Related papers: Enumerating Finite Braid Group Orbits on $SL_2(\C)…
Let M be a surface, perhaps with boundary, and either compact, or with a finite number of points removed from the interior of the surface. We consider the inclusion i: F\_n(M) --\textgreater{} M^n of the nth configuration space F\_n(M) of M…
This paper will appear in the Santa Cruz proceedings. An overview of the braid group techniques in the theory of algebraic surfaces, from Zariski to the latest results, is presented. An outline of the Van Kampen algorithm for computing…
We extend the results of Kottwitz on points of Shimura varieties over finite fields to cases of bad reduction. The "test function" whose twisted orbital integrals appear in the final expression is defined geometrically using deformation…
The aim of this article is to explore global and local properties of finite groups whose integral group rings have only trivial central units, so-called cut groups. For such a group we study actions of Galois groups on its character table…
This paper gives insight into intriguing connections between two apparently unrelated theories: the theory of skein modules of 3-manifolds and the theory of representations of groups into special linear groups of 2 by 2 matrices. Let R be a…
Periodic orbits (equivalence classes of closed paths up to cyclic shifts) play an important role in applications of graph theory. For example, they appear in the definition of the Ihara zeta function and exact trace formulae for the spectra…
Moduli spaces of points on $n$-spheres carry natural actions of braid groups. For $n=0$, $1$, and $3$, we prove that these symmetries extend to actions of mapping class groups of positive genus surfaces, by establishing exceptional…
The cycling operation is a special kind of conjugation that can be applied to elements in Artin's braid groups, in order to reduce their length. It is a key ingredient of the usual solutions to the conjugacy problem in braid groups. In…
We study the action of the groups $H(\lambda)$ generated by the linear fractional transformations $x:z\mapsto -\frac{1}{z} \text{ and }w:z\mapsto z+\lambda$, where $\lambda$ is a positive integer, on the subsets $\mathbb…
S. Bigelow proved that the braid groups are linear. That is, there is a faithful representation of the braid group into the general linear group of some field. Using this, we deduce from previously known results that the mapping class group…
It is known that the automorphism group of the elementary abelian $2$-group $Z_2^n$ is isomorphic to the general linear group $GL(n,F_2)$ of degree $n$ over $F_2$. Let $W$ be the collection of permutation matrices of order $n$. It is clear…
We study Cox rings of normal threefolds on which SL2 acts with a dense orbit. Exploiting the method of U-invariants, we obtain combinatorial criteria for the total coordinate space and the base variety to have log terminal singularities.…
We show that the cohomology ring of a finite-dimensional complex pointed Hopf algebra with an abelian group of group-like elements is finitely generated. Our strategy has three major steps. We first reduce the problem to the finite…
We determine the image of the braid groups inside the Temperley-Lieb algebras, defined over finite field, in the semisimple case, and for suitably large (but controlable) order of the defining (quantum) parameter. We also prove that, under…
We examine the orbits of the (complex) symplectic group, $Sp_n$, on the flag manifold, $\mathscr{F}\ell(\mathbb{C}^{2n})$, in a very concrete way. We use two approaches: we Gr\"obner degenerate the orbits to unions of Schubert varieties…
Self-similar groups provide a rich source of groups with interesting properties; e.g., infinite torsion groups (Burnside groups) and groups with an intermediate word growth. Various self-similar groups can be described by a recursive…
Let $L$ be a field of positive characteristic $p$ with a fixed algebraic closure $\overline{L}$, and let $\alpha_1,\alpha_2,\beta\in L$. For an integer $d\ge 2$, we consider the family of polynomials $f_{\lambda}(z) := z^d+\lambda$,…
We define an action of Artin's braid group on a finite dimensional algebra.
We consider the complex ind-group $G=\mathrm{SL}(\infty,\mathbb{C})$ and its real forms $G^0=\mathrm{SU}(\infty,\infty)$, $\mathrm{SU}(p,\infty)$, $\mathrm{SL}(\infty,\mathbb{R})$, $\mathrm{SL}(\infty,\mathbb{H})$. Our main objects of study…
We determine the image of the braid groups inside the Iwahori-Hecke algebras of type A, when defined over a finite field, in the semisimple case, and for suitably large (but controlable) order of the defining (quantum) parameter.