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Questions tagged [classical-groups]

The classical groups are the general and special linear groups over the reals, the complex numbers and the quaternions, together with the automorphism groups of certain non-degenerate forms. These are symmetric or skew-symmetric bilinear forms over the reals or the complex numbers, hermitian forms over the complex numbers or the quaternions and skew-hermitian forms over the quaternions.

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Showing that the classical groups are topological manifolds [duplicate]

I took a course in differential geometry last semester and I think I understood the basic theory of differential manifolds, but I recently read basic notions about topological manifolds and I’m trying ...
Olivier Grudé's user avatar
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Finding generators of Aschbacher subgroups

Aschbacher famously showed that the maximal subgroups of the finite classical groups can be split into various categories. How does one find explicit generators for these groups, when the field is ...
NewViewsMath's user avatar
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Locating the maximal subgroups when the character table is known

The character table for many families of classical groups, such as $SL_3(q)$, are known. The maximal subgroups are also had for many of the classical groups, found according to their Aschbacher ...
NewViewsMath's user avatar
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1 answer
42 views

Matrices respecting the quaternionic inner product are symplectic and unitary

I am trying to prove that the group of matrices respecting the inner product in $\mathbb{H}^n$ can be realized as the symplectic unitary matrices $\text{Sp}(2n, \mathbb{C}) \cap \text{U}(2n, \mathbb{C}...
sotto_pover_cielo's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
53 views

Derived subgroup of finite symplectic groups

Let $G=\text{Sp}_{2n}(q)$ be a symplectic group, where $q$ is a prime-power. Is it true that $G'=G$? This isn't true in a few small cases, e.g. $\text{Sp}_4(2)\cong S_6$. I think we can use Aschbacher'...
Yuqiao Huang's user avatar
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1 answer
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Block Embeddings of Classical Groups Inducing Embeddings of Symmetric Spaces

Families of certain classical groups induce families of (irreducible) symmetric spaces. Let $(G_r)_r$ be such a family of classical groups, e.g. $G_r=\mathrm{Sp}_{2r}(\mathbb{R})$ and let $\iota_r:G_r\...
kringelton4000's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
142 views

Show Sp(1) is the same as SU(2)

I'm reading John Stillwell's Naive Lie Theory but got stuck at a result in section 3.4 when he began introducing the symplectic groups. He defined the symplectic groups as the following: On the space $...
Chris's user avatar
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Involutions in PCO

In the algebraic group $G=\operatorname {PCO}(4,K)$ where $K$ is an algebraically closed field of an odd characteristic, how many different classes of involutions are there in $G \setminus \...
scsnm's user avatar
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2 votes
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Fundmental groups of matrix groups and covering relation between them [closed]

I am self studying algebraic topology, the fundamental groups and covering spaces and homologous groups. I have read the topological properties of classical matrix groups like connectedness, path ...
KAK's user avatar
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maximal subgroup of the general linear group

Maybe I'm being silly. As algebraic groups over an algebraically closed field $K$ of characteristic not $2$, is the conformal orthogonal group $CO_{2n}$ a maximal subgroup of $GL_{2n}$(or $CO_{2n+1}$ ...
scsnm's user avatar
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An explicit isomorphism between $\mathbb{R}^+ \times {\rm Spin}^c(3,1)$ and ${\rm GL}^+(2,\mathbb{R})\times {\rm GL}^+(2,\mathbb{R})$? [closed]

I am interested in the following isomorphism $$ \begin{align} \mathbb{R}^+\times {\rm Spin}^c(3,1)& \cong \mathbb{R}^+\times {\rm Spin}(3,1) \times {\rm U}(1) \tag{1}\\ &\cong \mathbb{C}^+\...
Anon21's user avatar
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Choice of generators to make the centralisers connected

In $G=\operatorname{PGL}_{2n}(\textbf{C})$, WLG, we assume all the toral elementary abelian 2-subgroups in discussion are in $T$, the image in $G$ of the group of diagonal matrices in $\operatorname{...
scsnm's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
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Transitive and Imprimitive group action with certain orbit lengths

I am reading the book of D.E.Taylor the Geometry of Classical Groups and it is asked that: Let $G$ act transitively on a set $\Omega$ of size $n$ and that $Stab_{G}(\omega)$ has orbits of lengths $1$, ...
Q.E.D's user avatar
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2 answers
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Stabiliser group [closed]

