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9 Matrix Representations

This chapter describes functions which compute with matrix representations for pcp-groups. So far the routines in this package are only able to compute matrix representations for torsion-free nilpotent groups.

9.1 Unitriangular matrix groups

9.1-1 UnitriangularMatrixRepresentation

computes a faithful representation of a torsion-free nilpotent group G as unipotent lower triangular matrices over the integers. The pc-presentation for G must not contain any power relations. The algorithm is described in [dGN02].

9.1-2 IsMatrixRepresentation

checks if the map defined by mapping the i-th generator of the pcp-group G to the i-th matrix of matrices defines a homomorphism.

9.2 Upper unitriangular matrix groups

We call a matrix upper unitriangular if it is an upper triangular matrix with ones on the main diagonal. The weight of an upper unitriangular matrix is the number of diagonals above the main diagonal that contain zeroes only.

The subgroup of all upper unitriangular matrices of GL(n,ℤ) is torsion-free nilpotent. The k-th term of its lower central series is the set of all matrices of weight k-1. The ℤ-rank of the k-th term of the lower central series modulo the (k+1)-th term is n-k.

9.2-1 IsomorphismUpperUnitriMatGroupPcpGroup

takes a group G generated by upper unitriangular matrices over the integers and computes a polycylic presentation for the group. The function returns an isomorphism from the matrix group to the pcp group. Note that a group generated by upper unitriangular matrices is necessarily torsion-free nilpotent.

9.2-2 SiftUpperUnitriMatGroup

takes a group G generated by upper unitriangular matrices over the integers and returns a recursive data structure L with the following properties: L contains a polycyclic generating sequence for G, using L one can decide if a given upper unitriangular matrix is contained in G, a given element of G can be written as a word in the polycyclic generating sequence. L is a representation of a chain of subgroups of G refining the lower centrals series of G.. It contains for each subgroup in the chain a minimal generating set.

9.2-3 RanksLevels

takes the data structure returned by SiftUpperUnitriMat and prints the ℤ-rank of each the subgroup in L.

9.2-4 MakeNewLevel

creates one level of the data structure returned by SiftUpperUnitriMat and initialises it with weight m.

9.2-5 SiftUpperUnitriMat

takes the generators gens of an upper unitriangular group, the data structure returned level by SiftUpperUnitriMat and another upper unitriangular matrix M. It sift M through level and adds M at the appropriate place if M is not contained in the subgroup represented by level.

The function SiftUpperUnitriMatGroup illustrates the use of SiftUpperUnitriMat.

InstallGlobalFunction( "SiftUpperUnitriMatGroup", function( G )
    local   firstlevel,  g;

    firstlevel := MakeNewLevel( 0 );
    for g in GeneratorsOfGroup(G) do
        SiftUpperUnitriMat( GeneratorsOfGroup(G), firstlevel, g );
    od;
    return firstlevel;
end );

9.2-6 DecomposeUpperUnitriMat

takes the data structure level returned by SiftUpperUnitriMatGroup and a upper unitriangular matrix M and decomposes M into a word in the polycyclic generating sequence of level.

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