Inverse systems and regular representations (Q555973)

From the author's introduction: Let \(R=k[y_1,\dots,y_n]\) be the polynomial ring in \(n\) variables over a field \(k\) of characteristic zero. For any polynomial \(r\in R\) let \({\mathcal L}_\partial(r)\) be the \(k\)-linear subspace of \(R\) spanned by \(r\) and its partial derivations of all orders. Similarly, for a collection \(r_1,\dots,r_m\) of polynomials, we let \({\mathcal L}_\partial(r_1,\dots,r_m)\) be the \(k\)-linear subspace spanned by the \(r_i\)'s and all their partial derivatives of all orders. Suppose that a finite group \(G\) acts faithfully by homogeneous linear substitutions on \(R\). If \(r_1,\dots,r_m\) are a collection of polynomials in \(R\) such that the space they span is stable under the action of \(G\), then the same is true for \({\mathcal L}_\partial(r_1,\dots,r_m)\). The basic question is to connect the \(G\)-representation that arises to properties of the initial polynomials \(r_1,\dots,r_m\) generating the subspace. Let \(V\) be the \(k\)-vector space spanned by \(y_1,\dots,y_n\), i.e., the ring \(R\) in degree 1. By hypothesis, \(G\) acts linearly on \(V\). Call an element \(r\) of \(R\) a \(G\)-alternant if \(g\cdot r=\det_g(V^*)r\) for all \(g\in G\). Suppose that \(V\) is a pseudo-reflection representation (Section 2.1) of \(G\), and \(r=\Delta_G\) is the product of the reflection vectors, each raised to the power one less than their order. Then \(r\) is a \(G\)-alternant and it follows from [\textit{R. Steinberg}, Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 112, 392-400 (1964; Zbl 0196.39202)] that \({\mathcal L}_\partial(r)\) is the regular representation of \(G\). More generally, \textit{F. Bergeron, A. Garsia} and \textit{G. Tesler} [J. Comb. Theory, Ser. A 91, No. 1-2, 49-83 (2000; Zbl 0963.05135), Theorem 3] proved that if \(V\) is a pseudo-reflection representation of \(G\) and \(r\) is any \(G\)-alternant, then \({\mathcal L}_\partial(r)\) is a sum of copies of the regular representation of \(G\). The main result of this note is Theorem: Suppose that \(V\) is a pseudo-reflection representation of \(G\). Then \({\mathcal L}_\partial(r_1,\dots,r_m)\) is a direct sum of copies of the regular representation of \(G\) if and only if \({\mathcal L}_\partial(r_1,\dots,r_m)\) can be generated by \(G\)-alternants.