Let $G=\operatorname{Sp}_{2r}(2)$. There are two orbits of $G$ on the natural $G$-set, one having the identity, the other having all the remaining elements. What is the subgroup of $G$ that stabilizes ...
scsnm's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
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Conjugate subgroups by permutation matrices

Is the following statement true or false? In $G=\operatorname{GL}_{n}(\textbf{C})$, two elementary abelian $2$-subgroups $X$ and $Y$ of $G$ whose generators are all diagonal matrices are conjugate if ...
scsnm's user avatar
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Intersection of identity components

Let $e_{1}$ and $e_{2}$ be involutions in the algebraic group $G=\operatorname{PGL}_{n}(\mathbb{C})$. Do we have $$C_{G}(\langle e_{1},e_{2}\rangle)^{\circ} = C_{G}(e_{1})^{\circ}\cap C_{G}(e_{2})^{\...
scsnm's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
160 views

What is the Order Of Symplectic Group(4,2) and Symplectic Group(4,3) from the Classical groups of Atlas?

I have been working on Symplectic group of classical groups. I am trying to find Sylow-2 Subgroups of Symplectic Group(4,2) and Symplectic Grouop(4,3) through GAP, I am facing a problem regarding ...
Nimra Moqaddas's user avatar
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$N/C$ contains $\operatorname{GL}_{2}(2)$

In $G = \operatorname{PGL}_{4}(\mathbb{C})$, a subgroup $E = <a,b,c,d>$ where $$a =\Delta (\begin{pmatrix} 1 & 0\\ 0 & -1 \end{pmatrix})_{2}, b =\Delta (\begin{pmatrix} 0 & 1\\ 1 &...
scsnm's user avatar
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intersection of point stabilisers is trivial

Let $G=\operatorname{GL}_{n}(2)$. Let $v_{i}$ be the basis elements of the natural module of $G$. I observed by computing with Magma that the intersection of all Stabiliser($G, v_{i}$) is trivial for ...
scsnm's user avatar
  • 1,321
2 votes
1 answer
163 views

Linear group contained in symplectic group

Do we have SL$(n,2) \leqslant$ Sp$(2n, 2)$? And better yet, $\operatorname{SL}(n,q) \leqslant$ Sp$(2n, q)$ or $\operatorname{GL}(n,q) \leqslant$ Sp$(2n, q)$? I checked using Magma for small degrees ...
scsnm's user avatar
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1 vote
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Matrix group inclusion

It is true that $Sp_{2}(2)$ is a subgroup of the matrix group $\begin{pmatrix} Sp_2(2) & 0\\ *_{1\times 2} & 1\\ \end{pmatrix}$ where $*_{1\times2}$ denotes a $1\times 2$ matrix with ...
scsnm's user avatar
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1 vote
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Construction of $SL(2,5)^4$ in a maximal subgroup in Magma

There is a Class $2$ maximal subgroup $SL(2,5)^{4}.4^{3}.S_{4}$ (denoted by $MM_2$ in the following code) in $PGL(8,5)$. I am trying to locate the $SL(2,5)^4$ part in Magma. But after I constructed ...
scsnm's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
79 views

construct the normaliser of a subgroup and then construct the subgroup

There is a maximal nontoral (not contained in a conjugate of a fixed maximal torus) elementary abelian $2$-subgroup of rank 6 in $G = PGL(8,7)$. I denote this group by $A$. Its normaliser $N_{G}(A)$ ...
scsnm's user avatar
  • 1,321
1 vote
1 answer
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split maximal torus construction

In PGL(n,q) there is a split maximal torus T of order $(q-1)^{n-1}$. How to construct this in Magma? Let's use the example of $PGL(4,11)$. I took a detour to construct it: ...
scsnm's user avatar
  • 1,321
3 votes
1 answer
55 views

inclusion among finite symplectic groups

This might be a silly question, but do we have the following? $Sp(2,q) < Sp(4,q) < Sp(6,q) < Sp(8,q) <....$ I checked the list of maximal subgroups of $Sp(n,q)$ for $n = 4,6,8,10,12$ and ...
scsnm's user avatar
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representatives of conjugacy classes of involutions

I'm aware that the representatives of conjugacy classes of involutions of $G = PGL(4,\mathbb{C})$ which have a conjugate in a fixed maximal torus of $G$ are $\begin{bmatrix} -1 & 0 & 0\\ 0 &...
scsnm's user avatar
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6 votes
2 answers
318 views

