The partition algebra and the plethysm coefficients

We propose a new approach to study plethysm coefficients by using the Schur-Weyl duality between the symmetric group and the partition algebra. This allows us to explain the stability properties of plethysm and Kronecker coefficients in a simple and uniform fashion for the first time. We prove the strengthened Foulkes' conjecture for stable plethysm coefficients in an elementary fashion

Plethysm and lattice point counting

We apply lattice point counting methods to compute the multiplicities in the plethysm of $GL(n)$. Our approach gives insight into the asymptotic growth of the plethysm and makes the problem amenable to computer algebra. We prove an old conjecture of Howe on the leading term of plethysm. For any partition $\mu$ of 3,4, or 5 we obtain an explicit formula in $\lambda$ and $k$ for the multiplicity of $S^\lambda$ in $S^\mu(S^k)$.Comment: 25 pages including appendix, 1 figure, computational results and code available at http://thomas-kahle.de/plethysm.html, v2: various improvements, v3: final version appeared in JFoC

Brill-Gordan Loci, Transvectants and an Analogue of the Foulkes Conjecture

Combining a selection of tools from modern algebraic geometry, representation theory, the classical invariant theory of binary forms, together with explicit calculations with hypergeometric series and Feynman diagrams, we obtain the following interrelated results. A Castelnuovo-Mumford regularity bound and a projective normality result for the locus of hypersufaces that are equally supported on two hyperplanes. The surjectivity of an equivariant map between two plethystic compositions of symmetric powers; a statement which is reminiscent of the Foulkes-Howe conjecture. The nonvanishing of even transvectants of exact powers of generic binary forms. The nonvanishing of a collection of symmetric functions defined by sums over magic squares and transportation matrices with nonnegative integer entries. An explicit set of generators, in degree three, for the ideal of the coincident root locus of binary forms with only two roots of equal multiplicity.Comment: This is a considerably expanded version of math.AG/040523

Mini-Workshop: Kronecker, Plethysm, and Sylow Branching Coefficients and their Applications to Complexity Theory

The Kronecker, plethysm and Sylow branching coefficients describe the decomposition of representations of symmetric groups obtained by tensor products and induction. Understanding these decompositions has been hailed as one of the definitive open problems in algebraic combinatorics and has profound and deep connections with representation theory, symplectic geometry, complexity theory, quantum information theory, and local-global conjectures in representation theory of finite groups. The overarching theme of the Mini-Workshop has been the use of hidden, richer representation theoretic structures to prove and disprove conjectures concerning these coefficients. These structures arise from the modular and local-global representation theory of symmetric groups, graded representation theory of Hecke and Cherednik algebras, and categorical Lie theory