Ordering Lusztig's families in type \(B_n\). (Q364704)

Let \(W\) be a finite Coxeter group and \(\text{Irr}(W)\) be the set of all complex irreducible representations of \(W\) (up to isomorphism). For a weight function \(L\) on \(W\) in the sense of \textit{G. Lusztig}, [Hecke algebras with unequal parameters. CRM Monograph Series 18. Providence: AMS (2003; Zbl 1051.20003)], one can attach to each \(E\in\text{Irr}(W)\) an invariant \(a_E\in\mathbb N\). These invariants are defined using the associated generic Iwahori-Hecke algebra; they are an essential ingredient in Lusztig's definition of the families of \(\text{Irr}(W)\). In [[2], Comment. Math. Helv. 87, No. 4, 905-927 (2012; Zbl 1264.20005)], the first author introduced a pre-order \(\preceq_L\) on \(\text{Irr}(W)\) which extends Lusztig's definition of families of \(\text{Irr}(W)\). In the present paper, the authors consider the case where \(W\) is the Weyl group of type \(B_n\), \(n\geqslant 2\), they give a combinatorial description for the pre-order \(\preceq_L\) in terms of bipartitions and symbols for any weight function \(L\) on \(W\). By combining this result with the known ones [in 2, loc. cit.], the authors obtain the following conclusion: For any finite Coxeter group \(W\) and any weight function \(L\) on it, let \(E,E'\in\text{Irr}(W)\) be such that \(E\preceq_L E'\). Then \(a_{E'}\leqslant a_E\), with equality if and only if \(E,E'\) belong to the same Lusztig family.