On the equations defining affine algebraic groups (Q903174)

Consider a connected reductive algebraic group \(G\) over an algebraically closed field \(k\). The main result of the paper is a canonical presentation of the coordinate algebra \(k[G]\). To be precise, fix opposite Borel subgroups \(B^\pm \subset G\) with unipotent radicals \(U^\pm\). Define \(\mathcal{S}^\pm\) to be the subalgebras of \(k[G]\) consisting of \(U^\pm\)-invariant regular functions under right translation. Multiplication gives a natural homomorphism \(\mu: \mathcal{S}^+ \otimes_k \mathcal{S}^- \to k[G]\). It is shown that \(\mu\) is surjective and that \(\mathrm{ker}(\mu)\) is generated by \((\mathrm{ker}(\mu))^G\). Thus we are led to the following problems: (a) find canonical generators of \((\mathrm{ker}(\mu))^G\); (b) present \(\mathcal{S}^+\) by generators and relations. It turns out that the answer of (a) is given by the so-called relations of \(\mathrm{SL}_2\)-type, whereas (b) is given by certain quadratic relations called of Plücker type. There is an interesting analogy with the case of abelian varieties, which are presented as intersections of quadrics in some \(\mathbb{P}^N\) by the Riemann equations. It would also be interesting to explore the case of affine \(G \times G\)-equivariant embeddings \(G \hookrightarrow \bar{G}\).