Mask formulas for cograssmannian Kazhdan-Lusztig polynomials

We give two contructions of sets of masks on cograssmannian permutations that can be used in Deodhar's formula for Kazhdan-Lusztig basis elements of the Iwahori-Hecke algebra. The constructions are respectively based on a formula of Lascoux-Schutzenberger and its geometric interpretation by Zelevinsky. The first construction relies on a basis of the Hecke algebra constructed from principal lower order ideals in Bruhat order and a translation of this basis into sets of masks. The second construction relies on an interpretation of masks as cells of the Bott-Samelson resolution. These constructions give distinct answers to a question of Deodhar.Comment: 43 page

Mirabolic affine Grassmannian and character sheaves

We compute the Frobenius trace functions of mirabolic character sheaves defined over a finite field. The answer is given in terms of the character values of general linear groups over the finite field, and the structure constants of multiplication in the mirabolic Hall-Littlewood basis of symmetric functions, introduced by Shoji.Comment: 22 pages. The final version to appear in Selecta Mat

The Decomposition Theorem and the topology of algebraic maps

We give a motivated introduction to the theory of perverse sheaves, culminating in the Decomposition Theorem of Beilinson, Bernstein, Deligne and Gabber. A goal of this survey is to show how the theory develops naturally from classical constructions used in the study of topological properties of algebraic varieties. While most proofs are omitted, we discuss several approaches to the Decomposition Theorem, indicate some important applications and examples.Comment: 117 pages. New title. Major structure changes. Final version of a survey to appear in the Bulletin of the AM

On the top coefficients of Kazhdan-Lusztig polynomials

Kazhdan and Lusztig in 1979 defined, for any Coxeter group W, a family of polynomial that is know as Kazhdan-Lusztig polynomials. These polynomials are indexed by pairs of elements of W and they have fundamental importance in several areas of mathematics as representation theory, geometry, combinatorics and topology of Schubert varieties. In this paper we want to show the combinatorial connection between special matchings and the top coefficient of Kazhdan-Lusztig polynomial. In particular we study a Conjecture, due to Brenti, in different Coxeter groups and pair of elements

Two-sided cells of Weyl groups and certain splitting Whittaker polynomials

Consider the subset of a Weyl group with a fixed descent set. For Weyl groups of classical types, we determine the number of two-sided cells this subset intersect. Moreover, we apply this result to prove that certain rational Whittaker polynomials associated with covering groups split over the field of rational numbers

Describing codimension two defects

Codimension two defects of the $(0,2)$ six dimensional theory $\mathscr{X}[\mathfrak{j}]$ have played an important role in the understanding of dualities for certain $\mathcal{N}=2$ SCFTs in four dimensions. These defects are typically understood by their behaviour under various dimensional reduction schemes. In their various guises, the defects admit partial descriptions in terms of singularities of Hitchin systems, Nahm boundary conditions or Toda operators. Here, a uniform dictionary between these descriptions is given for a large class of such defects in $\mathscr{X}[\mathfrak{j}], \mathfrak{j} \in A,D,E$.Comment: 74pp, lots of tables detailing order reversing duality; (v2) Acknowledgement added. Notation simplified, refs added, minor fixes ; (v3) Minor changes, version accepted in JHEP. I thank the referee for helpful comments towards improving presentatio