text:
# HST study of the LMC compact star forming region N83BBased on observations with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope obtained at the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under NASA contract NAS 5-26555.

## 1 Introduction

The giant H ii complex N83 (see Fig. 1 and Table 1), which lies in the western part of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) symmetrically opposed to the famous 30 Doradus, is a rather scarcely studied star formation site. Henize (hen (1956)) identified four ionized gas regions lying in that direction (N83 A, B, C, D). Davies et al. (dav (1976)) catalogued the whole gas complex as DEM 22 and found two more components (DEM 22a and DEM 22d). Radio continuum observations towards N83 (McGee & Newton mc (1972)) revealed the presence of a bright source (MC 16) coinciding with N83A (Caplan & Deharveng cd85 (1985)). Lucke and Hodge (lh (1970)) detected an OB association (LH 5) spanning over 16 square minutes (3600 square pc) around N83. It contains 26 blue stars (Lucke lucke (1974)), the brightest of which is Sk-6930 (Sanduleak sk (1970)), a G5 Ia with a magnitude of $`V=10.18`$ (Massey et al. massey (2000); Schmidt-Kaler et al. schmidt (1999)). There is also a very faint early type Wolf-Rayet star of the nitrogen sequence, BAT99-5 (Breysacher et al. bat (1999) and references therein).

IRAS detected two infrared sources towards N83A and N83B (Israel & Koornneef ik91 (1991)), and a study of 69 H ii regions by Ye (ye (1998)), using radio continuum observations obtained at the Molonglo Observatory Synthesis Telescope (MOST) and H$`\alpha `$ fluxes, showed that N83A ranks among the four most reddened regions in the LMC where ionized gas is associated with dust. Although N83B was not included in the survey, these findings argued in favor of an important star formation region.

High-resolution neutral atomic hydrogen observations have recently shown a supergiant H i shell in that part of the LMC (Kim et al. kim (1999)). Since the shells are believed to be created by the combined effects of the radiation pressure and the stellar wind of massive stars on the cool interstellar gas, these observations supported the presence of very hot stars towards N83.

Using the 2.2m and 3.6m telescopes of the European Southern Observatory (ESO), Heydari-Malayeri et al. (paperi (1990), hereafter Paper I) discovered a compact H ii region of $``$ 5′′ in size towards N83B. This object, which they named N83B-1, turned out to be a member of the so-called high-excitation blobs (HEBs) in the Magellanic Clouds. In contrast to the typical H ii regions of the Magellanic Clouds, which are extended structures spanning several minutes of arc on the sky and powered by a large number of hot stars, HEBs are very dense small regions usually 5′′ to 10′′ in diameter. At the distance of the Magellanic Clouds this corresponds to sizes of more than 50 pc for normal H ii regions and 1 to 3 pc for the blobs. HEBs are in fact associated with young massive stars just leaving their pre-natal molecular cloud (see Heydari-Malayeri et al. 1999c  for references). Paper I investigated several physical characteristics of N83B-1, such as the emission spectrum, excitation, extinction, gas density, chemical composition, abundances, etc. Comparison of JHK photometry and IRAS spectra indicated the presence of a compact infrared object with apparent dimensions of the order of 10′′ towards N83B (Israel & Koornneef ik91 (1991)).

In this paper we use observations obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope to study the compact H ii region N83B. The higher resolution of HST is essential in order to reveal the various emission and dust features of the nebula. Of particular interest is also to study the stellar content of the H ii region and our ability to unveil and identify the exciting stars, which up to now have remained unknown.

## 2 Observations and data reduction

The observations of N83B were performed with the Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 (WFPC2) on board of the HST using several broad- and narrow-band filters. The images taken with the broad-band filters (F300W, F467M, F410M, and F547M) were obtained on February 7, 2000 and had as a goal to reveal the details of the stellar content of N83B which was centered on the Planetary Camera (PC). The narrow-band filter images (F487N, F503N and F656N) were obtained on May 21, 2000. In that case the target was centered on the WF2 which has larger pixels and lower noise than the PC CCD and is better suited for detecting faint nebular emission. Exposures were taken at 4 different pointings offset by 0′′.8 and the exposure times ranged from 10 to 300 sec (see Table 2 for details).

The data were processed through the standard HST pipeline calibration. Multiple images were co-added using the stsdas task imcombine, while cosmic rays were detected and removed with the stsdas task crrej. Normalized images were then created using the total exposure times for each filter. To extract the positions of the stars, the routine daofind was applied to the images by setting the detection threshold to 5$`\sigma `$ above the local background level. The photometry was performed setting a circular aperture of 3–4 pixels in radius in the daophot package in stsdas.

A crucial point in our data reduction was the sky subtraction. For most isolated stars the sky level was estimated and subtracted automatically using an annulus of 6–8 pixel width around each star. However this could not be done for several stars located in the central region of N83B due to their crowding. In those cases we carefully examined the PSF size of each individual star (fwhm$``$ 2 pixels, corresponding to 0′′.09 on the sky) and did an appropriate sky subtraction using the mean of several nearby off-star positions. To convert into a magnitude scale we used zero points in the Vegamag system, that is the system where Vega is set to zero mag in Cousin broad-band filters. The magnitudes measured were corrected for geometrical distortion, finite aperture size (Holtzman et al. holtz (1995)), and charge transfer efficiency as recommended by the HST Data Handbook. Our broad-band images reveal 179 stars in the WFPC2 field of view. Thirty six (36) of those are confined towards N83B-1 within the area covered the PC. Most of them are also visible in the true-color image (Fig. 3), and can be identified using the finder chart presented in Fig. 4. In Table 3 we summarize the photometry for those stars around N83B-1 (the PC field of view) which are brighter than 19th magnitude in the Strömgren $`y`$ filter, as we cannot provide accurate colors for the fainter ones. The photometric errors estimated by daophot are smaller than 0.01 mag for the brighter (14–15 mag) stars, while they increase to $``$ 0.2 mag for 19 mag stars.

We note that the filter F547M is wider than the standard Strömgren $`y`$ filter. To evaluate the presence of any systematic effects in our photometry and color magnitude diagrams due to this difference in the filters, we used the stsdas package synphot. Using synthetic spectra of hot stars, with spectral types similar to those found in H ii regions, we estimated the difference due to the HST band-passes to be less than 0.002 mag, which is well within the photometric errors.

## 3 Results

### 3.1 Morphology

A large-scale image of the N83B field in H$`\alpha `$ emission obtained with HST is shown in Fig. 2, while a close-up view of the H ii region is presented in Fig. 3. The images for the first time resolve N83B and reveal several interesting nebular and stellar features. The H ii blob N83B-1, lies in the brightest part of the nebula, and is nearly two times more compact than previously believed ($``$ 2′′.8 across, 0.7 pc). The images also unveil a previously unknown even smaller H ii region of $``$ 1′′ in diameter lying less than 4′′ south-west of N83B-1. Hereafter we will call it N83B-2. Another interesting ionized region, N83B-3, situated some 6′′.5 (1.6 pc) south of N83B-1, is centered on star #34 and presents a relatively bright circular filament or arc to the south.

An outstanding feature, clearly visible in the above figures, is a narrow ridge or partial shell of ionized gas centered on N83B-1 and situated to its west at a projected distance of 2′′.5 (0.6 pc). This ridge, most probably produced by powerful stellar winds and shocks from the hot stars #29 and #10, indicates a very turbulent environment typical of star forming regions. All these emission features around N83B-1 are found in the eastern part of a larger diffuse nebula $``$ 30′′ ($``$ 7.5 pc) in diameter, N83B, which displays a shell structure, the northern part of which is abruptly curved to the east. The low brightness at the center of this shell nebula is most likely due to a cavity already created by the brightest star of the region (that is star #10, see Section 3.4).

Further north of N83B the much larger and even more diffuse nebular region DEM 22d is visible (top of Fig. 2). It is crossed by a prominent dark absorption lane extending over more than a minute of arc or 15 pc along the north-northeast direction. This structure is situated in front of the diffuse emission nebula. Even though it is not clearly obvious in the printed version of Fig. 2, inspecting the dark lane in detail, it appears that its borders are enhanced in brightness indicates that it is dense and ionized from outside, probably by the radiation field of the underlying nebula. This structure is somewhat reminiscent of “the gaseous pillars” observed by HST in M16.

The filamentary and wind induced structures are best seen in Fig. 5, which presents an un-sharp masking image of N83B in H$`\alpha `$ from which large scale structures have been subtracted. In order to remove these brightness variations and enhance the high spatial frequencies, a digital “mask” was created from the H$`\alpha `$ image. First the H$`\alpha `$ image was convolved by a 2 $`\times `$ 2-pixel Gaussian, and then the smoothed frame was subtracted from the original H$`\alpha `$ image. Interestingly, the inspection of the orientation of these arched filaments suggests the presence of several sources of stellar winds, particularly stars #29, #34, and #10 which are among the brightest blue stars of the cluster.

### 3.2 Extinction

A map of the H$`\alpha `$/H$`\beta `$ Balmer decrement is presented in Fig. 6a. It reveals a strong absorption zone coinciding with the H ii blob N83B-1, where the ratio reaches values as high as $``$ 7, while its mean value is 5.10 $`\pm 0.30`$. Using the interstellar reddening law, these ratios correspond to $`A_V`$ = 2.5 and 1.6 mag respectively. We note that star #29, the second brightest star in N83B (see Table 3), is situated in the direction of this high extinction region. Another peak with slightly smaller reddening is centered on star #28, located inside the compact blob N83B-2, and reaches a mean H$`\alpha `$ /H$`\beta `$ value of 4.5 corresponding to $`A_V`$ = 1.3 mag.

