On the Blocks of the Infinitesimal Schur Algebra (Q4949519)

Consider the general linear group \(G=\text{GL}(n,k)\) over a field \(k\) of characteristic \(p>0\) and the monoid scheme \(M\) of \(n\) by \(n\) matrices over \(k\). The rational representations of \(M\) are equivalent to the polynomial representations of \(G\). Further, the homogeneous polynomial representations of degree \(d\) are equivalent to the representations of the Schur algebra \(S(n,d)\). More generally, the representation theory of \(G\) has often been studied by considering the representation theory of the group scheme \(G_rT=(F^r)^{-1}(T)\) where \(F\) is the Frobenius morphism and \(T\) is a maximal torus in \(G\). These two ideas were combined in work of \textit{S. R. Doty, D. K. Nakano}, and \textit{K. M. Peters} [Proc. Lond. Math. Soc., III. Ser. 72, No. 3, 588-612 (1996; Zbl 0856.20025)] who considered the monoid scheme \(M_rD\) for the submonoid \(D\) of diagonal matrices. The relationship between \(M_rD\) and \(G_rT\) is analogous to that between \(M\) and \(G\). They study the polynomial representation theory of \(G_rT\) and are led to define certain infinitesimal Schur algebras \(S(n,d)_r\) which play a similar role. In later work of \textit{S. R. Doty, D. K. Nakano}, and \textit{K. M. Peters} [Contemp. Math. 194, 57-67 (1996; Zbl 0856.20026)], they determine the blocks of the algebras \(S(2,d)_1\). In the work under review, the author continues the investigation of the blocks of \(S(n,d)_r\). He formulates a general conjecture relating a block for \(S(n,d)_r\) to the corresponding block for \(G_rT\) extending the known result for \(S(2,d)_1\). One containment of the conjecture is proved in general and the reverse containment is shown to hold when \(n=2\) (and any \(r\)). The author then considers the quantum general linear group \(q\text{-GL}(n,k)\) introduced by \textit{R. Dipper} and \textit{S. Donkin} [Proc. Lond. Math. Soc., III. Ser. 63, No. 1, 165-211 (1991; Zbl 0734.20018)] and introduces the notion of a quantum Schur algebra. He develops some basic representation theory of these algebras as done for infinitesimal Schur algebras and once again identifies the blocks in the case \(n=2\).