Laplacian algebras, manifold submetries and the inverse invariant theory problem (Q776886)

This work contributes to the inverse invariant theory problem. That is to say, the problem of characterizing those subalgebras \(A\) of the polynomial algebra \(k[V]\) which consist of the invariant polynomials of some representation of a group \(\Gamma\) on \(V\). First, a correspondence is given between spherical submetries \(\sigma : \mathbb{S}(V) \to X\) and maximal Laplacian subalgebras of \(\mathbb{R}[V]\). A submetry generalizes the notion of a submersion for a map defined on a smooth Riemannian manifold \(M\) which takes values in a metric space \(X\). Using this result, the authors give a solution to the inverse invariant theory problem in characteristic zero and of a finite group \(\Gamma\). (As far as finite groups are concerned, there exist solutions in the literature for non-zero characteristic.) Moreover, they conjecture that every Laplacian subalgebra is maximal.