Outside those areas the reddening is smaller and becomes almost uniform towards the diffuse component with a mean value of $``$ 3.7 which corresponds to $`A_V`$ = 0.7 mag. For the whole N83B the global Balmer decrement is slightly larger, 3.85 $`\pm 0.02`$ or $`A_V`$ = 0.8 mag. This value revises the 3.99 which had been estimated in Paper I. The new H$`\alpha `$ /H$`\beta `$ map was used to accurately correct the H$`\beta `$ flux of the H ii region for interstellar reddening. The correction was applied to the H$`\beta `$ image on a pixel by pixel basis using straightforward mathematical operations. Our interpretation of these results is presented in the following section.

### 3.3 Nebular emission

The \[O iii\]$`\lambda `$5007/H$`\beta `$ intensity map (Fig. 6b) reveals a remarkably extended high-excitation zone where the O++ ions occupy almost the same volume as H+. However, the most excited area belongs to the compact component N83B-1, where the ratio reaches values as high as $``$ 6, while its mean value is around 4.5. Interestingly, the highest excitation area is at the same time the most reddened part of the nebula (Section 3.2), indicating the association of hot gas with local dust. On the other hand, the diffuse component is significantly less excited with a mean value $``$ 2. The second blob, N83B-2, is of even lower excitation, with \[O iii\]/H$`\beta `$$``$ 1, indicating that its associated exciting star, #28, has a later spectral type than that of star #29, which excites N83-B1, in agreement with the stars’ respective positions in the color-magnitude diagram (Fig. 7). Surprisingly, \[O iii\]/H$`\beta `$ is fairly low ($``$ 1.5) along the bright narrow ridge. One possibility is that this ridge is an ionization/shock front, seen nearly edge on. This structure is very reminiscent of the “Bright Bar” in the Orion Nebula, a region of enhanced H$`\alpha `$ surface brightness with a high \[N ii\]/H$`\alpha `$ ratio (O’Dell 2001, and references therein).

The total H$`\beta `$ flux of N83B was derived using the method explained in Section 3.2. The corrected flux is $`F_0`$(H$`\beta `$) = 1.76 $`\times `$ 10-11 erg cm-2 s-1 above 3$`\sigma `$ level without the stellar contribution and accurate to 3 %. Assuming that the H ii region is ionization-bounded, the corresponding Lyman continuum flux of the region is $`N_L`$ = 1.37 $`\times `$ 1049 photons s-1. A single main sequence star of type O6.5 or O7 or several massive stars of later types can account for this ionizing UV flux (Vacca et al. vacca (1996), Schaerer & de Koter sch (1997)). However, these are apparently underestimates since the H ii region is more likely to be density-bounded, as the west side of it, i. e. the diffuse shell nebula, appears to be torn open towards the interstellar medium.

### 3.4 Stellar content

The stars of the region imaged by HST have magnitudes ranging from $`y=14.57`$ to $``$ 22. Using a magnitude cutoff of $`y`$ = 19, we construct a color-magnitude (C-M) diagram of $`y`$ versus $`by`$ (Fig. 7) in which we have also added all the background stars around N83B visible in the whole field of WFPC2. The C-M diagram displays a rather well-defined main sequence for the N83B cluster in the interval $`14.56y19.00`$ centered on colors $`by=0.04`$, or $`vb=0.13`$. The colors and absolute magnitudes (see below) are typical of massive OB stars (Relyea & Kurucz rk (1978), Conti et al. conti (1986), Vacca et al. vacca (1996)). There is no evidence for stars evolved off the main sequence in N83B. We note that star #29 is offset red-wards ($`by=+0.19`$) in the C-M diagram. However, since it lies in the most heavily obscured area of the N83B-1 blob, it is quite probable that its color is reddened due to extinction by dust (see Section 3.2), and star #29 may be in fact intrinsically blue and one of the main exciting stars of the region. Similar reasoning could explain the rather red colors of two more stars, #23 which is situated on the bright ridge and #20 found just to the north side of the ridge.

The brightest star observed is #10 situated towards the center of the diffuse shell nebula. It has a faint visual companion, #11, lying just 0′′.3 to its east. The second brightest star is #94 which is a field star apparently associated with the main ionized gas component N83A; its J2000 coordinates are: $`\alpha `$ = 4:54:15.6, $`\delta `$ = –69:12:14.9. Following in brightness are stars #29 and #34 of N83B, the latter of which ionizes the nebula N83B-3. Another noteworthy star is #28 which lies inside the small nebular blob N83B-2. It should be a massive star responsible for the ionization of the compact nebula. Stars #34 and #28 are less reddened than star #29 in agreement with the fact that the extinction of their associated nebulae, estimated from the Balmer decrement, is smaller than that of N83B-1.

One could try to estimate the luminosities of the brightest stars of the cluster (#10 and #29), although in the absence of spectroscopic data this would not be accurate. In the case of star #10, using an extinction of $`A_V`$ = 0.7 mag corresponding to the mean value for the associated nebula (Section 3.2), and a distance modulus $`m`$ – $`M`$ = 18.5 (e.g. Kovács ko (2000) and references therein), we find a visual absolute magnitude $`M_V=4.63`$. If the star is on the main sequence, according to the calibration of Vacca et al. (vacca (1996)) for Galactic stars, it would be an O8V. The corresponding luminosity and mass would be log L = 5.235 $`L_{}`$ and $`M`$ = 30 $`M_{}`$. The reddening correction for star #29 is more important since the star is embedded in a region where the extinction reaches a value of $`A_V`$ = 2.5 mag. Correcting for the reddening the absolute magnitude of the star is estimated as $`M_V`$$``$ –5, which corresponds to a main sequence O6 star with a ZAMS mass of 45 $`M_{}`$(Vacca et al. vacca (1996)).

Apart from the main sequence, the C-M diagram shows several stellar populations with a variety of red colors. These should be a mix of stars in different stages of evolution affected by the interstellar dust along the line of sight. Disentangling those populations is not an easy task and doing so using just the present data would be rather speculative.

## 4 Discussion

It is interesting to speculate about the physical conditions that led to the formation of the two adjacent ionized blobs (N83B-1 and N83B-2) inside the larger N83B and understand why they have different sizes. Of course the size depends on the mass or temperature of the exciting stars, but also on the density of the molecular clumps. On the other hand, the mass of the exciting stars themselves might depend on the clump density in which they formed. So, was the initial density of the molecular clumps the main factor, denser clumps formed more massive stars, or were there random factors at work in a very turbulent environment? We cannot provide a definite answer to all these questions, but we will try to probe some of the issues by placing these objects into the global star formation history of the region. To do so let us examine the N83 region in more detail.

The N83 ionized gas complex occupies the central part of the LMC OB association LH 5 (Lucke & Hodge lh (1970)) and is dominated by the bright and large H ii region N83A (Fig. 1). The main exciting star of N83A, Sk-6925 (Sanduleak sk (1970)), is an O6 V((f)) type with $`V=12.28`$, $`BV=0.14`$, and $`UB=0.97`$ mag (Massey et al. massey (2000); Schmidt-Kaler et al. schmidt (1999)). An age of 2.24 Myr and a ZAMS mass of 64 $`M_{}`$ are estimated for this star (Massey et al. massey (2000)). Unfortunately little is known about the stellar content and detailed physical properties of N83A. We do know however that it is associated with a large quantity of dust, as shown by the IRAS observations or by its strong extinction (Caplan & Deharveng cd (1986), Ye ye (1998)). An H$`\alpha `$ /H$`\beta `$ ratio of 3.77 derived by these authors for the whole N83A indicates an interstellar extinction of $`A_V`$ = 0.8 mag.

On the other hand, N83B which lies at $``$ 2 ($``$ 30 pc) north-east of N83A (Fig. 1), probably represents the most recent massive starburst in the giant H ii complex N83 and the OB association LH 5. The young age is inferred from the fact that the burst is associated with a compact high-excitation H ii blob, N83B-1, which is strongly affected by local dust. The extreme youth of N83B is corroborated by the results of Israel & Koornneef (ik91 (1991)) who conducted a JHK survey of the LMC H ii regions and compared it with the IRAS observations. In the case of N83B, they detected a compact source of less than 10′′ in size at both near-IR and IRAS wavelengths, whereas no compact source was found towards N83A. An inspection of their Table 3 shows that all very young star formation regions are associated with compact IR sources, as is particularly the case for other Magellanic H ii blobs, such as N159-5, N81, and N88A (Heydari-Malayeri et al. 1999 a,b,c), as well as for many Galactic H ii regions.

