PGR Seminar - Generators of Cryst Group

PGR seminar on 08 Nov 2017
Title: Generators of crystallographic groups

Abstract: An n-dimensional crystallographic group is a discrete subgroup of the isometry
group of the n-dimensional Euclidean space Rn with a compact orbit space. There is a
conjecture said that if the group is torsion free, then the minimal number of generator is
bounded by its dimension. In this talk, I will show that an n-dimensional crystallographic
group with an odd prime p-group to be its holonomy group can be generated by n elements
by considering the lattice part of the group as a module while the action is given by the
holonomy group.
Definition 0.1 (defn of cryst group). A group Γ is an n-dimensional crystallographic

group if
i) Γ ≤ Isom(Rn ) ∼
= O(n) n Rn , where Γ is a discrete subgroup.
ii) Rn Γ is compact.
If A ∈ On (R), then A is n × n matrix such that AT = A−1 .

On (R) acts on Rn with natural matrix multiplication.
So operation of Γ is given by
(A, a)(B, b) = (AB, a + Ab) ∈ Γ

A a
Element of Γ can express as
0 1
Γ is discrete subgroup of Isom(Rn ) if ∀γ ∈ Γ, ∃ open neighbourhood Uγ s.t Uγ ∩ Γ = {γ}
Topology of open neighbourhood: Isom(Rn ) ∼
= On (R) n Rn ⊆ GLn (R) n Rn ⊆ GLn+1 (R).
(n+1)2
So we get topology induced from R
e.g: Z (generated by translation x 7→ x + 1)
Theorem 0.2 (1st Bieb thm). If Γ is an n-dimensional crystallographic group, then Γ ∩

(In × Rn ) ∼
= Z and it is a maximal abelian normal subgroup of ginite index.
By this theorem, we can express Γ as short exact sequence/group extension

p
0 → Zn → Γ →
− G→1
where g ∼
= Γ/Zn is finite and is called the holonomy group of Γ.
Given such group extension, it induces an action ρ : G → GLn (Z) such that ρ(g)(ei ) =
ḡei ḡ −1 where p(ḡ) = g
1
2
Theorem 0.3 (Zassenhaus). Γ is an n-dimensional crystallographic group if and only if

Γ can express as
0 → Zn → Γ → G → 1
where G is finite and the induced representation ρ : G → GLn (Z) is faithful
Conjecture 0.4. Let Γ be n-dimensional torsion-free crystallographic group. Then m(Γ) ≤

n where
m(Γ) = {minimal number of generators of Γ}
idea: m(Γ) ≤ m(Zn ) + m(G) and we consider Zn as ZG-module.
Definition 0.5. Let M be ZG-module. We say M is decomposable if there exists non-zero

submodule M1 and M2 such that M = M1 ⊕ M2
Now, we need to mention some classic results from algebraic number theory
Theorem 0.6. Let K = Q(θ) be cyclotomic field, where θ is primitive pth root of unity.
Then the ring of algebraic integer A of K is a free abelian group with basis {1, θ, · · · , θp−2 }
(so it is ∼
= Z[θ]).
Any ideal I in A is at most two generated which have form I = A + aA for some a ∈ A
for p ≤ 19, I ∼
= A.
Theorem 0.7 (Reiner, full classification of ZCp -module). Use notation above. Every ZCp -
module M is isomorphic to a direct sum
M∼ = (A1 , a1 ) ⊕ · · · ⊕ (Ar , ar ) ⊕ Ar+1 ⊕ · · · ⊕ An ⊕ Zt
where
Zt is Z-module with trivial action, finite Z-basis.
Ai are ideal in Z[θ] with action g · a = θa for all a ∈ Ai .
a ∈ Ai and ai 6∈ (θ − 1)Ai . (Ai , ai ) is of form Ai × yZ with action
g · a = θafor all a ∈ Ai
g · y = y + ai
We can choose ai = 1 for all i if p ≤ 19.
We then know the exact dimension, rank of indecomposable ZG-module

So consider Zn as ZCp -module, we have m(Zn ) ≤ n − (p − 1) + 1 = n − p + 2
Corollary 0.8. Let Γ be an n-dimensional crystallographic group with holonomy group

Cp , where p is odd prime. Then we have
m(Γ) ≤ m(Zn ) + 1 ≤ n − p + 3
3
Main results are about p-group.

Next, we mention some information about rational representation and p-group.
Definition 0.9. Let M be ZG-module. We say M is reducible if Q ⊗ M is reducible as

QG-module.
In other words, M contains a non-zero ZG-module of smaller rank
Q ⊗ M reducible ⇒ M reducible:
Let V be proper QG-submodule of Q ⊗ M , with V 6= {0}. THen V ∩ M is non-zero
ZG-submodule of M of smaller rank

T1 ∗
M∼
0 T2
V ∩ M ∼ T1 and M/(V ∩ M ) ∼ T2
Theorem 0.10 (Eckmann). Let G be nontrivial p-group. Let M be irreducible ZG-lattice

which is faithful. Then there exists an integer α ≥ 0 such that dim(M ) = pα (p − 1) and
every subgroup of G can be generated by pα elements.
Given G is finite group. Then irreducible ⇒ indecomposable.