Explicit matrices $h_\alpha$ that correspond to the long roots $\alpha$ in a classical compact simple Lie algebra over the reals

While it is easy to find many sources that give expressions for the (co)roots of an abstract root system, it is less easy to find a reference that gives explicit matrices that are the "coroots&...
theHigherGeometer's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
121 views

Automorphism group of $\text{GL}(n,\mathbb{F}_q)$

In the book On the Automorphisms of the Classical Groups, J. Dieudonné the author describes all the automorphisms of $\text{GL}(n,\mathbb{F}_q)$, but I couldn't find a description of the automorphism ...
user300's user avatar
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1 vote
0 answers
158 views

Uniqueness of maximal compact group

I'm studying the maximal compact subgroups of $PSL(2,\mathbb C)$. According to Wikipedia, "The Cartan-Iwasawa-Malcev theorem asserts that every connected Lie group (and indeed every connected ...
Mjr's user avatar
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0 answers
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Is $\mathbb{C}^{n}$ an irreducible representation of $O(n, \mathbb{C})$?

I am trying to prove that $\mathbb{C}^{n}$ is an irreducible representation of $O(n, \mathbb{C}) = \left\{ A \in GL(n) | A^{t}A = Id \right\}$. I presume the action is defined in the standard way, i.e....
cip's user avatar
  • 1,137
4 votes
1 answer
112 views

Classification of Continuous Group Homs from Circle to $SL_2(\mathbb{R})$

Problem. Classify all continuous group homomorphisms $f:\mathbb{S}^1\to SL_2(\mathbb{R})$. Attempt 1. My initial thought was to look at the induced Lie algebra map $df:\mathbb{R}\to \mathfrak{sl}_2$. ...
user676464327's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
48 views

Generation of $SU(n,q^2)$ by subgroups isomorphic to $SU(2,q^2)$

Throughout, let $q$ be an odd prime power. Let $GF(q^2)$ be the field with $q^2$ elements. My question concerns the generation of the special unitary group $SU(n,q^2)$, where $n \ge 2$, by certain ...
math112358's user avatar
20 votes
1 answer
408 views

Does $SL_2(K) \simeq SL_2(L)$ imply $K\simeq L$?

Let $K$ and $L$ be two fields. Assume characteristics are not 2. I can show in a quite elementary way that if the statement $SL_2(K) \simeq SL_2(L) \implies K \simeq L$ holds, then for $n \geq 2$, the ...
Ali Nesin's user avatar
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1 answer
569 views

Results on Maximal subgroups of $\text{GL}(n,q)$

Consider, $\text{GL}(n,q)$, which is the group of $n\times n$ invertible matrices with entries from the finite fields $\mathbb{F}_q$, with $q$ elements.(We know $q$ is a prime-power). My question is ...
Riju's user avatar
  • 4,175
4 votes
1 answer
104 views

$K/k$ Galois with group $\mathfrak{g}$, $V_{K} \cong V_{k} \otimes K$. Then, $V_{k}$ consists of elements of $V_{K}$ invariant under $\mathfrak{g}$.

I have been asked to read "Andre A. Weil. Algebras with involutions and the classical groups. J. Indian Math. Soc.(N.S.) 24 (1960), 589–623" as part of a project, and I am encountering some ...
P-addict's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
173 views

Maximal subgroups of ${\rm PSL}(2,8)$ [duplicate]

I’m reading a note on the subgroup structure of classical subgroups. According to Corollary 2.2 (d), since $8=2^3$ is a prime power of even number $2$, ${\rm PSL}(2,8)$ has a maximal subgroup ${\rm ...
user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
44 views

Is $GL_{n}(\Bbb{C})$ isomorphism to a subspace of $GL_{2n}(\Bbb{R})$

A problem in the Algebra by Artin. Is $GL_n(\Bbb{C})$ isomorphism to a subspace of $GL_{2n}(\Bbb{R})$ I think there is an isomorphism. Because I know that when $n=1$, $$\{A\mid A=\left(\begin{matrix}...
fractal's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
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Is a certain square root of $-1$ an element of $\Omega_{4l}^+(q)$?