The HST observations reveal those, so far hidden, components of N83B and bring to light a starburst made of dozens of newborn stars. As discussed earlier, the star cluster consists of a well-defined main sequence population with 19 members ranging in magnitude from $`y=14.57`$ to 19.00 spreading over 56 pc2. They are all associated with the H ii region and many of them participate in its ionization. Our observations also imply that the true number of massive stars in the LMC is underestimated, since a large number of them should be hidden in similarly unresolved small clusters. Based on the number of detected stars over the area imaged by HST we estimate a surface density of 0.34 stars pc-2 for massive stars in N83B, which is quite high, a factor of $``$ 50 higher than that for LH 5 (Lucke lucke (1974)), and even a factor of 17 higher than the mean density derived for a sample of five OB associations in the Magellanic Clouds (Massey et al. massey95 (1995), Hunter hunter (1995)). Though the total number of massive stars is not well determined, even if we reduce them to 10 the corresponding density is 0.18 stars pc-2 which is still $``$ 10 time larger than that of the Magellanic Clouds OB associations. The star density in the N83B-1 area is in fact higher than that, since we are quite certain that at least stars #10, #28, #29, and #34 are all massive and hot occupying an area of only 7 pc2. This yields a density of 0.57 stars pc-2 which is interestingly just $``$ 3 times smaller than that of R136 (Hunter hunter (1995)). One should keep in mind though that the above comparisons may not reveal the whole picture as they may be affected by the small-number statistics due to the size of our regions and also by the uncertainties on the number of candidate massive stars. On the other hand, a recent study by Parker et al. (2001) shows that field stars significantly contaminate the massive star population of the LMC OB associations, and hence the corresponding initial mass functions. Consequently, this tends to aggravate the discrepancy in the estimated stellar densities.

Furthermore, our imaging clearly shows the structure of the two compact H ii blobs, N83B-1 and N83B-2, and the small arc-nebula, N83B-3, bathing in N83B. The first one represents the brightest and the most excited region of N83B. Its exciting star, #29, is presumably the most massive and hottest star of the burst, since it is responsible for the particularly high excitation measured from the strength of the doubly ionized oxygen line. As for the smaller blob N83B-2, its ionizing source (#28) is expected to be a late type O or an early B, since the nebular \[O iii\] /H$`\beta `$ ratio is not large. The same should be true for #34, the exciting star of N83B-3. The relatively high brightness of the arc south of this nebula suggests the presence of high density material also in that direction.

The blob N83B-1 is likely the most obscured part of the N83 complex with $`A_V`$$``$ 2.5 mag. It is probably the optical counterpart of the compact IR source detected by Israel & Koornneeff (ik91 (1991)). While dust may be mixed with ionized gas, such a large extinction implies the presence of dust also outside the nebula, since the Balmer decrement due to absorption by internal dust becomes saturated at a ratio of 4.3 (for $`R=A_V/E(BV)=3.1`$) or $`A_V=1.1`$ mag. Note also that the H ii region’s mean H$`\alpha `$ /H$`\beta `$ ratio of 3.85 is higher than the value of 3.77 obtained for N83A (Caplan & Deharveng cd (1986), Ye ye (1998)). An extinction of $`A_V`$ = 0.5 mag derived for Sk-6925 from its photometry and spectral type indicates that the main exciting star of N83A is not situated in the most reddened part of the H ii region, contrarily to what is the case for #29, the exciting star of N83B-1.

A rather noteworthy point is the presence of the three H ii region N83B-1, 2, and 3 at the same side of N83B. This alignment need not be by chance, but probably due to the presence of the adjacent molecular cloud. The particularly high extinction of N83B-1 can be explained by the presence of dust associated with the molecular cloud very probably located east of N83B-1 and south of N83B-3. In fact the brightest area of the nebula, the blob N83B-1, is expected to lie near the intersection zone between the ionized gas and the molecular cloud. Two different models can be proposed to explain the observed morphology. According to the first one, N83B-1 and the shell nebula may be two parts of the same H ii region. In that case the H ii region is probably ionization-bounded towards N83B-1, while ionized gas is pouring out into the interstellar medium mainly via the diffuse component, as predicted by the champagne model (Tenorio-Tagle teno (1979), Bodenheimer et al. boden (1979)). Alternatively, we may be watching four separate H ii regions: N83B-1 which is still embedded in the molecular cloud, N82B-2, N83B-3, and the shell nebula, which should be a relatively evolved H ii region.

In the framework of the latter model, which we favor, N83B-1 is expected to be younger than the diffuse shell nebula, because it is compact, denser, and still embedded in the molecular cloud. This leads to the conjecture that the exciting stars of N83B-1 and N83B-2, i.e. #29 and #28, may have been triggered by the eastward expansion of the shell nebula according to the sequential star formation model (Elmegreen & Lada el (1977)). There are many cases in the literature for which this mechanism has been put forward to explain the observations, in particular that of the SMC H ii region N88A (Heydari-Malayeri et al. 1999b ).

A conspicuous feature of N83B uncovered by the HST images is the cavity carved in the diffuse nebula by the strong wind of the central star #10 which has a particularly strong ultraviolet radiation (Table 3). We try here to estimate an age for the cavity. Assuming a typical mass loss rate of 6 $`\times `$ 10-5 $`M_{}`$ yr-1 for the presumed central O star, a conservative wind velocity of 1000 km s-1, a gas density of 100 cm-3, and an observed radius of 2.5 pc, we find a lifetime of 37,000 yr from the classical equations governing the interaction of the stellar wind and the interstellar medium (Weaver et al. weaver (1977), Dyson dyson (1978)). Should the wind velocity be higher, 2000 km s-1, the corresponding age will be 23,000 yr. In the same way, we can calculate the age of the sharp emission ridge with the assumption that it is created by star#29. Using the same mass loss rate as the one adopted for #10, a wind velocity of 1000 km s-1, a gas density of 1000 cm-3 (Paper I), and a projected radius of 0.6 pc, we derive an age of 7400 yr for the bright ridge. It is also possible that the ridge in fact results from the interaction of the winds of both stars #29 and #10. Consequently, its true age may be larger if the wind of star #10 significantly decelerates the westward advance of the ridge and/or if its assumed radius is actually underestimated due to projection effects.

These new HST data combined with large-scale, low-resolution observations obtained with ground-based telescopes provide new evidence in favor of hierarchical star formation (Elmegreen & Efremov elm96 (1996), Elmegreen elm00 (2000)) in this region. According to this model, large-scale star-forming regions have a fractal architecture, in the sense that the cloud structures appear self-similar over a wide range of scales. The gas structures range from superclouds ($``$ 107$`M_{}`$) in which star complexes form, to giant molecular clouds (103 to 106$`M_{}`$) in which clusters and OB associations form, to small molecular cores ($`<`$ 103$`M_{}`$) in which individual and multiple stars form (Elmegreen & Efremov elm96 (1996)). A recent study by Elmegreen (elm00 (2000)) of the age difference versus size has yielded an interesting correlation for 244 LMC clusters with size and age ranges $``$ 0.1–1000 pc and 10–100 Myr, respectively. It turns out that the timescale for coherent star formation in a region is always about one turbulent crossing time (defined as half-size divided by the Gaussian dispersion in internal velocity), scaling approximately with square root of size. This implies that small regions should evolve faster than large regions: inside the larger regions, numerous smaller regions form and dissolve many times over a relatively long period.

This scenario seems very attractive for the OB association LH 5 and the H ii complex N83. In other words the HST observations provide a rare case in which by penetrating into very small spatial scales in the LMC we discover a fractal star-forming region. The OB association LH 5, which spreads over an area of 16 square minutes (3600 square pc), harbors tens of bright, blue and red stars as well as several H ii regions. None of the brightest stars lie in the HST field of view, except the ones indicated in Fig. 1. The brightest star of the association, Sk-6930 (Sanduleak sk (1970)), is in fact an evolved supergiant of type G5 Ia (Massey et al. massey (2000)) with $`V=10.18`$ mag (Schmidt-Kaler et al. schmidt (1999)). The association contains also a Wolf-Rayet star of type WN2, called BAT99-5 (Conti & Massey c/m (1989); Breysacher et al. bat (1999)), which naturally comes from the evolution of a massive O type progenitor. Using photometry and spectroscopy to construct the HR diagram and by fitting isochrones, Massey et al. (massey (2000)) estimate an age of 1.26 to 2.24 Myr for the brightest main sequence O type stars of the association, while they derive an age of 6.46 Myr for the supergiant Sk-6930 (Fig. 1). On the other hand, almost all of the known O type stars of LH 5 either lie outside the H ii regions, or are associated with diffuse, low-density ionized gas, implying that these stars have had enough time to fully or partially dissipate their H ii regions. All these facts support a scenario of continuous massive star formation with an age spread in the OB association LH 5, in agreement with a timescale of $``$ 9 Myr estimated from Elmegreen’s (elm00 (2000)) hierarchical scaling law.

At a lower level, N83A, the largest H ii region of the association, extends over $``$ 2 or $``$ 30 pc. Let us assume that the H ii region traces the size of the molecular clump which formed the stars in N83A. One may argue that this is not justified if the associated burst is tightly packed and the hot gas expands fast. However, the diffuse structure of N83A which shows no conspicuous brightness peak supports the assumption. Using the same law, a timescale of $``$ 6 Myr is therefore expected for the star formation in N83A, and this is in agreement with the above-mentioned age estimate of 2.24 Myr for Sk-6925, the main exciting star of N83A.

The brighter and more compact H ii region N83B has a diameter of $``$ 30′′ or 7.5 pc, and the uncovered main sequence blue stars extend over almost the same area. Therefore the hierarchical scaling law predicts a younger age of $``$ 3 Myr for this region which is consistent with the evidence we presented in this paper suggesting that N83B is in fact younger than N83A.

Going down towards even smaller scales, the presence of the two blobs N83B-1 and N83B-2 and the arc-nebula inside N83B advocates the idea of a fractal structure in the molecular cloud which gave rise to star formation in this part of the LMC. This obviously presumes that even the sequential star formation needs a pre-existing gas concentration, since it only provokes the collapse of the gas and will be inoperative in its absence. The corresponding timescale for N83B-1, as predicted by the hierarchical model, is $``$ 1 Myr and follows our scenario in which we have argued that N83B-1 is the youngest and most massive product of star formation in this region.

