The separating variety for matrix semi-invariants (Q6173931)

For a linear algebraic of group \(G\) acting on an affine variety \(\mathcal{V},\) we denote the algebra of polynomial functions on \(\mathcal{V}\) as \(\Bbbk[\mathcal{V}]\) and the main object in invariant theory is the corresponding ring of invariants, \(\Bbbk[\mathcal{V}]^G.\) A separating set \(S\subseteq\Bbbk[\mathcal{V}]^G\) has the property that for all \(v,w\in\mathcal{V}:\) \(s(v)=s(w)\) for all \(s\in S\) if and only if \(f(v)=f(w)\) for all \(f\in \Bbbk[\mathcal{V}]^G.\) After being introduced in 2002, separating sets took quite attention since finding a generating set for \(\Bbbk[\mathcal{V}]^G\) might be infeasible. Let, \(M_{l,m}\) denote the \(l\times m\) matrices with entries in \(\Bbbk,\) and consider the diagonal action of \(G:=\mathrm{SL}_l(\Bbbk)\times \mathrm{SL}_m(\Bbbk)\) on \(M_{l,m}^n\) by \[ (g,h)\cdot\mathbf{A}=(gA_1h^{-1},gA_2h^{-1},\dotsc,gA_nh^{-1}) \] for \(\mathbf{A}=(A_1,\dotsc,A_n)\in M_{l,m}^n.\) In this paper, the author extends his previous work on matrix invariants and improve the lower bound for the size of a minimal separating set. In particular, the following results were obtained: \begin{itemize} \item (Theorem 1.12) For \(n\ge l,\) and \(m=1,\) any separating set of \(\Bbbk[\mathcal{V}]^G\) has size \(\ge (2l-2)n-2(l^2-l).\) \item (Theorem 1.13) For \(l=m=2\) any separating set of \(\Bbbk[\mathcal{V}]^G\) has size \(\ge 5n-9.\) \end{itemize} The lower bounds are obtained by examining the connectivity structure of the separating variety. Moreover, by the result of Theorem 1.13, it is revealed that there is no polynomial separating set for the invariant ring \(\mathbb{C}[M_{2,2}^4]^G\) which was not known before. In the last section, the author reviews the connection between representations of quivers and invariant theory, in particular, the celebrated Skowronski-Weyman theorem. Then, the author conjectures the similar result by using separating sets and the results obtained in this article.