Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras

Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras

Gautam Gopal Krishnan

Rutgers University

October 31, 2022

Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras
Motivating example

  
a b
GL2 (C) = : a, b, c, d ∈ C, ad − bc 6= 0
c d
Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras
Motivating example

  
a b
GL2 (C) = : a, b, c, d ∈ C, ad − bc 6= 0
c d
  
a b
SL2 (C) = : a, b, c, d ∈ C, ad − bc = 1
c d
Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras
Motivating example

  
a b
GL2 (C) = : a, b, c, d ∈ C, ad − bc 6= 0
c d
  
a b
SL2 (C) = : a, b, c, d ∈ C, ad − bc = 1
c d
  
a b
sl2 (C) = : a, b, c, d ∈ C, a + d = 0
c d
Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras
Motivating example

  
a b
GL2 (C) = : a, b, c, d ∈ C, ad − bc 6= 0
c d
  
a b
SL2 (C) = : a, b, c, d ∈ C, ad − bc = 1
c d
  
a b
sl2 (C) = : a, b, c, d ∈ C, a + d = 0
c d
Consider the conjugation action of GL2 (C) on sl2 (C).
Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras
Motivating example

  
a b
GL2 (C) = : a, b, c, d ∈ C, ad − bc 6= 0
c d
  
a b
SL2 (C) = : a, b, c, d ∈ C, ad − bc = 1
c d
  
a b
sl2 (C) = : a, b, c, d ∈ C, a + d = 0
c d
Consider the conjugation action of GL2 (C) on sl2 (C).
Lemma
   
0 1 λ 0
Any X ∈ sl2 (C) is similar to either or for
0 0 0 −λ
some λ ∈ C.
Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras
Motivating example

  
a b
GL2 (C) = : a, b, c, d ∈ C, ad − bc 6= 0
c d
  
a b
SL2 (C) = : a, b, c, d ∈ C, ad − bc = 1
c d
  
a b
sl2 (C) = : a, b, c, d ∈ C, a + d = 0
c d
Consider the conjugation action of GL2 (C) on sl2 (C).
Lemma
   
0 1 λ 0
Any X ∈ sl2 (C) is similar to either or for
0 0 0 −λ
some λ ∈ C.
The proof follows from the Jordan normal forms of X .
Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras
Motivating example

 
0 1
is nilpotent.
0 0
Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras
Motivating example

 
0 1
is nilpotent.
0 0
 
λ 0
is semisimple.
0 −λ
Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras
Motivating example

 
0 1
is nilpotent.
0 0
 
λ 0
is semisimple.
0 −λ

Definition
Let V be a finite-dimensional complex vector space and let
X ∈ End(V ).
X is nilpotent if X r = 0 for some r > 0.
X is semisimple if X is diagonalizable.
Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras
Motivating example

 
0 1
is nilpotent.
0 0
 
λ 0
is semisimple.
0 −λ

Definition
Let V be a finite-dimensional complex vector space and let
X ∈ End(V ).
X is nilpotent if X r = 0 for some r > 0.
X is semisimple if X is diagonalizable.

For sl2 (C), the lemma gives a complete description of

conjugacy classes of nilpotent and semisimple elements.
Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras
Motivating example

PSL2 (C) = SL2 (C)/Z where Z = {I, −I} is the center of

SL2 (C).
Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras
Motivating example

PSL2 (C) = SL2 (C)/Z where Z = {I, −I} is the center of

SL2 (C).
GL2 (C), SL2 (C) and PSL2 (C)-conjugacy classes of sl2 (C)
   −1
−1 √ A √ A
coincide because AXA = X .
det(A) det(A)
Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras
Motivating example

PSL2 (C) = SL2 (C)/Z where Z = {I, −I} is the center of

SL2 (C).
GL2 (C), SL2 (C) and PSL2 (C)-conjugacy classes of sl2 (C)
   −1
−1 √ A √ A
coincide because AXA = X .
det(A) det(A)

More generally, the conjugacy classes of sln (C) under the

actions of GLn (C), SLn (C)p
and PSLn (C) coincide, which
can be seen by replacing det(A) by nth root of det(A).
Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras
Type A

sln (C) is the set of n × n matrices with trace 0.

Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras
Type A

sln (C) is the set of n × n matrices with trace 0.

PSLn (C) is the adjoint group given by SLn (C)/Z where Z
is the center of SLn (C).
Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras
Type A

sln (C) is the set of n × n matrices with trace 0.

PSLn (C) is the adjoint group given by SLn (C)/Z where Z
is the center of SLn (C).
Let G be any connected semisimple Lie group with Lie
algebra g. Then the adjoint group Gad (defined by Aut(g)o )
is isomorphic to G/Z where Z is the (finite) center of G.
Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras
Type A

sln (C) is the set of n × n matrices with trace 0.