If the described size-age relation is valid at even lower spatial scales, the H ii region N83B-2 should be younger than N83B-1, as its size is smaller. However, at this stage we have no solid evidence on the age of N83B-2 which would corroborate this assertion. As discussed earlier, the \[O iii\] /H$`\beta `$ ratios indicate that the exciting star of N83B-2 (#28) may actually be less massive than the one inside N83B-1 (#29). Should this be the case, this does not contradict the scenario of fractal star forming structures, as it is possible that in that location the physical conditions (e.g. lack of a large molecular cloud) were not favorable for the formation of a more massive star. Some of these uncertainties may be resolved in the future if spectra of these stars are obtained and accurate ages are estimated.

## 5 Conclusions

Based on the new HST observations of N83B described in the paper, we conclude the following:

1) The so-called high excitation blob N83B is resolved into two extremely compact regions N83B-1 and N83B-2. Together with the arc-nebula N83B-3, all three are located in the eastern edge of N83B and their origin appear to be the result of triggered/sequential star formation.

2) A large number of candidate massive stars is revealed making the stellar surface density of the region several times larger than what is typically found in other the OB associations of the Magellanic Clouds.

3) Taking into account the observations ranging from large scales (of order 100 pc, see Fig. 1) to small scales (of order 1 pc, Fig. 3) seems to indicate that indeed the age of a star formation region scales with the square root of its size (1 Myr for 1 pc). The underlying reason for this scaling relation (“star formation law”) could be sought in the fact that the mean gas density of a star forming region is inversely proportional to its linear dimension such that the mean gas column density is constant for all scales. Since the dynamical timescale is inversely proportional to the square root of the mean density (1 Myr for 103 cm-3), the dynamical time would scale with the square root of the size.

###### Acknowledgements.

The authors are grateful to the referee Dr. Joel Wm. Parker (Southwest Research Institute) whose useful comments contributed to improve the paper. We are also indebted to Dr. Bruce Elmegreen (IBM Research Division) for reading the manuscript and discussion. VC would like to acknowledge the financial support for this work provided by NASA through grant number GO-8247 from the STScI, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under NASA contract 26555.


format: text

text:
# Rationality properties of unipotent representations

## Introduction

### 0.1

Let $`𝕜`$ be an algebraic closure of a finite field $`F_q`$ with $`q`$ elements. Let $`G`$ be a connected simple algebraic group of adjoint type over $`𝕜`$ with a fixed $`F_q`$-rational structure; let $`F:G\mathrm{@}>>>G`$ be the corresponding Frobenius map. The fixed point set $`G^F`$ is a finite group. Let $`W`$ be the Weyl group of $`G`$. For $`wW`$ let $`R_w`$ be the character of the virtual representation $`R^1(w)`$ of $`G^F`$ defined in \[DL,  1.5\]. (The definition of $`R_w`$ is in terms of $`l`$-adic cohomology but in fact $`R_w`$ has integer values and is independent of $`l`$, see \[DL,  3.3\].) An irreducible representation $`\rho `$ of $`G^F`$ over $``$ is said to be unipotent if its character $`\chi _\rho :G^F\mathrm{@}>>>`$ occurs with $`0`$ multiplicity in $`R_w`$ for some $`wW`$ (see \[DL,  7.8\]). Let $`𝒰`$ be the set of isomorphism classes of unipotent representations of $`G^F`$. Let $`\stackrel{~}{𝒰}_{}=\{\rho 𝒰|\chi _\rho (g)gG^F\}`$. Let $`𝒰_{}`$ be the set of all $`\rho 𝒰`$ such that $`\rho `$ is defined over $``$ (that is, it can be realized by a $`[G^F]`$-module). We have $`𝒰_{}\stackrel{~}{𝒰}_{}𝒰`$.

Unless otherwise specified, we assume that $`G`$ is split over $`F_q`$. The following is one of our results.

###### Theorem 0.2

We have $`𝒰_{}=\stackrel{~}{𝒰}_{}`$.

### 0.3

We will also show (see 1.12) that, if $`G`$ is of type $`A,B,C`$ or $`D`$, then $`𝒰_{}=𝒰`$. (The analogous statement is false for exceptional types.) The rationality of certain unipotent cuspidal representations connected with Coxeter elements has been proved in \[L1\]. The method of \[L1\] has been extended in \[L3\] (unpublished) to determine explicitly $`𝒰_{}`$ in the general case (including non-split groups). The case where $`G`$ is non-split of type $`A`$ has been also considered by Ohmori \[Oh\] by another extension of the method of \[L1\].

Our study of rationality of unipotent representations is based on the statement that a given unipotent representation appears with multiplicity $`1`$ in some (possibly virtual) representation $`R`$ defined using $`l`$-adic cohomology and then using the Hasse principle. In the first method (that of \[L3\]), $`R`$ is a particular intersection cohomology space of a variety; see Sec.1. In the second method (which applies only in the cuspidal case), $`R`$ will be one of the $`R_w`$ above; see Sec.2. In one case ($`G=SO_5`$ with $`q`$ odd), we give an elementary approach to rationality (without using the Hasse principle); see Sec.3.

## 1. First method

### 1.1

Let $`p`$ be the characteristic of $`F_q`$. For any prime number $`lp`$, we choose an imbedding of the field $`_l`$, the $`l`$-adic numbers, into $``$. This allows us to regard any representation of $`G^F`$ over $`_l`$ as one over $``$. Let $`X`$ be the flag manifold of $`G`$; let $`F:X\mathrm{@}>>>X`$ be the map induced by $`F:G\mathrm{@}>>>G`$. For $`wW`$ let $`O_w`$ be the set of all $`(B,B^{})X\times X`$ that are in relative position $`w`$. As in \[DL\], for any $`wW`$, let $`X_w`$ be the subvariety of $`X`$ consisting of all $`BX`$ such that $`(B,F(B))O_w`$; let $`\overline{X}_w`$ be the closure of $`X_w`$ in $`X`$. Then $`X_w,\overline{X}_w`$ are stable under the conjugation action of $`G^F`$ on $`X`$. Hence for any $`j`$ there is an induced action of $`G^F`$ on the $`l`$-adic cohomology with compact support $`H_c^j(X_w,_l)`$ and on the $`l`$-adic intersection cohomology $`^j(\overline{X}_w,_l)`$. (Note that $`\overline{X}_w`$ has pure dimension $`l(w)`$ where $`l:W\mathrm{@}>>>`$ is the length function.) Recall that $`R_w`$ is the character of the virtual representation $`_j(1)^jH_c^j(X_w,_l)`$ of $`G^F`$.

###### Lemma 1.2

Let $`\rho 𝒰`$. There exists $`xW`$ and $`j[0,l(x)]`$ such that $`\rho `$ appears with multiplicity $`1`$ in the $`G^F`$-module $`^j(\overline{X}_x,_l)`$.

The proof is based on results of \[L2\]. For any $`xW`$ let $`𝒜_x`$ be the virtual representation of $`W`$ defined in \[L2,  p.154, 156\]. For any virtual representation $`E`$ of $`W`$ we set $`R_E=|W|^1_{wW}\text{tr}(w,E)R_w`$. (A $``$-valued class function on $`G^F`$.) Thus, $`R_{𝒜_x}`$ is defined. Let $`a:W\mathrm{@}>>>`$ be as in \[L2,  p.178\]. Assume that

(a) $`xW`$ is such that $`\rho `$ appears with multiplicity $`1`$ in $`(1)^{l(x)a(x)}R_{𝒜_x}`$.

Then from \[L2,  6.15,  6.17(i),  5.13(i)\] we deduce that $`\rho `$ appears with multiplicity $`1`$ in $`^{l(x)a(x)}(\overline{X}_x,_l)`$. (Actually, in the references given, $`q`$ is assumed to be sufficiently large; but this assumption is removed later in \[L2\].) Thus, to prove the lemma it is enough to show that (a) holds for some $`xW`$. Now in \[L2\], the multiplicities of any unipotent representation in $`(1)^{l(x)a(x)}R_{𝒜_x}`$ have been explicitly described for many $`x`$. (See for example the tables in \[L2,  p.304-306\] for types $`E_8,F_4`$ and the results in \[L2,  Ch.9\] for classical types.) In particular, we see that (a) holds for some $`xW`$.

###### Lemma 1.3

Let $`\rho \stackrel{~}{𝒰}_{}`$. Let $`l`$ be a prime number invertible in $`𝕜`$. Let $`x,j`$ be as in 1.2.

(a) $`\rho `$ is defined over $`_l`$.

(b) If $`j`$ is even then $`\rho `$ is defined over $``$. If $`j`$ is odd then $`\rho `$ is not defined over $``$.

(c) If $`j`$ is even then $`\rho 𝒰_{}`$.

