Vector invariants in arbitrary characteristic (Q2463781)

Let \(H\) be a subgroup of \(GL_n(k)\), the group of \(n\times n\) invertible matrices over an algebraically closed field \(k\). Then \(H\) acts by left multiplication on \(M_{n,d}\), the space of \(n\times d\) matrices (this is the direct sum of \(d\) copies of the natural representation of \(H\) on \(k^n\)). By vector invariants of \(H\) the author means the algebra \(k[M_{n,d}]^H\) of polynomial invariants. For \(d\geq n\), denote by \(GL_d\star k[M_{n,n}]^H\) the algebra of polarized invariants. This is the subalgebra of \(k[M_{n,d}]^H\) generated by the \(GL_d\)-submodule of \(k[M_{n,d}]\) generated by \(k[M_{n,n}]^H\), where \(k[M_{n,n}]\) is identified with a subalgebra of \(k[M_{n,d}]\) in an obvious manner, and \(GL_d\) acts on \(M_{n,d}\) via right multiplication. An important theorem of H. Weyl asserts that in characteristic zero, one has the equality \(k[M_{n,d}]^H=GL_d\star k[M_{n,n}]^H\). This does not remain true when the characteristic of \(k\) is \(p>0\). However, the author clarifies the situation in this case by proving that \(k[M_{n,d}]^H\) is the \(p\)-root closure of \(GL_d\star k[M_{n,n}]^H\) (in fact, the paper proves a more general version dealing with \(M_{n,d}\times Z\), where \(Z\) is any affine \(H\)-variety). Moreover, for a saturated subgroup \(H\) of \(GL_n\), the author gives a necessary and sufficient condition for the equality \(k[M_{n,d}]^H=GL_d\star k[M_{n,n}]^H\) in terms of modules with good filtration. Applications are given for finite groups, and characteristic free first fundamental theorems for vector invariants of classical groups are reproved.