A stratification of generic representation theory and generalized Schur algebras. (Q698065)

Let \({\mathbb F}_q\) be a finite field of order \(q = p^s\) for a prime \(p\). The paper is interested in the category \(\mathcal{F}({\mathbb F}_q)\) whose objects are functors from finite-dimensional \({\mathbb F}_q\)-vector spaces to \({\mathbb F}_q\)-vector spaces and morphisms are the natural transformations between such functors. In recent years, representation theory computations in this generic setting have led to a number of significant results in the modular representation theory of algebraic groups. In particular, there are strong connections with the representation theory of \(\text{GL}_n({\mathbb F}_q)\). Building on his previous work, particularly [J. Algebra 191, 212--227 (1997; Zbl 0882.20025) and Am. J. Math. 120, No. 6, 1317--1341 (1998; Zbl 0918.20035)], the author constructs an infinite lattice of localizing subcategories of \(\mathcal{F}({\mathbb F}_q)\). Contained within the lattice is the Eilenberg-MacLane polynomial degree filtration of interest in algebraic \(K\)-theory and (when \(q \geq r\)) the subcategory of strict polynomial functors of degree \(r\) introduced by \textit{E. M. Friedlander} and \textit{A. Suslin} [Invent. Math. 127, No. 2, 209--270 (1997; Zbl 0945.14028)]. This category of strict polynomial functors is equivalent to the category of modules over the Schur algebra \(S(n,r)\) with \(n \geq r\). The author further identifies certain subquotient categories as categories of modules over products of symmetric groups. These subquotient categories fit into recollement diagrams that extend the relationship between \(S(n,r)\)-modules and \(\Sigma_r\)-modules given by the Schur functor. This leads the author to define (and give examples of) certain generalized Schur algebras. The construction makes use of two techniques that may be of independent interest. The first is avoiding the need for base change by ``twisting'' by an action of the Galois group \(\text{Gal} ({\mathbb F}_q:{\mathbb F}_p)\). The second is the use of lax symmetric monoidal functors or ``functors with product''. One nice application of this work is a proof of a generalized Steinberg Tensor Product Theorem for simple modules which is free of algebraic group theory. Lastly, we note that the main results of this paper were stated in the author's survey article [in: Infinite length modules, Bielefeld 1998, Trends in Mathematics, 193--212 (2000; Zbl 0980.20033)].