Clearly, (a) follows from 1.2. We prove (b). Let $`cH^2(\overline{X}_w,_l)`$ be the Chern class of an ample line bundle on $`\overline{X}_w`$ (we ignore Tate twists); we may assume that this line bundle is the restriction of a line bundle on $`X`$. Since $`G^F`$ acts trivially on $`H^2(X,_l)`$ it follows that $`c`$ is $`G^F`$-stable. Hence the map $`^j(\overline{X}_x,_l)\mathrm{@}>>>^{2l(x)j}(\overline{X}_x,_l)`$ given by $`\xi c^{l(x)j}\xi `$ is compatible with the $`G^F`$-action. This map is an isomorphism, by the Hard Lefschetz Theorem \[BBD,  5.4.10\]. Let $`(,):^j(\overline{X}_x,_l)\times ^{2l(x)j}(\overline{X}_x,_l)`$ be the Poincaré duality pairing. (We again ignore Tate twists.) Then $`\xi ,\xi ^{}(\xi ,c^{l(x)j}\xi ^{})`$ is a $`(1)^j`$-symmetric, non-singular, $`G^F`$-invariant bilinear form $`^j(\overline{X}_x,_l)\times ^j(\overline{X}_x,_l)_l`$. This restricts to a $`(1)^j`$-symmetric, $`G^F`$-invariant bilinear form on the $`\rho `$-isotypic part of $`^j(\overline{X}_x,_l)`$, which is non-singular, since $`\rho `$ is isomorphic to its dual (recall that $`\rho \stackrel{~}{𝒰}_{}`$). This $`\rho `$-isotypic part is isomorphic to $`\rho `$ and (b) follows. Under the assumption of (c), we see from (a),(b), using the Hasse principle for division algebras with centre $``$ that $`\rho `$ is defined over $``$. (The Hasse principle is applicable even when information is missing at one place, in our case at $`p`$-adic numbers.) The lemma is proved.

###### Lemma 1.4

Let $`\rho \stackrel{~}{𝒰}_{}`$. Let $`x,j`$ be as in 1.2. Then $`j`$ is even.

It is known \[L2\] that the parity of an integer $`j`$ such that $`\rho `$ appears with non-zero multiplicity in $`^j(\overline{X}_x,_l)`$ for some $`xW`$ is an invariant of $`\rho `$. Moreover, $`j`$ is even except if $`G`$ is of type $`E_7`$ and $`\rho `$ is one the two unipotent cuspidal representations or $`G`$ is of type $`E_8`$ and $`\rho `$ is a component of the representation induced by one of the two unipotent cuspidal representations of a parabolic of type $`E_7`$. (See \[L2,  Ch.11\].) In these exceptional cases, we have $`\rho \stackrel{~}{𝒰}_{}`$, as one sees using \[L2,  11.2\]. The lemma is proved.

### 1.5

Now Theorem 0.2 follows immediately from 1.3(c) and 1.4.

### 1.6

Let $`𝒳`$ be the set of all triples $`(,y,\sigma )`$ where $``$ is a ”family” \[L2,  4.2\] of irreducible representations of $`W`$ (with an associated finite group $`𝒢_{}`$, see \[L2,  Ch.4\]), $`y`$ is an element of $`𝒢_{}`$ defined up to conjugacy and $`\sigma `$ is an irreducible representation of the centralizer of $`y`$ in $`𝒢_{}`$ defined up to isomorphism. For $`(,y,\sigma )𝒳`$, let $`\lambda _{y,\sigma }`$ be the scalar by which $`y`$ acts on $`\sigma `$ (a root of $`1`$). Let $`𝒳_1`$ be the set of all $`(,y,\sigma )𝒳`$ such that $`||2`$ and $`\lambda _{y,\sigma }=\pm 1`$. If $`q`$ is a square, let $`𝒳_2`$ be the set of all $`(,y,\sigma )𝒳`$ such that $`||=2,y=1`$. If $`q`$ is not a square, let $`𝒳_2=\mathrm{}`$. In any case, $`𝒳_2`$ is empty unless $`G`$ is of type $`E_7`$ or $`E_8`$. Let $`𝒳_{}=𝒳_1𝒳_2`$.

In \[L2,  4.23\], $`𝒳`$ is put in a bijection

$$(,y,\sigma )\rho _{,y,\sigma }$$
$`a`$
with $`𝒰`$.

###### Lemma 1.7

Assume that $`\rho =\rho _{,y,\sigma }`$, $`\rho ^{}=\rho _{^{},y^{},\sigma ^{}}`$ where $`(,y,\sigma )𝒳_{}`$, $`(^{},y^{},\sigma ^{})𝒳`$ are distinct. Then there exists $`xW`$ such that $`\rho ,\rho ^{}`$ have different multiplicities in the $`G^F`$-module $`(1)^{l(x)a(x)}R_{𝒜_x}`$.

As mentioned in the proof of 1.2, the multiplicities of various unipotent representations have been explicitly computed in \[L2\] for many $`xW`$. From this the lemma follows easily.

###### Lemma 1.8

Let $`\rho =\rho _{,y,\sigma }`$, where $`(,y,\sigma )𝒳_{}`$. Then $`\rho \stackrel{~}{𝒰}_{}`$.

Let $`\gamma \text{Gal}(/)`$. Then $`\gamma (\chi _\rho )=\chi _\rho ^{}`$ for some $`\rho ^{}𝒰`$. Since the character of $`(1)^{l(x)a(x)}R_{𝒜_x}`$ is integer valued, it is fixed by $`\gamma `$. (Here $`x`$ is any element of $`W`$.) Hence $`\rho ,\rho ^{}`$ have the same multiplicity in $`(1)^{l(x)a(x)}R_{𝒜_x}`$. From 1.7 it follows that $`\rho =\rho ^{}`$. Thus, $`\gamma (\chi _\rho )=\chi _\rho `$ for any $`\gamma \text{Gal}(/)`$, so that $`\chi _\rho `$ has rational values. The lemma is proved.

###### Lemma 1.9

Let $`\rho =\rho _{,y,\sigma }`$, where $`(,y,\sigma )𝒳_{}`$. Then $`\rho \stackrel{~}{𝒰}_{}`$.

Assume first that $`\lambda _{y,\sigma }\pm 1`$. Then $`\lambda _{y,\sigma }`$ hence there exists $`\gamma \text{Gal}(/)`$ such that $`\gamma (\lambda _{y,\sigma })\lambda _{y,\sigma }`$. Using the interpretation of $`\lambda _{y,\sigma }`$ given in \[L2,  11.2\], it follows that $`\gamma (\chi _\rho )\chi _\rho `$. Hence $`\rho \stackrel{~}{𝒰}_{}`$. Next assume that $`\lambda _{y,\sigma }=\pm 1`$. Then $`||=2`$. Moreover, if $`q`$ is a square, then $`y1`$. Let $`\sigma ^{}`$ be the character of $`𝒢_{}=/2`$ other than $`\sigma `$. Let $`\rho ^{}=\rho _{,y,\sigma ^{}}`$. If $`y1`$, then by the results of \[L1\], $`\chi _\rho `$ is carried to $`\chi _\rho ^{}`$ by an element of $`\text{Gal}(/)`$ that takes $`\sqrt{q}`$ to $`\sqrt{q}`$. If $`y=1`$, then by the known construction of representations of Hecke algebras in terms of $`W`$-graphs, $`\chi _\rho `$ is carried to $`\chi _\rho ^{}`$ by an element of $`\text{Gal}(/)`$ that takes $`\sqrt{q}`$ to $`\sqrt{q}`$. Hence again $`\rho \stackrel{~}{𝒰}_{}`$.

###### Proposition 1.10

Under the bijection $`𝒳𝒰`$ in 1.6(a), the subset $`\stackrel{~}{𝒰}_{}`$ of $`𝒰`$ corresponds to the subset $`𝒳_{}`$ of $`𝒳`$.

This follows immediately from 1.9, 1.10.

Combining this proposition with 0.2, we obtain:

###### Corollary 1.11

Under the bijection $`𝒳𝒰`$ in 1.6(a), the subset $`𝒰_{}`$ of $`𝒰`$ corresponds to the subset $`𝒳_{}`$ of $`𝒳`$.

If $`G`$ is of type $`A,B,C`$ or $`D`$, then for any family $``$ we have $`||2`$ and the group $`𝒢_{}`$ is an elementary abelian $`2`$-group hence $`\lambda _{y,\sigma }=\pm 1`$ for any $`(,y,\sigma )𝒳`$. Thus, we have $`𝒳_{}=𝒳`$ and we obtain:

###### Corollary 1.12

If $`G`$ is of type $`A,B,C`$ or $`D`$, then $`𝒰_{}=𝒰`$.

### 1.13

In this subsection we assume that $`G`$ is non-split. The analogues of Lemmas 1.2, 1.3 continue to hold but that of Lemma 1.4 does not. (It does in type $`D`$ but not in type $`A`$.) Also, if $`G`$ is non-split of type $`D`$, then $`𝒰_{}=𝒰`$. If $`G`$ is non-split of type $`A`$ we have $`\stackrel{~}{𝒰}_{}=𝒰`$ but $`𝒰_{}𝒰`$ in general.

