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Equivariant neural networks are neural networks with symmetry. Motivated by the theory of group representations, we decompose the layers of an equivariant neural network into simple representations. The nonlinear activation functions lead to interesting nonlinear equivariant maps between simple representations. For example, the rectified linear unit (ReLU) gives rise to piecewise linear maps. We show that these considerations lead to a filtration of equivariant neural networks, generalizing Fourier series. This observation might provide a useful tool for interpreting equivariant neural networks., Comment: 24 pages, many figures, comments welcome

We introduce a new algorithm for finding kernel elements in the Burau representation. Our algorithm applies reservoir sampling to a statistic on matrices which is closely correlated with Garside length. Using this we exhibit an explicit kernel element in the Burau representation on 4-strands reduced modulo 5., Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures

We prove that the derived direct image of the constant sheaf with field coefficients under any proper map with smooth source contains a canonical summand. This summand, which we call the geometric extension, only depends on the generic fibre. For resolutions we get a canonical extension of the constant sheaf. When our coefficients are of characteristic zero, this summand is the intersection cohomology sheaf. When our coefficients are finite we obtain a new object, which provides interesting topological invariants of singularities and topological obstructions to the existence of morphisms. The geometric extension is a generalization of a parity sheaf. Our proof is formal, and also works with coefficients in modules over suitably finite ring spectra., Comment: 33 pp, preliminary version, comments welcome

A personal and informal account of what a pure mathematician might expect when using tools from deep learning in their research., Comment: 16 pp, v2: clarified some points, final version

We initiate a systematic study of the perfection of affine group schemes of finite type over fields of positive characteristic. The main result intrinsically characterises and classifies the perfections of reductive groups, and obtains a bijection with the set of classifying spaces of compact connected Lie groups topologically localised away from the characteristic. We also study the representations of perfectly reductive groups. We establish a highest weight classification of simple modules, the decomposition into blocks, and relate extension groups to those of the underlying abstract group.

We describe an algorithm for computing the $p$-canonical basis of the Hecke algebra, or one of its antispherical modules. The algorithm does not operate in the Hecke category directly, but rather uses a faithful embedding of the Hecke category inside a semisimple category to build a "model" for indecomposable objects and bases of their morphism spaces. Inside this semisimple category, objects are sequences of Coxeter group elements, and morphisms are (sparse) matrices over a fraction field, making it quite amenable to computations. This strategy works for the full Hecke category over any base field, but in the antispherical case we must instead work over $\mathbb{Z}_{(p)}$ and use an idempotent lifting argument to deduce the result for a field of characteristic $p > 0$. We also describe a less sophisticated algorithm which is much more suited to the case of finite groups. We provide complete implementations of both algorithms in the MAGMA computer algebra system., Comment: 21 pages

Kazhdan-Lusztig polynomials are important and mysterious objects in representation theory. Here we present a new formula for their computation for symmetric groups based on the Bruhat graph. Our approach suggests a solution to the combinatorial invariance conjecture for symmetric groups, a well-known conjecture formulated by Lusztig and Dyer in the 1980s., Comment: 47 pages, comments welcome

These are lecture notes (by the first author) from a course (by the second author) given over two extended semesters at the University of Sydney. The first part provides an introduction to the Langlands correspondence from an arithmetical point of view. The second part gives enough background in geometric representation theory to understand Bezrukavnikov's equivalence, which is a categorification of Kazhdan and Lusztig's two realizations of the affine Hecke algebra., Comment: 274 pages, preliminary draft, comments welcome!

We construct a functor from the Hecke category to a groupoid built from the underlying Coxeter group. This fixes a gap in an earlier work of the authors. This functor provides an abstract realization of the localization of the Hecke category at the field of fractions. Knowing explicit formulas for the localization is a key technical tool in software for computations with Soergel bimodules., Comment: 58pp, revised version

These notes provide a concise introduction to the representation theory of reductive algebraic groups in positive characteristic, with an emphasis on Lusztig's character formula and geometric representation theory. They are based on the first author's notes from a lecture series delivered by the second author at the Simons Centre for Geometry and Physics in August 2019. We intend them to complement more detailed treatments., Comment: 40 pages

We refine an idea of Deodhar, whose goal is a counting formula for Kazhdan-Lusztig polynomials. This is a consequence of a simple observation that one can use the solution of Soergel's conjecture to make ambiguities involved in defining certain morphisms between Soergel bimodules in characteristic zero (double leaves) disappear., Comment: 10 pages

We apply Treumann's "Smith theory for sheaves" in the context of the Iwahori--Whittaker model of the Satake category. We deduce two results in the representation theory of reductive algebraic groups over fields of positive characteristic: (a) a geometric proof of the linkage principle; (b) a character formula for tilting modules in terms of the $\ell$-canonical basis, valid in all blocks and in all characteristics., Comment: 52 pages, revised version, to appear in Publ. IHES

