The \(H\)-polynomial of an irreducible representation. (Q645247)

Associated with the finite-dimensional rational representation \(\rho\colon G\to\text{End}(V)\) of a simple algebraic group \(G\) over an algebraically closed field \(K\) there is the monoid \(M_\rho:=\overline{K^*\rho(G)}\subseteq\text{End}(V)\) and projective \(G\times G\)-embedding \(\mathbb P_\rho=[M_\rho\setminus\{0\}]/K^*\). One can identify the cases where \(\mathbb P_\rho\) is rationally smooth; and in such cases it is desirable to calculate the \(H\)-polynomial \(H\) of \(\mathbb P_\rho\). The author considers the situation where \(\rho\) is irreducible and then determines \(H\) explicitly in terms of combinatorial invariants of \(\rho\). Indeed, there is a canonical cellular decomposition for \(\mathbb P_\rho\). These cells are defined in terms of idempotents, \(B\times B\)-orbits and other natural quantities obtained from \(M_\rho\). Furthermore, \(H\) is obtained by recording the dimension of each of these cells in terms of the descent system of \(M_\rho\). As a special case the article reacquires the well-known formula for the Poincaré polynomial of a ``wonderful embedding'' of a simple algebraic group of adjoint type. This article can be regarded as a continuation of the author's article [J. Algebra 319, No. 1, 360-376 (2008; Zbl 1142.20045)].