On character values of \(\operatorname{GL}_n(\mathbb{F}_q)\) (Q6862619)

The paper studies irreducible character values of \(\mathrm{GL}_n(\mathbb{F}_q)\) on unipotent conjugacy classes. Using vertex operator techniques, the authors realize the Grothendieck ring \(R_G=\bigoplus_{n\ge0}R(\mathrm{GL}_n(\mathbb{F}_q))\) as a Fock space and express character values as matrix coefficients of suitable vertex operators.\N\NThe main results are contained in Section~3. Theorem~3.1 gives an explicit expansion of certain symmetric functions \(q_n(Y_{f_1};q)\) in terms of power-sum and Schur bases indexed by \(\Phi^\ast\)-colored partitions. Building on commutation relations between Schur and Hall-Littlewood type vertex operators, the authors derive a Murnaghan-Nakayama rule for unipotent elements. This culminates in Theorem~3.9, which expresses \(\chi_{\tilde\lambda,\mu}(f_1)\) as a finite sum involving characters of lower rank general linear groups.\N\NAs applications, the paper recovers the Steinberg character values on unipotent classes and provides explicit formulas for hook-shaped partitions.