The Hecke category is at the heart of several fundamental questions in modular representation theory. We emphasise the role of the "philosophy of deformations" both as a conceptual and computational tool, and suggest possible connections to Lusztig's "philosophy of generations". On the geometric side one can understand deformations in terms of localisation in equivariant cohomology. Recently Treumann and Leslie-Lonergan have added Smith theory, which provides a useful tool when considering mod p coefficients. In this context, we make contact with some remarkable work of Hazi. Using recent work of Abe on Soergel bimodules, we are able to reprove and generalise some of Hazi's results. Our aim is to convince the reader that the work of Hazi and Leslie-Lonergan can usefully be viewed as some kind of localisation to "good" reflection subgroups. These are notes for my lectures at the 2019 Current Developments in Mathematics at Harvard., Comment: Notes for talk at Current Developments in Mathematics 2019 at Harvard. 72pp. Arxiv admin note: some overlap with arXiv:1801.00896

In this paper we prove a character formula expressing the classes of simple representations in the principal block of a simply-connected semisimple algebraic group G in terms of baby Verma modules, under the assumption that the characteristic of the base field is bigger than 2h-1, where h is the Coxeter number of G. This provides a replacement for Lusztig's conjecture, valid under a reasonable assumption on the characteristic., Comment: 24pp, final version

The Hecke category is emerging as a fundamental object in representation theory. We give a motivated introduction to this category in both its geometric (via parity sheaves) and diagrammatic (generators and relations) incarnations. We also discuss the p-canonical basis and Koszul duality for the Hecke category., Comment: ICM report

A basic question concerning indecomposable Soergel bimodules is to understand their endomorphism rings. In characteristic zero all degree-zero endomorphisms are isomorphisms (a fact proved by Elias and the second author) which implies the Kazhdan-Lusztig conjectures. More recently, many examples in positive characteristic have been discovered with larger degree zero endomorphisms. These give counter-examples to expected bounds in Lusztig's conjecture. Here we prove the existence of indecomposable Soergel bimodules in type A having non-zero endomorphisms of negative degree. This gives the existence of a non-perverse parity sheaf in type A., Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure

We establish a character formula for indecomposable tilting modules for connected reductive groups in characteristic p in terms of p-Kazhdan-Lusztig polynomials, for p>h the Coxeter number. Using results of Andersen, one may deduce a character formula for simple modules if p>2h-3. Our results are a consequence of an extension to modular coefficients of a monoidal Koszul duality equivalence established by Bezrukavnikov and Yun., Comment: 50 pages

We formulate a conjecture for the second generation characters of indecomposable tilting modules for ${\rm SL}_3$. This gives many new conjectural decomposition numbers for symmetric groups. Our conjecture can be interpreted as saying that these characters are governed by a discrete dynamical system ("billiards bouncing in alcoves"). The conjecture implies that decomposition numbers for symmetric groups display (at least) exponential growth.

In this paper we propose a construction of a monoidal category of "free-monodromic" tilting perverse sheaves on (Kac-Moody) flag varieties in the setting of the "mixed modular derived category" introduced by the first and third authors. This category shares most of the properties of their counterpart in characteristic 0, defined by Bezrukavnikov-Yun using certain pro-objects in triangulated categories. This construction is the main new ingredient in the construction of a "modular Koszul duality" equivalence for constructible sheaves on flag varieties, see [P. Achar, S. Makisumi, S. Riche, and G. Williamson, "Koszul duality for Kac-Moody groups and characters of tilting modules", J. Amer. Math. Soc. 32 (2019)]., Comment: 140 pages. v2: some corrections and updates

We study a diagrammatic categorification (the "anti-spherical category") of the anti-spherical module for any Coxeter group. We deduce that Deodhar's (sign) parabolic Kazhdan-Lusztig polynomials have non-negative coefficients, and that a monotonicity conjecture of Brenti's holds. The main technical observation is a localisation procedure for the anti-spherical category, from which we construct a "light leaves" basis of morphisms. Our techniques may be used to calculate many new elements of the $p$-canonical basis in the anti-spherical module., Comment: Best viewed in color

These are notes for my Takagi lecture at the University of Tokyo in November, 2016. I survey what is known about simple modules for reductive algebraic groups. The emphasis is on characteristic p>0 and Lusztig's character formula. I explain ideas connecting representations and constructible sheaves (Finkelberg-Mirkovic conjecture) in the spirit of the Kazhdan-Lusztig conjecture. I also discuss a conjecture with S. Riche (a theorem for GL_n) which should eventually make computations more feasible., Comment: Takagi lecture, November 2016. Preliminary version, comments welcome

Ideas from Hodge theory have found important applications in representation theory. We give a survey of joint work with Ben Elias which uncovers Hodge theoretic structure in the Hecke category ("Soergel bimodules"). We also outline similarities and differences to other combinatorial Hodge theories., Comment: 20 pages, ECM 2016 lecture