## 2. Second method

### 2.1

Let $`n`$. Let $`\lambda _1,\lambda _2,\mathrm{},\lambda _a`$ be a sequence of integers such that

$$\underset{i}{}\lambda _i=n+\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{a}{2}\right).$$
$`a`$
We define a virtual representation $`[\lambda _1,\lambda _2,\mathrm{},\lambda _a]`$ of the symmetric group $`S_n`$ as follows. If $`0\lambda _1<\lambda _2<\mathrm{}<\lambda _a`$, then $`[\lambda _1,\lambda _2,\mathrm{},\lambda _a]`$ is the irreducible representation of $`S_n`$ corresponding to the partition $`\lambda _1\lambda _21\mathrm{}\lambda _aa+1`$ of $`n`$, as in \[L2,  p.81\]. If $`\lambda _1,\lambda _2,\mathrm{},\lambda _a`$ are in $``$ and are distinct, then

$$[\lambda _1,\lambda _2,\mathrm{},\lambda _a]=\text{sgn}(\sigma )[\lambda _{\sigma (1)},\lambda _{\sigma (2)},\mathrm{},\lambda _{\sigma (a)}]$$

where $`\sigma `$ is the unique permutation of $`1,2,\mathrm{},a`$ such that $`\lambda _{\sigma (1)}<\lambda _{\sigma (2)}<\mathrm{}<\lambda _{\sigma (a)}`$. If $`\lambda _1,\lambda _2,\mathrm{},\lambda _a`$ are not distinct, or if at least one of them is $`<0`$, we set $`[\lambda _1,\lambda _2,\mathrm{},\lambda _a]=0`$. From the definition we see easily that

$$[\lambda _1,\lambda _2,\mathrm{},\lambda _a]=[0,\lambda _1+1,\lambda _2+1,\mathrm{},\lambda _a+1]$$

for any sequence of integers $`\lambda _1,\lambda _2,\mathrm{},\lambda _a`$ such that (a) holds.

###### Lemma 2.2

Let $`\lambda _1,\lambda _2,\mathrm{},\lambda _a`$ be a sequence of integers such that 2.1(a) holds. Let $`w=(k)w^{}S_k\times S_{nk}S_n`$ where $`(k)`$ denotes a $`k`$-cycle in $`S_k`$ and $`w^{}S_{nk}`$. We have

$$\text{tr}(w,[\lambda _1,\lambda _2,\mathrm{},\lambda _a])=\underset{i=1}{\overset{a}{}}\text{tr}(w^{},[\lambda _1,\lambda _2,\mathrm{},\lambda _{i1},\lambda _ik,\lambda _{i+1},\mathrm{},\lambda _a]).$$
$`a`$
If the $`\lambda _i`$ are not distinct or if at least one of them is $`<0`$ then both sides of (a) are $`0`$. We may assume that $`0\lambda _1<\lambda _2<\mathrm{}<\lambda _a`$. In this case, (a) can be seen to be equivalent to Murnaghan’s rule, see \[W\].

### 2.3

For $`n0`$ let $`W_n`$ be the group of all permutations of $`1,2,\mathrm{},n,n^{},\mathrm{},2^{},1^{}`$ which commute with the involution $`ii^{}`$ for $`i=1,\mathrm{},n`$. (We have $`W_0=\{1\}`$.) Given two sequences of integers $`\lambda _1,\mathrm{},\lambda _a`$ and $`\mu _1,\mu _2,\mathrm{},\mu _b`$ such that

$$\underset{i}{}\lambda _i+\underset{i}{}\mu _i=n+\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{a}{2}\right)+\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{b}{2}\right),$$
$`a`$
we define a virtual representation

$$\left[\begin{array}{cccc}\lambda _1& \lambda _2& \mathrm{}& \lambda _a\\ \mu _1& \mu _2& \mathrm{}& \mu _b\end{array}\right]$$
$`b`$
of $`W_n`$ as follows. If the $`\lambda _i`$ are not distinct or if the $`\mu _i`$ are not distinct or if at least one of the $`\lambda _i`$ or $`\mu _i`$ is $`<0`$ we define (b) to be $`0`$. Assume now that the $`\lambda _i`$ are distinct, and that the $`\mu _i`$ are distinct. Then $`r,\stackrel{~}{r}`$ defined by

$$\underset{i}{}\lambda _i=r+\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{a}{2}\right),\underset{i}{}\mu _i=\stackrel{~}{r}+\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{b}{2}\right)$$

satisfy $`r,\stackrel{~}{r},r+\stackrel{~}{r}=n`$. We identify $`W_r\times W_{\stackrel{~}{r}}`$ with a subgroup of $`W_n`$ as in \[L2,  p.82\]. The virtual representation $`[\lambda _1,\lambda _2,\mathrm{},\lambda _a][\mu _1,\mu _2,\mathrm{},\mu _b]`$ of $`S_r\times S_{\stackrel{~}{r}}`$ may be regarded as a virtual representation of $`W_r\times W_{\stackrel{~}{r}}`$ via the obvious projection $`W_r\times W_{\stackrel{~}{r}}\mathrm{@}>>>S_r\times S_{\stackrel{~}{r}}`$ (see \[L2,  p.82\]). We tensor this with the one dimensional character of $`W_r\times W_{\stackrel{~}{r}}`$ which is the identity on the $`W_r`$-factor and is the restriction of $`\chi :W_n\mathrm{@}>>>\{\pm 1\}`$ (see \[L2,  p.82\]) on the $`W_{\stackrel{~}{r}}`$-factor. Inducing the resulting virtual representation from $`W_r\times W_{\stackrel{~}{r}}`$ to $`W_n`$, we obtain the virtual representation (b) of $`W_n`$. Note that if $`\lambda _1<\lambda _2<\mathrm{}<\lambda _a`$ and $`\mu _1<\mu _2<\mathrm{}<\mu _b`$ then this is an irreducible representation; if $`\sigma `$ is a permutation of $`1,2,\mathrm{},a`$ and $`\sigma ^{}`$ is a permutation of $`1,2,\mathrm{},b`$ then

$$\left[\begin{array}{cccc}\lambda _{\sigma \left(1\right)}& \lambda _{\sigma \left(2\right)}& \mathrm{}& \lambda _{\sigma \left(a\right)}\\ \mu _{\sigma ^{}\left(1\right)}& \mu _{\sigma ^{}\left(2\right)}& \mathrm{}& \mu _{\sigma ^{}\left(b\right)}\end{array}\right]=\text{sgn}(\sigma )\text{sgn}(\sigma ^{})\left[\begin{array}{cccc}\lambda _1& \lambda _2& \mathrm{}& \lambda _a\\ \mu _1& \mu _2& \mathrm{}& \mu _b\end{array}\right].$$

From the definition we see easily that

$$\left[\begin{array}{cccc}\lambda _1& \lambda _2& \mathrm{}& \lambda _a\\ \mu _1& \mu _2& \mathrm{}& \mu _b\end{array}\right]=\left[\begin{array}{ccccc}0& \lambda _1+1& \lambda _2+1& \mathrm{}& \lambda _a+1\\ 0& \mu _1+1& \mu _2+1& \mathrm{}& \mu _b+1\end{array}\right].$$

###### Lemma 2.4

Let $`\lambda _1,\lambda _2,\mathrm{},\lambda _a`$ and $`\mu _1,\mu _2,\mathrm{},\mu _b`$ be two sequences of integers such that 2.3(a) holds. Let $`w=(2k)\times w^{}W_k\times W_{nk}W_n`$ where $`0<kn`$, $`(2k)`$ denotes an element of $`W_k`$ whose image under the obvious imbedding $`W_kS_{2k}`$ is a $`2k`$-cycle and $`w^{}W_{nk}`$ has no cycles of length $`2k`$ as an element of $`S_{2n2k}`$. We have

$`\text{tr}(w,\left[\begin{array}{cccc}\lambda _1& \lambda _2& \mathrm{}& \lambda _a\\ \mu _1& \mu _2& \mathrm{}& \mu _b\end{array}\right])={\displaystyle \underset{i=1}{\overset{a}{}}}\text{tr}(w^{},\left[\begin{array}{ccccccc}\lambda _1& \lambda _2& \mathrm{}& \lambda _{i1}& \lambda _ik& \lambda _{i+1}& \mathrm{}\lambda _a\\ \mu _1& \mu _2& \mathrm{}& \mu _b\end{array}\right])`$
$`{\displaystyle \underset{i=1}{\overset{a}{}}}\text{tr}(w^{},\left[\begin{array}{cccc}\lambda _1& \lambda _2& \mathrm{}& \lambda _a\\ \mu _1& \mu _2& \mathrm{}& \mu _{i1}& \mu _ik& \mu _{i+1}& \mathrm{}& \mu _b\end{array}\right]).`$
This follows from Lemma 2.2, using the definitions.

### 2.5

Let $`m`$ and let $`n=m^2+m`$. Let $`w_mW_n`$ be an element whose image under the imbedding $`W_nS_{2n}=S_{2(m^2+m)}`$ is a product of cycles

$$(4)(8)(12)\mathrm{}(4m).$$

Let

$$\lambda _1<\lambda _2<\mathrm{}<\lambda _{m+1}\text{ and }\mu _1<\mu _2<\mathrm{}<\mu _m$$
$`a`$
be two sequences of integers such that $`\lambda _1,\lambda _2,\mathrm{},\lambda _{m+1},\mu _1,\mu _2,\mathrm{},\mu _m`$ is a permutation of $`0,1,2,3,\mathrm{},2m`$. Then 2.3(a) holds (with $`a=m+1,b=m`$ and $`n=m^2+m`$). Consider the property

$$\lambda _i+\lambda _j2m\text{ for any }ij\text{ and }\mu _i+\mu _j2m\text{ for any }ij.$$
$``$
###### Lemma 2.6

In the setup of 2.5, if $`()`$ holds, then

$$\text{tr}(w_m,\left[\begin{array}{cccc}\lambda _1& \lambda _2& \mathrm{}& \lambda _{m+1}\\ \mu _1& \mu _2& \mathrm{}& \mu _m\end{array}\right])=(1)^{(m^2+m)/2}.$$

If $`()`$ does not hold, then $`\text{tr}(w_m,\left[\begin{array}{cccc}\lambda _1& \lambda _2& \mathrm{}& \lambda _{m+1}\\ \mu _1& \mu _2& \mathrm{}& \mu _m\end{array}\right])=0.`$

We argue by induction on $`m`$. The result is clear when $`m=0`$. Assume now that $`m>0`$. We can assume that $`w_m=(4m)w_{m1}W_{2m}\times W_{n2m}W_n`$ where $`w_{m1}W_{n2m}`$ is defined in a way similar to $`w_m`$. We apply 2.4 with $`w=w_m,k=2m,w^{}=w_{m1}`$. Note that in the formula in 2.4, at most one term is non-zero, namely the one in which $`k=2m`$ is substracted from the largest entry $`\lambda _i`$ or $`\mu _i`$ (the other terms are zero since they contain some $`<0`$ entry). We are in one of the four cases below.

