamma,\mathbf v)\). The existence of such a quiver variety is subject to some condition. Assuming that this condition is satisfied, we prove our second result: The multiplicity \(\langle\mathcal X_1\otimes\cdots\otimes\mathcal X_k,1\rangle\) is non-zero if and only if \(\mathbf v\) is a root of the Kac-Moody algebra associated with \(\Gamma\). This is somehow similar to the connection between Horn's problem and the representation theory of \(\text{GL}_n(\mathbb C)\) [\textit{A. Knutson}, Linear Algebra Appl. 319, No. 1-3, 61-81 (2000; Zbl 0981.15010)].