Representation growth and representation zeta functions of groups

We give a short introduction to the subject of representation growth and representation zeta functions of groups, omitting all proofs. Our focus is on results which are relevant to the study of arithmetic groups in semisimple algebraic groups, such as the special linear group of degree n over the ring of integers. In the last two sections we state several results which were recently obtained in joint work with N. Avni, U. Onn and C. Voll.Comment: 14 pages, submitted to Note di Matematica, survey based on a conference tal

Igusa-type functions associated to finite formed spaces and their functional equations

We study symmetries enjoyed by the polynomials enumerating non-degenerate flags in finite vector spaces, equipped with a non-degenerate alternating bilinear, hermitian or quadratic form. To this end we introduce Igusa-type rational functions encoding these polynomials and prove that they satisfy certain functional equations. Some of our results are achieved by expressing the polynomials in question in terms of what we call parabolic length functions on Coxeter groups of type $A$. While our treatment of the orthogonal case exploits combinatorial properties of integer compositions and their refinements, we formulate a precise conjecture how in this situation, too, the polynomials may be described in terms of parabolic length functions.Comment: Slightly revised version, to appear in Trans. Amer. Math. Soc

On w-maximal groups

Let $w = w(x_1,..., x_n)$ be a word, i.e. an element of the free group $F =$ on $n$ generators $x_1,..., x_n$. The verbal subgroup $w(G)$ of a group $G$ is the subgroup generated by the set $\{w (g_1,...,g_n)^{\pm 1} | g_i \in G, 1\leq i\leq n \}$ of all $w$-values in $G$. We say that a (finite) group $G$ is $w$-maximal if $|G:w(G)|> |H:w(H)|$ for all proper subgroups $H$ of $G$ and that $G$ is hereditarily $w$-maximal if every subgroup of $G$ is $w$-maximal. In this text we study $w$-maximal and hereditarily $w$-maximal (finite) groups.Comment: 15 page