Case 1. $`2m=\lambda _{m+1},0=\mu _1`$.

Using 2.4, we have

$`A=\text{tr}(w_m,\left[\begin{array}{cccc}\lambda _1& \lambda _2& \mathrm{}& \lambda _{m+1}\\ \mu _1& \mu _2& \mathrm{}& \mu _m\end{array}\right])=\text{tr}(w_{m1},\left[\begin{array}{ccccc}\lambda _1& \lambda _2& \mathrm{}& \lambda _m& 0\\ 0& \mu _2& \mathrm{}& \mu _m\end{array}\right])`$
$`=(1)^m\text{tr}(w_{m1},\left[\begin{array}{ccccc}0& \lambda _1& \lambda _2& \mathrm{}& \lambda _m\\ 0& \mu _2& \mathrm{}& \mu _m\end{array}\right])=(1)^m\text{tr}(w_{m1},\left[\begin{array}{cccc}\lambda _11& \lambda _21& \mathrm{}& \lambda _m1\\ \mu _21& \mu _31& \mathrm{}& \mu _m1\end{array}\right]).`$
Now the induction hypothesis is applicable to

$$\lambda _11<\lambda _21<\mathrm{}<\lambda _m1\text{ and }\mu _21<\mu _31<\mathrm{}<\mu _m1$$
$`a`$
instead of 2.5(a). (Clearly, 2.5(a) satisfies $`()`$ if and only if (a) satisfies the analogous condition). Hence, if 2.5(a) satisfies $`()`$, then

$$A=(1)^m(1)^{(m^2m)/2}=(1)^{(m^2+m)/2}$$

as required. If 2.5(a) does not satisfy $`()`$, then $`A=(1)^m0=0`$, as required.

Case 2. $`2m=\lambda _{m+1},0=\lambda _1`$.

Using 2.4, we have

$$\text{tr}(w_m,\left[\begin{array}{cccc}\lambda _1& \lambda _2& \mathrm{}& \lambda _{m+1}\\ \mu _1& \mu _2& \mathrm{}& \mu _m\end{array}\right])=\text{tr}(w_{m1},\left[\begin{array}{ccccc}0& \lambda _2& \mathrm{}& \lambda _m& 0\\ \mu _1& \mu _2& \mathrm{}& \mu _m\end{array}\right])$$

and this is $`0`$ since $`0`$ appears twice in the top row.

Case 3. $`2m=\mu _m,0=\lambda _1`$.

Using 2.4, we have

$`A=\text{tr}(w_m,\left[\begin{array}{cccc}\lambda _1& \lambda _2& \mathrm{}& \lambda _{m+1}\\ \mu _1& \mu _2& \mathrm{}& \mu _m\end{array}\right])=\text{tr}(w_{m1},\left[\begin{array}{ccccc}0& \lambda _2& \mathrm{}& \lambda _m& \lambda _{m+1}\\ \mu _1& \mu _2& \mathrm{}& \mu _{m1}& 0\end{array}\right])`$
$`=(1)^m\text{tr}(w_{m1},\left[\begin{array}{ccccc}0& \lambda _2& \mathrm{}& \lambda _m& \lambda _{m+1}\\ 0& \mu _1& \mu _2& \mathrm{}& \mu _{m1}\end{array}\right])`$
$`=(1)^m\text{tr}(w_{m1},\left[\begin{array}{cccc}\lambda _21& \mathrm{}& \lambda _m1& \lambda _{m+1}1\\ \mu _11& \mu _21& \mathrm{}& \mu _{m1}1\end{array}\right]).`$
Now the induction hypothesis is applicable to

$$\lambda _21<\mathrm{}<\lambda _m1<\lambda _{m+1}1\text{ and }\mu _11<\mu _21<\mathrm{}<\mu _{m1}1$$
$`b`$
instead of 2.5(a). (Clearly, 2.5(a) satisfies $`()`$ if and only if (b) satisfies the analogous condition.) Hence, if 2.5(a) satisfies $`()`$, then

$$A=(1)^m(1)^{(m^2m)/2}=(1)^{(m^2+m)/2}$$

as required. If 2.5(a) does not satisfy $`()`$, then $`A=(1)^m0=0`$, as required.

Case 4. $`2m=\mu _m,0=\mu _1`$.

Using 2.4, we have

$$\text{tr}(w_m,\left[\begin{array}{cccc}\lambda _1& \lambda _2& \mathrm{}& \lambda _{m+1}\\ \mu _1& \mu _2& \mathrm{}& \mu _m\end{array}\right])=\text{tr}(w_{m1},\left[\begin{array}{ccccc}\lambda _1& \lambda _2& \mathrm{}& \lambda _m& \lambda _{m+1}\\ 0& \mu _2& \mathrm{}& 0\end{array}\right])$$

and this is $`0`$ since $`0`$ appears twice in the bottom row. The lemma is proved.

###### Lemma 2.7

In the setup of 2.6, if $`()`$ holds, then

$`\mathrm{}(k\{1,2,\mathrm{},m\};\mu _k=\text{ even })=(m^2+m)/2mod2`$.

Since (\*) holds, the left hand side is equal to the number of pairs

$$(0,2m),(1,2m1),(2,2m2),\mathrm{},(m1,m+1)$$

in which both components are even. This equals $`m/2`$ if $`m`$ is even and $`(m+1)/2`$ if $`m`$ is odd. Hence it is has the same parity as $`m(m+1)/2`$. The lemma is proved.

### 2.8

Let $`m,m1`$ and let $`n=m^2`$. Let $`w_m^{}W_n`$ be an element whose image under the imbedding $`W_nS_{2n}=S_{2m^2}`$ is a product of cycles

$$(2)(6)(10)\mathrm{}(4m2).$$

Let

$$\lambda _1<\lambda _2<\mathrm{}<\lambda _m\text{ and }\mu _1<\mu _2<\mathrm{}<\mu _m$$
$`a`$
be two sequences of integers such that $`\lambda _1,\lambda _2,\mathrm{},\lambda _m,\mu _1,\mu _2,\mathrm{},\mu _m`$ is a permutation of $`0,1,2,\mathrm{},2m1`$. Then 2.3(a) holds (with $`a=b=m`$ and $`n=m^2`$). Let

$$N=\mathrm{}(k\{1,2,\mathrm{},m\};\mu _km).$$
$`b`$
Consider the property

$$\lambda _i+\lambda _j2m1\text{ for any }ij\text{ and }\mu _i+\mu _j2m1\text{ for any }ij.$$
$``$
###### Lemma 2.9

In the setup of 2.8, if $`()`$ holds, then

$$\text{tr}(w_m^{},\left[\begin{array}{cccc}\lambda _1& \lambda _2& \mathrm{}& \lambda _m\\ \mu _1& \mu _2& \mathrm{}& \mu _m\end{array}\right])=(1)^{N+m(m1)/2}.$$

If $`()`$ does not hold, then $`\text{tr}(w_m^{},\left[\begin{array}{cccc}\lambda _1& \lambda _2& \mathrm{}& \lambda _m\\ \mu _1& \mu _2& \mathrm{}& \mu _m\end{array}\right])=0.`$

We argue by induction on $`m`$. The result is clear when $`m=1`$. Assume now that $`m>1`$. We can assume that $`w_m^{}=(4m2)w_{m1}^{}W_{2m1}\times W_{n2m+1}W_n`$ where $`w_{m1}^{}W_{n2m+1}`$ is defined in a way similar to $`w_m^{}`$. We apply 2.4 with $`w=w_m^{},k=2m1,w^{}=w_{m1}^{}`$. Note that in the formula in 2.4, at most one term is non-zero, namely the one in which $`k=2m1`$ is substracted from the largest entry $`\lambda _i`$ or $`\mu _i`$ (the other terms are zero since they contain some $`<0`$ entry). We are in one of the four cases below.

Case 1. $`2m1=\lambda _m,0=\mu _1`$.