PSLn (C) is the adjoint group given by SLn (C)/Z where Z
is the center of SLn (C).
Let G be any connected semisimple Lie group with Lie
algebra g. Then the adjoint group Gad (defined by Aut(g)o )
is isomorphic to G/Z where Z is the (finite) center of G.
Problem
What are the conjugacy classes of nilpotent (and semisimple)
elements of g under the adjoint action of Gad ?
Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras
Type A

The set of semisimple

orbits in sl
2 (C) is in
 bijective
λ 0
correspondence with : λ ∈ C /S2 .
0 −λ
Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras
Type A

The set of semisimple

orbits in sl
2 (C) is in bijective
λ 0
correspondence with : λ ∈ C /S2 .
0 −λ
The set of semisimple orbits in sln (C) is in bijective
correspondence with h/Sn where h is the set of diagonal
matrices in sln (C).
Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras
Type A

The set of semisimple

orbits in sl
2 (C) is in bijective
λ 0
correspondence with : λ ∈ C /S2 .
0 −λ
The set of semisimple orbits in sln (C) is in bijective
correspondence with h/Sn where h is the set of diagonal
matrices in sln (C).
Theorem
Let g be a semisimple Lie algebra, h a Cartan subalgebra and
W the associated Weyl group. Then the set of semisimple
orbits is in bijective correspondence with h/W .
Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras
Type A

In sln (C), there is a one-to-one correspondence between

the set of nilpotent orbits and the set of partitions of n.
Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras
Type A

In sln (C), there is a one-to-one correspondence between

the set of nilpotent orbits and the set of partitions of n.
The correspondence sends a nilpotent element to the
partition determined by the block sizes in its Jordan normal
form.
Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras
Type A

In sln (C), there is a one-to-one correspondence between

the set of nilpotent orbits and the set of partitions of n.
The correspondence sends a nilpotent element to the
partition determined by the block sizes in its Jordan normal
form.
Example
In sl2 (C), there are two nilpotent orbits given by
 
0 1
corresponding to
0 0
 
0 0
corresponding to
0 0
Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras
Classical cases

Classical complex groups:

SLn (C), SO2n+1 (C), Sp2n (C), SO2n (C)

Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras
Classical cases

Classical complex groups:

SLn (C), SO2n+1 (C), Sp2n (C), SO2n (C)

Type g Gad W
An sln+1 (C) PSLn+1 (C) Sn+1
Bn so2n+1 (C) SO2n+1 (C) (Z/2Z)n o Sn
Cn sp2n (C) PSp2n (C) (Z/2Z)n o Sn
Dn so2n (C) PSO2n (C) (Z/2Z)n−1 o Sn
Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras
Classical cases

Nilpotent orbits in so2n+1 (C) are in one-to-one

correspondence with the set of partitions of 2n + 1 in which
even parts occur with even multiplicity
Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras
Classical cases

Nilpotent orbits in so2n+1 (C) are in one-to-one

correspondence with the set of partitions of 2n + 1 in which
even parts occur with even multiplicity (example: [2, 2, 1]).
Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras
Classical cases

Nilpotent orbits in so2n+1 (C) are in one-to-one

correspondence with the set of partitions of 2n + 1 in which
even parts occur with even multiplicity (example: [2, 2, 1]).
Nilpotent orbits in sp2n (C) are in one-to-one
correspondence with the set of partitions of 2n in which
odd parts occur with even multiplicity
Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras
Classical cases

Nilpotent orbits in so2n+1 (C) are in one-to-one

correspondence with the set of partitions of 2n + 1 in which
even parts occur with even multiplicity (example: [2, 2, 1]).
Nilpotent orbits in sp2n (C) are in one-to-one
correspondence with the set of partitions of 2n in which
odd parts occur with even multiplicity (example: [2, 1, 1]).
Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras
Classical cases

Nilpotent orbits in so2n+1 (C) are in one-to-one

correspondence with the set of partitions of 2n + 1 in which
even parts occur with even multiplicity (example: [2, 2, 1]).
Nilpotent orbits in sp2n (C) are in one-to-one
correspondence with the set of partitions of 2n in which
odd parts occur with even multiplicity (example: [2, 1, 1]).
Nilpotent orbits in so2n (C) are in one-to-one
correspondence with the set of partitions of 2n in which
even parts occur with even multiplicity except that “very
even” partitions correspond to two nilpotent orbits.
Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras
Classical cases

Example
In sp4 (C), the nilpotent orbits are ordered as follows:
≤ ≤ ≤

[1, 1, 1, 1] [2, 1, 1] [2, 2] [4]

dim = 0 4 6 8
Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras
Real nilpotent orbits

Nilpotent orbits in sln (R) are parametrized by partitions of

n except that “even” partitions having only even terms
correspond to two orbits.
Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras
Real nilpotent orbits