Every finite dimensional representation of a finite group over field of char=0 is completely
reducible (every representation is direct sum of irreducible representation)
Proposition 0.11 (nansen). Let G be non-trivial p-group. Let M be faithful ZG-lattice

with dim(M ) = n. Let k = rk(M G ). THen every subgroup of G can be generated by n−k
p−1
elements
Lemma 0.12. Let Cp be cyclic group of prime p order. Let M be ZCp -lattice of dimensional
n such that M Cp = 0. Then M as ZCp -module can be generated by (a−1)n
p−1 elements.
Proposition 0.13. Let G be a p-group and 0 → Zn → Γ → G → 1 be extension of groups

such that the induced representation φ : G → GLn (Z) is faithful. Then Zn as G-module
can be generated by (a−1)(n−β
p−1
1)
+ β1 elements where β1 = rk((Zn )G ).
Theorem 0.14. Let Γ be n-dimensional crystallographic group with p-group as holonomy

group. Then
1(n − β1 )
m(Γ) ≤ + β1
p−1
algebraic number theory result:

4
An algebraic integer is a complex√ number that is a root of a non-zero monic polynomial

f (x) with coefficient in Z (e.g. 2)
Sum or product of algebraic integers are still algebraic integer
Thus set of all algebraic integer from a ring.
A number field is field K such that Q ⊆ K ⊆ C and K has finite degree over Q (as vector
space) (e.g Q is number field of degree 1)
Q(θ) = {f (θ) ∈ C | f ∈ Q[x]} Notice that θ ∈ C
Q ⊆ Q(θ) ⊆ C
√ √ √
e.g Q( 2) = {f ( 2) | f ∈ Q[x]} = {x + y 2 | x, y ∈ Q}
Theorem 0.15. Consider a cyclotomic field (i.e. Q(θ)) where θ is primitive pth root (root
of 1 + x + x2 + · · · + xp−1 ), then ring of algebraic integer in Q(θ) denote A is a free abelian
group with basis {1, θ, · · · , θp−2 } (A ∼
= Z[θ])
Any ideal I in A is at most two generated (has form I = aA + bA for some a, b ∈ A)
In particular, I ∼
= A for p ≤ 19
Classification:
Ghgi
s = 1 + g + · · · + g p−1 ∈ Z[g]
Ms := {m ∈ M | s · m = 0}
M = Ms ⊕ X where X is Z-submodule of M
Consider Ms as ZG/(s) ∼
= A module
{x + (s)} · m = xm
Ms = Ab1 ⊕ · · · ⊕ Abn−1 ⊕ Ibn where bi ∈ Ms and Ibn is any ideal
x = Zy1 ⊕ · · · ⊕ Zyk .

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PGR seminar on 08 Nov 2017

Title: Generators of crystallographic groups

Definition 0.1 (defn of cryst group). A group Γ is an n-dimensional crystallographic

If A ∈ On (R), then A is n × n matrix such that AT = A−1 .

(A, a)(B, b) = (AB, a + Ab) ∈ Γ

Theorem 0.2 (1st Bieb thm). If Γ is an n-dimensional crystallographic group, then Γ ∩

By this theorem, we can express Γ as short exact sequence/group extension

Theorem 0.3 (Zassenhaus). Γ is an n-dimensional crystallographic group if and only if

Conjecture 0.4. Let Γ be n-dimensional torsion-free crystallographic group. Then m(Γ) ≤

idea: m(Γ) ≤ m(Zn ) + m(G) and we consider Zn as ZG-module.

Definition 0.5. Let M be ZG-module. We say M is decomposable if there exists non-zero

We then know the exact dimension, rank of indecomposable ZG-module

Corollary 0.8. Let Γ be an n-dimensional crystallographic group with holonomy group

Main results are about p-group.

Definition 0.9. Let M be ZG-module. We say M is reducible if Q ⊗ M is reducible as

Theorem 0.10 (Eckmann). Let G be nontrivial p-group. Let M be irreducible ZG-lattice

Given G is finite group. Then irreducible ⇒ indecomposable.

Proposition 0.11 (nansen). Let G be non-trivial p-group. Let M be faithful ZG-lattice

Proposition 0.13. Let G be a p-group and 0 → Zn → Γ → G → 1 be extension of groups

Theorem 0.14. Let Γ be n-dimensional crystallographic group with p-group as holonomy

algebraic number theory result:

An algebraic integer is a complex√ number that is a root of a non-zero monic polynomial

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