Introduction to complex reflection groups and their braid groups. (Q2655275)

Exciting research has been done in complex reflection groups and their braid groups. The author of this book provides an extensive survey of the established results and of the progress made recently. The emphasis lies on definitions and theorems, sometimes Theorem-Definition (as on page 62), while the proofs are concise or omitted. Occasionally the reader is asked to provide a proof. The survey opens with definition and manipulations of reflections, the most fundamental topic. Soon the Shephard-Todd classification of complex reflection groups appears. The most colorful part of the theory, Coxeter and Artin-like presentations concludes the narrative with long and illustrative tables in the appendix. Let \(V\) be a vector space over a field \(F\) and let \(V^*\) be the dual of \(V\). Suppose \(r=(v,v^*)\in V\times V^*\) with \(\langle v^*,v\rangle\neq 0,1\). The endomorphism \(s_r\) of \(V\) where \(s_r(x)=x-\langle v^*,x\rangle v\) is called a reflection in \(V\). The story develops fast with Krull dimension, Hilbert's Nullstellensatz, Koszul Complex, the Hilbert-Serre Theorem, Nakayama's Lemma, the Chevalley Theorem all listed under the prerequisites. The next chapter deals with polynomial invariants of finite linear groups. Some of the topics in this chapter are: linear groups on symmetric algebras, coinvariant algebra and harmonic polynomials, graded character. Chapter 4 is called ``Finite Reflection Groups in Characteristic Zero''. Here the braid group, the pure braid group, and braid reflections are defined. The braid group is generated by braid reflections. Referring to the appendix diagrams are introduced and also the associated braid diagrams. The topics in Chapter 5 are eigenspaces and regular elements. The book contains a list of the most important publications in the field, a brief list of some symbols and a short index.