The Steinberg quotient of a tilting character (Q2663102)

\par Let \(G\) be a simple, simply connected algebraic group over an algebraically closed field of prime characteristic \(p\) with maximal torus \(T\). Further, let \(G_1\) denote the first Frobenius kernel of \(G\), \(W\) the Weyl group, \(X\) the weight lattice, and \(X^+\) the dominant weights. Given \(\mu \in X^+\), let \(\Delta(\mu)\) be the Weyl module with highest weight \(\mu\) and \(T(\mu)\) be the indecomposable tilting module with highest weight \(\mu\). While the character of a Weyl module is given by Weyl's character formula, understanding the character of a simple module has long been a focal point in the study of modular representations for algebraic groups. Recent work in that direction has involved characters of tilting modules which is the focus of this paper. \par Let \(\lambda\) be a \(p\)-restricted weight and \(\rho\) denote the half-sum of the positive roots. Then \(T((p-1)\rho + \lambda)\) is projective upon restriction to the group \(G_1T\). As a result, its character is divisible (in the group ring of \(X\)) by the character of the Steinberg module \(\Delta((p-1)\rho)\). The \textit{Steinberg quotient} per the title is defined as \[ t(\lambda) := \operatorname{ch}T((p-1)\rho + \lambda)/\operatorname{ch}\Delta((p-1)\rho). \] \(t(\lambda)\) is invariant under \(W\) and may be expressed as an integral linear combination of orbit sums over the set of dominant weights: \[ t(\lambda) = \sum_{\mu \in X^+}b_{\mu}^{\lambda}s(\mu), \] where \(s(\mu)\) is the sum of basis elements corresponding to the \(W\)-orbit of \(\mu\). The first main result is a determination of those weights \(\mu\) for which \(b_{\mu}^{\lambda}\) is not zero (based on the \(\uparrow\)-relation among weights), as well as information on how \(b_{\mu}^{\lambda}\) and \(b_{\mu'}^{\lambda}\) are related for appropriately related \(\mu\) and \(\mu'\). This extends in a sense results for \(p \geq 2h - 2\) of \textit{J.-C. Ye} [Math. Z. 189, 515--527 (1985; Zbl 0561.20031)] and \textit{S. Doty and J. Sullivan} [Math. Z. 195, 391--407 (1987; Zbl 0601.20041)], where \(h\) denotes the Coxeter number of the associated root system. When \(p \geq 2h - 2\), it is known that \(T((p-1)\rho + \lambda)\) remains indecomposable over \(G_1T\). These earlier results solved an equivalent problem of determining the multiplicities of a simple \(G_1T\)-module in a composition series of a baby Verma module. \par The question of whether \(T((p-1)\rho + \lambda)\) is indecomposable over \(G_1T\) for small primes remains an open question, although the author and this reviewer with \textit{D. Nakano} and \textit{C. Pillen} [J. Reine Angew. Math. 767, 193--202 (2020; Zbl 1477.20080)] have shown that this is not true in general. As such, it is interesting that the character result proved here holds for all primes. With this connection in mind, the author also considers the analogously defined Steinberg quotient for a projective indecomposable \(G_1T\)-module and conjectures that analogous relationships should hold for the defining coefficients. Explicit examples are given in small rank groups for both types of Steinberg quotients, including an example where they differ. \par Lastly, the author considers the product \(t(\lambda)t(\mu)\) (modulo \(p\) in a sense) of two such Steinberg quotients and shows that it equals the character of a group of \(G_1\)-homomorphisms between tilting modules and is the character of a tilting module. An analogous result is shown to hold in the projective indecomposable setting.