The Okounkov-Vershik approach to the representation theory of \(G\sim S_n\) (Q345142)

The Okounkov-Vershik approach to the representation theory of a finite group relies on a chain of subgroups for which restrictions of representations are multiplicity-free. In the case of the symmetric group, \textit{A. Okounkov} and \textit{A. Vershik} [Sel. Math., New Ser. 2, No. 4, 581--605 (1996; Zbl 0959.20014)] used this approach to describe the representations of the symmetric group in terms of the spectra of the actions of Young-Jucys-Murphy elements. \textit{I. A. Pushkarev} [J. Math. Sci., New York 96, No. 5, 3590--3599 (1999); translation from Zap. Nauchn. Semin. POMI 240, 229--244 (1997; Zbl 0959.20015)] gave the first development of this theory for the wreath product \(G \wr S_{n}\). The present paper gives a fuller explication of the application of this theory to the representations of wreath products, with some refinements. These include a stronger emphasis on the Gelfand-Tsetlin subspaces, the irreducibles for the group at the bottom of the multiplicity-free chain. The paper also includes an examination of the ``generalized Johnson scheme'' of \textit{T. Ceccherini-Silberstein} et al. [Adv. Math. 206, No. 2, 503--537 (2006; Zbl 1106.43006)], a particular permutation module of \(G \wr S_{n}\), and give an explicit algorithm for decomposing this module into Gelfand-Tsetlin subspaces.