Distance regularity in buildings and structure constants in Hecke algebras (Q527777)

The authors introduce and study generalised spheres \(F(A,J,w)\) in a locally finite, regular building \(X\) of type \((W,S)\). The centre \(A\) of \(F(A,J,w)\) is a simplex in \(X\) of cotype \(I\subseteq S\) and the sphere consists of all simplices of cotype \(J\subseteq S\) that are of extended Weyl-distance \(w\) from \(A\) where \(w\in W\) is \((I,J)\)-reduced. The cardinalities of generalised spheres and intersections of two of them are determined in case the cotypes involved are spherical subsets of \(S\), yielding a kind of distance regularity for \(X\). In order to obtain their general formula for intersection numbers, the notion of pointed pregalleries in a Coxeter complex is introduced which is motivated by alcove walks in affine Hecke algebras. The authors then investigate generalised Hecke operators and the Hecke algebras \(\mathcal{A}(I,I)\) spanned by them. These algebras are analogues of Bose-Mesner algebras of distance regular graphs. The case \(I=\emptyset\) yields the Iwahori-Hecke algebra \(\mathcal{H}\), and it is shown that \(\mathcal{A}(I,I)\) is isomorphic to a parabolic Hecke algebra \(\mathbf{1}_I \mathcal{H}\,\mathbf{1}_I\) where \(\mathbf{1}_I= \sum_{w\in W_I} T_w\) and the \(T_w\), \(w\in W\), form the canonical basis of \(\mathcal{H}\). Parabolic Hecke algebras have been classified by the authors [ibid. 385, 115--133 (2013; Zbl 1339.20004)]. The paper finishes with some applications including that the structure constants in parabolic Hecke algebras with respect to a certain basis are non-negative, a complete determination when a parabolic Hecke algebra \(\mathcal{A}(I,I)\) is commutative, a combinatorial formula for cardinalities of double cosets in groups with BN-pairs, and a formula for \(n\)-step transition probabilities for certain isotropic random walks on \(X\).