Separating algebras and finite reflection groups

A separating algebra is, roughly speaking, a subalgebra of the ring of invariants whose elements distinguish between any two orbits that can be distinguished using invariants. In this paper, we introduce a geometric notion of separating algebra. This allows us to prove that only groups generated by reflections may have polynomial separating algebras, and only groups generated by bireflections may have complete intersection separating algebras.Comment: 12 pages, corrected yet another typ

Generic separating sets for 3D elasticity tensors

We define what is a generic separating set of invariant functions (a.k.a. a weak functional basis) for tensors. We produce then two generic separating sets of polynomial invariants for 3D elasticity tensors, one made of 19 polynomials and one made of 21 polynomials (but easier to compute) and a generic separating set of 18 rational invariants. As a byproduct, a new integrity basis for the fourth-order harmonic tensor is provided

Minimal generating and separating sets for O(3)-invariants of several matrices

Given an algebra $F[H]^G$ of polynomial invariants of an action of the group $G$ over the vector space $H$, a subset $S$ of $F[H]^G$ is called separating if $S$ separates all orbits that can be separated by $F[H]^G$. A minimal separating set is found for some algebras of matrix invariants of several matrices over an infinite field of arbitrary characteristic different from two in case of the orthogonal group. Namely, we consider the following cases: 1) $GL(3)$-invariants of two matrices; 2) $O(3)$-invariants of $d>0$ skew-symmetric matrices; 3) $O(4)$-invariants of two skew-symmetric matrices; 4) $O(3)$-invariants of two symmetric matrices. A minimal generating set is also given for the algebra of orthogonal invariants of three $3\times 3$ symmetric matrices.Comment: 11 page

Degree bounds for separating invariants

If V is a representation of a linear algebraic group G, a set S of G-invariant regular functions on V is called separating if the following holds: If two elements v,v' from V can be separated by an invariant function, then there is an f from S such that f(v) is different from f(v'). It is known that there always exist finite separating sets. Moreover, if the group G is finite, then the invariant functions of degree <= |G| form a separating set. We show that for a non-finite linear algebraic group G such an upper bound for the degrees of a separating set does not exist. If G is finite, we define b(G) to be the minimal number d such that for every G-module V there is a separating set of degree less or equal to d. We show that for a subgroup H of G we have b(H) <= b(G) <= [G:H] b(H)$, and that b(G) <= b(G/H) b(H)$ in case H is normal. Moreover, we calculate b(G) for some specific finite groups.Comment: 11 page

Invariants of the dihedral group D2pD_{2p} in characteristic two

We consider finite dimensional representations of the dihedral group $D_{2p}$ over an algebraically closed field of characteristic two where $p$ is an odd integer and study the degrees of generating and separating polynomials in the corresponding ring of invariants. We give an upper bound for the degrees of the polynomials in a minimal generating set that does not depend on $p$ when the dimension of the representation is sufficiently large. We also show that $p+1$ is the minimal number such that the invariants up to that degree always form a separating set. As well, we give an explicit description of a separating set when $p$ is prime.Comment: 7 page

Degree bound for separating invariants of abelian groups

It is proved that the universal degree bound for separating polynomial invariants of a finite abelian group (in non-modular characteristic) is strictly smaller than the universal degree bound for generators of polynomial invariants, unless the goup is cyclic or is the direct product of $r$ even order cyclic groups where the number of two-element direct factors is not less than the integer part of the half of $r$. A characterization of separating sets of monomials is given in terms of zero-sum sequences over abelian groups