The algebras of semi-invariants of quivers (Q5927629)

A quiver \(Q\) is a finite, connected, oriented graph consisting of \(Q_0\), the set of vertices, \(Q_1\), the set of arrows, and maps \(t,h\colon Q_1\to Q_0\) assigning to an arrow its tail and head. Given a dimension vector \(\alpha\colon Q_0\to\mathbb{N}\), the affine space \(R(Q,\alpha)\) of representations of \((Q,\alpha)\) over the algebraically closed field \(K\) is defined as \(\bigoplus_{a\in Q_1}\Hom_K(K^{\alpha(t(a))},K^{\alpha(h(a))})\). The group \(\text{SL}(\alpha):=\prod_{v\in Q_0}\text{SL}(\alpha(v),K)\) acts on \(R(Q,\alpha)\) by conjugation, and \(S(Q,\alpha):=K[R(Q,\alpha)]^{\text{SL}(\alpha)}\) is called the ring of semi-invariants of \((Q,\alpha)\). Semi-invariants (relative invariants) of Dynkin or Euclidean quivers have an extensive literature [see e.g. \textit{C. M. Ringel}, Invent. Math. 58, 217-239 (1980; Zbl 0433.15009), \textit{D. Happel}, J. Algebra 86, 315-335 (1984; Zbl 0526.16020), \textit{S. Abeasis}, Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 282, 463-485 (1984; Zbl 0535.14007), \textit{K. Koike}, Adv. Math. 105, No. 2, 166-189 (1994; Zbl 0841.16015), \textit{R. Howe} and \textit{R. Huang}, Adv. Math. 118, No. 2, 295-336 (1996; Zbl 0852.15021), \textit{G. W. Schwartz} and \textit{D. L. Wehlau}, Ann. Inst. Fourier 48, No. 3, 667-697 (1998; Zbl 0899.20024)]. It is now a classical fact in representation theory that a quiver \(Q\) has finite or tame representation type if and only if \(Q\) is Dynkin or Euclidean, and \(Q\) has wild representation type otherwise. The main result of the paper under review is that the above dichotomy is reflected nicely by the algebras of semi-invariants. Namely, for a quiver \(Q\) the following conditions are equivalent: (i) \(Q\) is Dynkin or Euclidean; (ii) For each \(\alpha\) the algebra \(S(Q,\alpha)\) is a complete intersection; (iii) For each \(\alpha\) the algebra \(S(Q,\alpha)\) is either a polynomial algebra or a hypersurface. In the case when \(R(Q,\alpha)\) contains an open \(\text{GL}(\alpha)\)-orbit the algebra of semi-invariants was described by \textit{A. Schofield} [J. Lond. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 43, No. 2, 385-395 (1991; Zbl 0779.16005)]. In the course of the proof of their main result the authors give an explicit, uniform description of the semi-invariant algebras belonging to Euclidean quivers and dimension vectors \(\alpha\) with \(R(Q,\alpha)\) containing no open \(\text{GL}(\alpha)\)-orbit. This part of the paper has independent interest. Using a result from [\textit{V. G. Kac}, Invent. Math. 56, 57-92 (1980; Zbl 0427.17001)] about reflection functors the problem is reduced to particular orientations of the Euclidean graphs. The Littlewood-Richardson rules for representations of the general linear group are applied to get the result in characteristic zero. They are extended to positive characteristic by the theory of modules with good filtration.