Relating polynomial GL (n)-representations in different degrees (Q4779991)

Let \(G=\text{GL}(n,k)\) be the general linear group over an infinite field \(k\). The category of homogeneous polynomial representations of degree \(r\) of \(G\) is equivalent to the representations of the Schur algebra \(S(n,r)\). Over a field of prime characteristic, a fundamental open problem remains to completely determine the decomposition matrices for the Schur algebras. In previous work of \textit{A. Henke} [Young modules and Schur subalgebras, Ph. D. Thesis, Linacre College, University of Oxford, Trinity (1999), J. Algebra 233, No. 1, 342-362 (2000; Zbl 0979.20016)], she found that over a field of prime characteristic \(p\) the decomposition matrix for \(S(2,r)\) could be embedded in the decomposition matrix for \(S(2,r+x)\) where \(x\) is a multiple of a sufficiently large power of \(p\). The work under consideration here is a generalization of this to arbitrary \(n\). The main theorem, obtained in part using Green's multiplication formula for elements in a Schur algebra, is an algebra isomorphism between certain ``generalized'' Schur algebras of degree \(r\) and degree \(r+ap^d\) for natural numbers \(a\) and \(d\) with \(d\) sufficiently large. As an immediate consequence one obtains certain embeddings of decomposition and Cartan matrices for Schur algebras. Further applications are then given to the representation theory of the finite symmetric group \(\Sigma_r\). In particular, the main theorem can be translated to an isomorphism between quotients of the group algebras of symmetric groups in different degrees allowing one to relate representations over these symmetric groups. The authors note, as observed by Anton Cox, that their main theorem (Theorem 3.3) can be obtained from work of \textit{P. Martin} and \textit{D. Woodcock} [J. Algebra 203, No. 1, 91-124 (1998; Zbl 0923.20009)].