Nilpotent orbits in sln (R) are parametrized by partitions of

n except that “even” partitions having only even terms
correspond to two orbits.
Example
The real nilpotent orbits of sl2 (R) are parametrized by the
following partitions of 2:
   
0 1 0 −1
[2; I] and [2; II] corresponding to and
0 0 0 0
 
0 0
[1, 1] corresponding to
0 0
Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras
Real nilpotent orbits

Nilpotent orbits in sp2n (R) are parametrized by signed

Young diagrams of size 2n (up to equivalence) in which the
number of boxes labelled + is equal to the number of
boxes labelled −.
Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras
Real nilpotent orbits

Nilpotent orbits in sp2n (R) are parametrized by signed

Young diagrams of size 2n (up to equivalence) in which the
number of boxes labelled + is equal to the number of
boxes labelled −.
Example
The real nilpotent orbits of sl2 (R) are parametrized by the
following signed Young diagrams:
   
0 1 0 −1
+ − , − + corresponding to and
0 0 0 0

+
 
0 0
corresponding to
− 0 0
Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras
Real nilpotent orbits

Example
Here are some signed Young diagrams that parametrize some
real nilpotent orbits of sp4 (R):
+ − + − − +
, ,
+ − − + − +
+
−
+
−
Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras
Wave front sets

Let G be a reductive Lie group with Lie algebra g.

Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras
Wave front sets

Let G be a reductive Lie group with Lie algebra g.

Let ρ be a (unitary) representation of G on Hilbert space H.
Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras
Wave front sets

Let G be a reductive Lie group with Lie algebra g.

Let ρ be a (unitary) representation of G on Hilbert space H.
For any trace class operator T , we get a distribution from
trρ (T ) by integration.
Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras
Wave front sets

Let G be a reductive Lie group with Lie algebra g.

Let ρ be a (unitary) representation of G on Hilbert space H.
For any trace class operator T , we get a distribution from
trρ (T ) by integration.
WF(trρ (T )) is the usual wave front set of (trρ (T )) in T ∗ (G).
Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras
Wave front sets

Let G be a reductive Lie group with Lie algebra g.

Let ρ be a (unitary) representation of G on Hilbert space H.
For any trace class operator T , we get a distribution from
trρ (T ) by integration.
WF(trρ (T )) is the usual wave front set of (trρ (T )) in T ∗ (G).
By identifying T ∗ (G) with G × g∗ , and projecting to g∗ , we
get a subset of g∗ .
Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras
Wave front sets

Let G be a reductive Lie group with Lie algebra g.

Let ρ be a (unitary) representation of G on Hilbert space H.
For any trace class operator T , we get a distribution from
trρ (T ) by integration.
WF(trρ (T )) is the usual wave front set of (trρ (T )) in T ∗ (G).
By identifying T ∗ (G) with G × g∗ , and projecting to g∗ , we
get a subset of g∗ .
g can be identified with g∗ .
Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras
Wave front sets

Given an irreducible (g, K )−module, the wave front set of

the representation is a nilpotent orbit in g.
Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras
Wave front sets

Given an irreducible (g, K )−module, the wave front set of

the representation is a nilpotent orbit in g.
The description of the wave front set as a nilpotent orbit is
a combinatorial invariant.
Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras
Wave front sets

Given an irreducible (g, K )−module, the wave front set of

the representation is a nilpotent orbit in g.
The description of the wave front set as a nilpotent orbit is
a combinatorial invariant.
Application: For an induced module for G (from a parabolic
subgroup P) with a fixed infinitesimal character, the wave
front set imposes a constraint on the factors in the
composition series.
Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras
Wave front sets

Example
G = GL2n (R), P is the maximal parabolic subgroup whose Levi
factor is GLn (R) × GLn (R). The wave front set of the induced
module IndPG (χ) from one dimensional character χ corresponds
to the closure of the nilpotent orbit [2, 2, · · · , 2].
Nilpotent orbits in semisimple Lie algebras
References

D. Barbasch, S. Sahi, and B. Speh. Degenerate series

representations for GL(2n, R) and Fourier analysis. In
Symposia Mathematica, Vol. XXXI (Rome, 1988), Sympos.
Math., XXXI, pages 45–69. Academic Press, London,
1990.
D. Collingwood and W. McGovern. Nilpotent orbits in
semisimple Lie algebras. Van Nostrand Reinhold
Mathematics Series. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co., New
York, 1993.
R. Howe. Wave front sets of representations of Lie groups.
In Automorphic forms, representation theory and arithmetic
(Bombay, 1979), volume 10 of Tata Inst. Fund. Res.
Studies in Math., pages 117–140. Tata Inst. Fundamental
Res., Bombay, 1981.