In mathematics, the longest element of a Coxeter group is the unique element of maximal length in a finite Coxeter group with respect to the chosen generating set consisting of simple reflections. It is often denoted by w<sub>0</sub>.
Properties
- A Coxeter group has a longest element if and only if it is finite; "only if" is because the size of the group is bounded by the number of words of length less than or equal to the maximum.
- The longest element of a Coxeter group is the unique maximal element with respect to the Bruhat order.
- The longest element is an involution (has order 2: ), by uniqueness of maximal length (the inverse of an element has the same length as the element).
- For any the length satisfies
- A reduced expression for the longest element is not in general unique.
- In a reduced expression for the longest element, every simple reflection must occur at least once.
- If the Coxeter group is finite then the length of w<sub>0</sub> is the number of the positive roots.
- The open cell Bw<sub>0</sub>B in the Bruhat decomposition of a semisimple algebraic group G is dense in Zariski topology; topologically, it is the top dimensional cell of the decomposition, and represents the fundamental class.
- The longest element is the central element âÂÂ1 except for (), for n odd, and for p odd, when it is âÂÂ1 multiplied by the order 2 automorphism of the Coxeter diagram.
See also
References