G-module
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In mathematics, given a group G, a G-module is an abelian group M on which G acts compatibly with the abelian group structure on M. This widely applicable notion generalizes that of a representation of G. Group (co)homology provides an important set of tools for studying general G-modules.
The term G-module is also used for the more general notion of an R-module on which G acts linearly (i.e. as a group of R-module automorphisms).
Definition and basics
[edit]Let be a group. A left -module consists of[1] an abelian group together with a left group action such that
- g·(a1 + a2) = g·a1 + g·a2
for all a1 and a2 in M and all g in G, where g·a denotes ρ(g,a). A right G-module is defined similarly. Given a left G-module M, it can be turned into a right G-module by defining a·g = g−1·a.
A function f : M → N is called a morphism of G-modules (or a G-linear map, or a G-homomorphism) if f is both a group homomorphism and G-equivariant.
The collection of left (respectively right) G-modules and their morphisms form an abelian category G-Mod (resp. Mod-G). The category G-Mod (resp. Mod-G) can be identified with the category of left (resp. right) ZG-modules, i.e. with the modules over the group ring Z[G].
A submodule of a G-module M is a subgroup A ⊆ M that is stable under the action of G, i.e. g·a ∈ A for all g ∈ G and a ∈ A. Given a submodule A of M, the quotient module M/A is the quotient group with action g·(m + A) = g·m + A.
Examples
[edit]- Given a group G, the abelian group Z is a G-module with the trivial action g·a = a.
- Let M be the set of binary quadratic forms f(x, y) = ax2 + 2bxy + cy2 with a, b, c integers, and let G = SL(2, Z) (the 2×2 special linear group over Z). Define
- where
- and (x, y)g is matrix multiplication. Then M is a G-module studied by Gauss.[2] Indeed, we have
- If V is a representation of G over a field K, then V is a G-module (it is an abelian group under addition).
Topological groups
[edit]If G is a topological group and M is an abelian topological group, then a topological G-module is a G-module where the action map G×M → M is continuous (where the product topology is taken on G×M).[3]
In other words, a topological G-module is an abelian topological group M together with a continuous map G×M → M satisfying the usual relations g(a + a′) = ga + ga′, (gg′)a = g(g′a), and 1a = a.
Notes
[edit]- ^ Curtis, Charles W.; Reiner, Irving (1962), Representation Theory of Finite Groups and Associative Algebras, John Wiley & Sons (Reedition 2006 by AMS Bookstore), ISBN 978-0-470-18975-7.
- ^ Kim, Myung-Hwan (1999), Integral Quadratic Forms and Lattices: Proceedings of the International Conference on Integral Quadratic Forms and Lattices, June 15–19, 1998, Seoul National University, Korea, American Mathematical Soc.
- ^ D. Wigner (1973). "Algebraic cohomology of topological groups". Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 178: 83–93. doi:10.1090/s0002-9947-1973-0338132-7.
References
[edit]- Chapter 6 of Weibel, Charles A. (1994). An introduction to homological algebra. Cambridge Studies in Advanced Mathematics. Vol. 38. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-55987-4. MR 1269324. OCLC 36131259.