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In algebraic geometry, given a linear algebraic group G over a field k, a distribution on it is a linear functional ${\displaystyle k\to k}$ satisfying some support condition. A convolution of distributions is again a distribution and thus they form the Hopf algebra on G, denoted by Dist(G), which contains the Lie algebra Lie(G) associated to G. Over a field of characteristic zero, Cartier's theorem says that Dist(G) is isomorphic to the universal enveloping algebra of the Lie algebra of G and thus the construction gives no new information. In the positive characteristic case, the algebra can be used as a substitute for the Lie group–Lie algebra correspondence and its variant for algebraic groups in the characteristic zero; for example, this approach taken in (Jantzen 1987).

Construction

The Lie algebra of a linear algebraic group

Let k be an algebraically closed field and G a linear algebraic group (that is, affine algebraic group) over k. By definition, Lie(G) is the Lie algebra of all derivations of k that commute with the left action of G. As in the Lie group case, it can be identified with the tangent space to G at the identity element.

Enveloping algebra

There is the following general construction for a Hopf algebra. Let A be a Hopf algebra. The finite dual of A is the space of linear functionals on A with kernels containing left ideals of finite codimensions. Concretely, it can be viewed as the space of matrix coefficients.

The adjoint group of a Lie algebra

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Distributions on an algebraic group

Definition

Let X = Spec A be an affine scheme over a field k and let I_x be the kernel of the restriction map ${\displaystyle A\to k(x)}$, the residue field of x. By definition, a distribution f supported at x'' is a k-linear functional on A such that ${\displaystyle f(I_{x}^{n})=0}$ for some n. (Note: the definition is still valid if k is an arbitrary ring.)

Now, if G is an algebraic group over k, we let Dist(G) be the set of all distributions on G supported at the identity element (often just called distributions on G). If f, g are in it, we define the product of f and g, demoted by f * g, to be the linear functional

${\displaystyle k{\overset {\Delta }{\to }}k\otimes k{\overset {f\otimes g}{\to }}k\otimes k=k}$

where Δ is the comultiplication that is the homomorphism induced by the multiplication ${\displaystyle G\times G\to G}$. The multiplication turns out to be associative (use ${\displaystyle 1\otimes \Delta \circ \Delta =\Delta \otimes 1\circ \Delta }$) and thus Dist(G) is an associative algebra, as the set is closed under the muplication by the formula:

(*) ${\displaystyle \Delta (I_{1}^{n})\subset \sum _{r=0}^{n}I_{1}^{r}\otimes I_{1}^{n-r}.}$

It is also unital with the unity that is the linear functional ${\displaystyle k\to k,\phi \mapsto \phi (1)}$, the Dirac's delta measure.

The Lie algebra Lie(G) sits inside Dist(G). Indeed, by definition, Lie(G) is the tangent space to G at the identity element 1; i.e., the dual space of ${\displaystyle I_{1}/I_{1}^{2}}$. Thus, a tangent vector amounts to a linear functional on I₁ that has no constant term and kills the square of I₁ and the formula (*) implies ${\displaystyle =f*g-g*f}$ is still a tangent vector.

Let ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {g}}=\operatorname {Lie} (G)}$ be the Lie algebra of G. Then, by the universal property, the inclusion ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {g}}\hookrightarrow \operatorname {Dist} (G)}$ induces the algebra homomorphism:

${\displaystyle U({\mathfrak {g}})\to \operatorname {Dist} (G).}$

When the base field k has characteristic zero, this homomorphism is an isomorphism.

Examples

Additive group

Let ${\displaystyle G=\mathbb {G} _{a}}$ be the additive group; i.e., G(R) = R for any k-algebra R. As a variety G is the affine line; i.e., the coordinate ring is k and I
₀ = (t).

Multiplicative group

Let ${\displaystyle G=\mathbb {G} _{m}}$ be the multiplicative group; i.e., G(R) = R for any k-algebra R. The coordinate ring of G is k (since G is really GL₁(k).)

Correspondence

• For any closed subgroups H, 'K of G, if k is perfect and H is irreducible, then

${\displaystyle H\subset K\Leftrightarrow \operatorname {Dist} (H)\subset \operatorname {Dist} (K).}$

• If V is a G-module (that is a representation of G), then it admits a natural structure of Dist(G)-module, which in turns gives the module structure over ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {g}}}$.
• Any action G on an affine algebraic variety X induces the representation of G on the coordinate ring k. In particular, the conjugation action of G induces the action of G on k. One can show I
  ₁ is stable under G and thus G acts on (k/I
  ₁) and whence on its union Dist(G). The resulting action is called the adjoint action of G.

The case of finite algebraic groups

Let G be an algebraic group that is "finite" as a group scheme; for example, any finite group may be viewed as a finite algebraic group. There is an equivalence of categories between the category of finite algebraic groups and the category of finite-dimensional cocommutative Hopf algebras given by mapping G to k, the dual of the coordinate ring of G. Note that Dist(G) is a (Hopf) subalgebra of k.

Relation to Lie group–Lie algebra correspondence

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Notes

1. Jantzen 1987, Part I, § 7.10.

References

• Jantzen, Jens Carsten (1987). Representations of Algebraic Groups. Pure and Applied Mathematics. Vol. 131. Boston: Academic Press. ISBN 978-0-12-380245-3.
• Milne, iAG: Algebraic Groups: An introduction to the theory of algebraic group schemes over fields
• Claudio Procesi, Lie groups: An approach through invariants and representations, Springer, Universitext 2006
• Mukai, S. (2002). An introduction to invariants and moduli. Cambridge Studies in Advanced Mathematics. Vol. 81. ISBN 978-0-521-80906-1.
• Springer, Tonny A. (1998), Linear algebraic groups, Progress in Mathematics, vol. 9 (2nd ed.), Boston, MA: Birkhäuser Boston, ISBN 978-0-8176-4021-7, MR 1642713

Further reading

• Linear algebraic groups and their Lie algebras by Daniel Miller Fall 2014

• Algebraic geometry