Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2023 / ii / Paper 4 / 19H / Solution

Schur lemma says that an intertwining linear map between irreducible finite-dimensional complex representations is either zero or an isomorphism. In particular, every endomorphism of an irreducible complex representation is a scalar multiple of the identity.

A continuous representation of a topological group is a continuous homomorphismfor a finite-dimensional complex vector space $V$. It is a unitary representation if $V$ has a positive-definite Hermitian inner product for whichfor every $g\in G$ and $v,w\in V$.

For $G=S^1$, start with any positive-definite Hermitian form and average it using normalized Haar measure:Translation invariance makes this form $S^1$-invariant, and positivity is preserved, proving unitarity. Since $S^1$ is abelian, the operators $\rho (z)$ commute; since they are unitary, they are normal. Simultaneous diagonalization therefore decomposes $V$ into common one-dimensional eigenspaces. Thus every representation of the circle group is a direct sum of one-dimensional representations.

WriteThe group law and inverse areA calculation givesEvery element of the centre $Z$ occurs by taking, for example, $x^{\prime }=y=0$ and $y^{\prime }=1$. Hence the commutator subgroup is exactly $Z$. The image of a one-dimensional representation is abelian, so the one-dimensional representation kills the commutator subgroup and its kernel contains $Z$.

Now let $(\rho ,V)$ be a complex representation of $G/Z_0$. Its restriction to the central subgroupis a representation of the circle group. Decompose it into its distinct weight spaces:Because $Z/Z_0$ is central, every $\rho (g)$ commutes with its action and preserves every common eigenspace. Thus the $V_i$ are $G/Z_0$-subrepresentations, as asserted by the central circle weight-space decomposition.

Let $n_i=\dim V_i$. The mapis a one-dimensional representation of $G/Z_0$; after composition with $G\to G/Z_0$, its kernel contains $Z$. On $z\in Z/Z_0$ its value isso ${\theta }_i^{n_i}=1$. A continuous character of $S^1$ has the form $z\mapsto z^m$; the displayed identity forces $m=0$. Therefore every ${\theta }_i$ is trivial. Since the ${\theta }_i$ were distinct, $d=1$ and ${\theta }_1=1$.

It follows that every finite-dimensional complex representation of $G/Z_0$ kills the entire nontrivial central circle $Z/Z_0$. Its kernel is therefore nontrivial, so no such representation is faithful. This is the real Heisenberg quotient has no faithful finite-dimensional representation.

Solved by gpt-5.6-sol high.