Let $F$ be a finite field of order a power $p^r$ of some odd prime $p$ for some positive integer $r$, and $c$ a the generator of $F^{\times}$ , is $$\begin{pmatrix} 0 & A_{2l\times 2l}\\ B_{2l\...
Yi Wang's user avatar
  • 541
2 votes
0 answers
114 views

Confusion over spin representation and coordinate ring of maximal orthogonal Grassmannian

I'm working over $\mathbb{C}$ here. If we let $G=\mathrm{SO}(2n+1)$ be the odd orthogonal group, and $P$ be the maximal parabolic corresponding to the $1$st node in the Type $B_n$ Dynkin diagram (...
Sam Hopkins's user avatar
4 votes
0 answers
547 views

Understanding Conjugacy classes of the Unitary group over finite fields

Consider the General linear group $GL(n,q)$ over the finite field $\mathbb{F}_q$ of $q$ elements. The unitary group $U(n,q)$ is described as a subgroup of $GL(n,q^2)$ which is the set of linear maps ...
Riju's user avatar
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2 votes
0 answers
48 views

Intersection of isometric subspaces in a space over a finite field

Suppose $V$ is a symplectic, unitary, or orthogonal space over a finite field $\mathbb{F}_q$ of characteristic $p$. Suppose $H\subseteq U\subseteq W$ is a chain of subspaces of $V$, where $\dim U=\...
Zeyu's user avatar
  • 687
4 votes
1 answer
271 views

Is $PGL(n,\Bbb{R}) \cong SL(n+1, \Bbb{R})$ for even n?

Is the following claim correct? Claim: If n is even, $PGL(n,\Bbb{R}) \cong SL(n+1, \Bbb{R})$. Proof: Recall $PGL(n,\Bbb{R}) \cong GL(n+1, \Bbb{R})/Z$, where $Z = \{M | M=\alpha I, \alpha \in \Bbb{...
roymend's user avatar
  • 456
3 votes
1 answer
227 views

Transitivity of $\Omega$ in subspace actions

Let $G=O(V, Q)$ be a finite orthogonal group acting naturally on a space $V\cong \mathbb{F}_q^n$ equipped with a quadratic form $Q$. Assume $n=\dim V\geq c$ for some large enough constant $c$ in order ...
Zeyu's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
73 views

Reference request: structure of stabilisers of totally isotropic subspaces in orthogonal (and unitary) groups

I am looking for a book or paper which covers the structure of stabilisers in $GO(n,F)$, $SO(n,F)$ (or maybe in $\Omega(n,F)$) of totally isotropic subspaces of dimension $k$. Can you please suggest ...
kissanpentu's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
96 views

Sylow subgroup of a subgroup 5

I am aiming for looking for all the Sylow subgroups of classical groups, which gives me a seemingly elementary question: what can we say about Sylow subgroups of a subgroup if we know all Sylow ...
Marcos G Neil's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
129 views

Does $\text{SU}(1,1)$ act transitively on $\mathbb S^1=\{z\in\mathbb C\mid |z|=1\}$?

Let $\text{SU}(1,1)=\left\{\left[ \begin{array}{ccc} \alpha & \beta \\\overline\beta & \overline\alpha \end{array} \right]\mid \alpha,\beta\in \mathbb C,|\alpha|^2-|\beta|^2=1\right\}$ and $\...
cqfd's user avatar
  • 12.7k
2 votes
1 answer
641 views

Discovering $\pi_1(SO(3))$

One can use the double covering of $\text {SO}(3)$ by $\text {SU}(2)$ to compute the fundamental group of $\text {SO}(3)$. I’d like to travel in the opposite direction, using the definition of $\...
Jyotirmoy Bhattacharya's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
53 views

How to determine if two algebra automorphisms of $M_n(\mathbb{R})$ are similar?

Given two algebra automorphisms $\phi, \psi: M_n(\mathbb{R}) \to M_n(\mathbb{R})$ of the real algebra $M_n(\mathbb{R})$, we say they are similar if there exists an algebra automorphism $\alpha: M_n(\...
CoffeeRex's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
278 views

Hall subgroups of $\mathrm{PSL}$

The following is an exercise in Peter Cameron's notes on classical groups. Exercise 2.10 (a) Show that $\mathrm{PSL}(2,5)$ fails to have a Hall subgroup of some admissible order. (b) Show that $\...
Groups's user avatar
  • 2,886
1 vote
1 answer
538 views

Notions of Fundamental Groups for semisimple algebraic groups

Let $G$ be a connected, semisimple linear algebraic group over a field $k$. In Springer's Linear Algebraic group, the Fundamental Group of $G$ is defined by a certain quotient of groups $P/Q$, which ...
Estus's user avatar
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