Using 2.4, we have

$`A=\text{tr}(w_m^{},\left[\begin{array}{cccc}\lambda _1& \lambda _2& \mathrm{}& \lambda _m\\ \mu _1& \mu _2& \mathrm{}& \mu _m\end{array}\right])=\text{tr}(w_{m1}^{},\left[\begin{array}{ccccc}\lambda _1& \lambda _2& \mathrm{}& \lambda _{m1}& 0\\ 0& \mu _2& \mathrm{}& \mu _m\end{array}\right])`$
$`=(1)^{m1}\text{tr}(w_{m1}^{},\left[\begin{array}{ccccc}0& \lambda _1& \lambda _2& \mathrm{}& \lambda _{m1}\\ 0& \mu _2& \mathrm{}& \mu _m\end{array}\right])`$
$`=(1)^{m1}\text{tr}(w_{m1}^{},\left[\begin{array}{cccc}\lambda _11& \lambda _21& \mathrm{}& \lambda _{m1}1\\ \mu _21& \mu _31& \mathrm{}& \mu _m1\end{array}\right]).`$
Now the induction hypothesis is applicable to

$$\lambda _11<\lambda _21<\mathrm{}<\lambda _{m1}1\text{ and }\mu _21<\mu _31<\mathrm{}<\mu _m1$$
$`a`$
instead of 2.8(a). (Clearly, 2.8(a) satisfies $`()`$ if and only if (a) satisfies the analogous condition). Let $`N^{}`$ be defined as $`N`$ in 2.8(b), in terms of (a). Then $`N^{}=N`$. If 2.8(a) satisfies $`()`$, then

$$A=(1)^{m1}(1)^{(m1)(m2)/2}(1)^N^{}=(1)^{m(m1)/2}(1)^N$$

as required. If 2.8(a) does not satisfy $`()`$, then $`A=(1)^{m1}0=0`$, as required.

Case 2. $`2m1=\lambda _m,0=\lambda _1`$.

Using 2.4, we have

$$\text{tr}(w_m^{},\left[\begin{array}{cccc}\lambda _1& \lambda _2& \mathrm{}& \lambda _m\\ \mu _1& \mu _2& \mathrm{}& \mu _m\end{array}\right])=\text{tr}(w_{m1}^{},\left[\begin{array}{ccccc}0& \lambda _2& \mathrm{}& \lambda _{m1}& 0\\ \mu _1& \mu _2& \mathrm{}& \mu _m\end{array}\right])$$

and this is $`0`$ since $`0`$ appears twice in the top row.

Case 3. $`2m1=\mu _m,0=\lambda _1`$.

Using 2.4, we have

$`A=\text{tr}(w_m^{},\left[\begin{array}{cccc}\lambda _1& \lambda _2& \mathrm{}& \lambda _m\\ \mu _1& \mu _2& \mathrm{}& \mu _m\end{array}\right])=\text{tr}(w_{m1}^{},\left[\begin{array}{cccc}0& \lambda _2& \mathrm{}& \lambda _m\\ \mu _1& \mu _2& \mathrm{}& \mu _{m1}& 0\end{array}\right])`$
$`=(1)^m\text{tr}(w_{m1}^{},\left[\begin{array}{cccc}0& \lambda _2& \mathrm{}& \lambda _m\\ 0& \mu _1& \mu _2& \mathrm{}& \mu _{m1}\end{array}\right])`$
$`=(1)^m\text{tr}(w_{m1}^{},\left[\begin{array}{ccc}\lambda _21& \mathrm{}& \lambda _m1\\ \mu _11& \mu _21& \mathrm{}& \mu _{m1}1\end{array}\right]).`$
Now the induction hypothesis is applicable to

$$\lambda _21<\lambda _31<\mathrm{}<\lambda _m1\text{ and }\mu _11<\mu _21<\mathrm{}<\mu _{m1}1$$
$`b`$
instead of 2.8(a). (Clearly, 2.8(a) satisfies $`()`$ if and only if (b) satisfies the analogous condition.) Let $`N^{}`$ be defined as $`N`$ in 2.8(b), in terms of (b). Then $`N^{}=N1`$. If 2.8(a) satisfies $`()`$, then

$$A=(1)^m(1)^{(m2)(m1)/2}(1)^N^{}=(1)^{m(m1)/2}(1)^N$$

as required. If 2.8(a) does not satisfy $`()`$, then $`A=(1)^m0=0`$, as required.

Case 4. $`2m1=\mu _m,0=\mu _1`$.

Using 2.4, we have

$$\text{tr}(w_m^{},\left[\begin{array}{cccc}\lambda _1& \lambda _2& \mathrm{}& \lambda _m\\ \mu _1& \mu _2& \mathrm{}& \mu _m\end{array}\right])=\text{tr}(w_{m1}^{},\left[\begin{array}{cccc}\lambda _1& \lambda _2& \mathrm{}& \lambda _m\\ 0& \mu _2& \mathrm{}& 0\end{array}\right])$$

and this is $`0`$ since $`0`$ appears twice in the bottom row. The lemma is proved.

###### Lemma 2.10

Assume that we are in the setup of 2.9, that $`()`$ holds and that $`m=2m^{}`$ for some integer $`m^{}>0`$. Then

(a) $`\mathrm{}(k\{1,2,\mathrm{},m\};\mu _km)\mathrm{}(k\{1,2,\mathrm{},m\};\mu _k\text{ even })=m^{}mod2`$,

(b) $`\mathrm{}(k\{1,2,\mathrm{},m\};\mu _k\text{ even })=N+m(m1)/2mod2`$.

Among the $`m^{}`$ pairs $`(0,4m^{}1),(2,4m^{}3),\mathrm{},(2m^{}2,2m^{}+1)`$ there are, say, $`\alpha `$ pairs with the first component of form $`\lambda _i`$ and second component of form $`\mu _j`$ and $`\beta `$ pairs with the first component of form $`\mu _j`$ and second component of form $`\lambda _i`$. Clearly, $`\alpha +\beta =m^{}`$. Among the $`m^{}`$ pairs

$$(1,4m^{}2),(3,4m^{}4),\mathrm{},(2m^{}1,2m^{})$$

there are, say, $`\gamma `$ pairs with the first component of form $`\lambda _i`$ and second component of form $`\mu _j`$ and $`\delta `$ pairs with the first component of form $`\mu _j`$ and second component of form $`\lambda _i`$. Clearly, $`\gamma +\delta =m^{}`$. From the definitions we have

$$\mathrm{}(k\{1,2,\mathrm{},2m^{}\};\mu _k2m^{})=\alpha +\gamma ,$$

$$\mathrm{}(k\{1,2,\mathrm{},2m^{}\};\mu _k\text{ even })=\beta +\gamma .$$

Hence the left hand side of (a) is equal to $`\alpha +\gamma (\beta +\gamma )=\alpha \beta `$, which has the same parity as $`\alpha +\beta =m^{}`$. This proves (a). Now (b) follows from (a) since $`m^{}=2m^{}(2m^{}1)/2mod2`$. The lemma is proved.

###### Proposition 2.11

Assume that $`G`$ in 0.1 is of type $`B_n`$ or $`C_n`$ where $`n=m^2+m,m,m1`$. We identify the Weyl group $`W`$ of $`G`$ with $`W_n`$ (see 2.3) in the standard way. Let $`w=w_m`$, see 2.5. Let $`\rho `$ be the unique unipotent cuspidal representation of $`G^F`$. Then $`\rho `$ appears with multiplicity $`1`$ in $`R_w`$.

For any subset $`J`$ of cardinal $`m`$ of $`I=\{0,1,2,\mathrm{},2m\}`$ let $`E_J=\left[\begin{array}{cccc}\lambda _1& \lambda _2& \mathrm{}& \lambda _{m+1}\\ \mu _1& \mu _2& \mathrm{}& \mu _m\end{array}\right]`$ (an irreducible representation of $`W`$) where $`\mu _1<\mu _2<\mathrm{}<\mu _m`$ are the elements of $`J`$ in increasing order and $`\lambda _1<\lambda _2<\mathrm{}<\lambda _{m+1}`$ are the elements of $`IJ`$ in increasing order; let $`f(J)=\mathrm{}(jJ|j\text{ even})`$. By \[L2,  4.23\], the multiplicity of $`\rho `$ in $`R_w`$ is

$$2^m\underset{J}{}(1)^{f(J)}\text{tr}(w_m,E_J)$$
$`a`$
where $`J`$ runs over all subsets of $`I`$ of cardinal $`m`$. Using 2.6 and 2.7 we see that (a) equals $`2^m\mathrm{}(J;J(2mJ)=\mathrm{})=1`$. The proposition is proved.

###### Proposition 2.12

Assume that $`G`$ in 0.1 is of type $`D_n`$ where $`n=m^2,m=2m^{},m^{},m^{}1`$. We identify the Weyl group $`W`$ of $`G`$ with the subgroup of $`W_n`$ consisting of all permutations $`wW_n`$ such that

$$\mathrm{}(k\{1,2,\mathrm{},n\};w(k)\{1^{},2^{},\mathrm{},n^{}\})$$

is even. (A subgroup of index $`2`$.) Let $`w=w_m^{}`$, see 2.8. (We have $`w_m^{}W`$.) Let $`\rho `$ be the unique unipotent cuspidal representation of $`G^F`$. Then $`\rho `$ appears with multiplicity $`1`$ in $`R_w`$.

For any subset $`J`$ of cardinal $`m`$ of $`I=\{0,1,2,\mathrm{},2m1\}`$ let $`E_J`$ be the restriction of $`\left[\begin{array}{cccc}\lambda _1& \lambda _2& \mathrm{}& \lambda _{m+1}\\ \mu _1& \mu _2& \mathrm{}& \mu _m\end{array}\right]`$ from $`W_n`$ to $`W`$ (an irreducible representation of $`W`$) where $`\mu _1<\mu _2<\mathrm{}<\mu _m`$ are the elements of $`J`$ in increasing order and $`\lambda _1<\lambda _2<\mathrm{}<\lambda _m`$ are the elements of $`IJ`$ in increasing order; let $`f(J)=\mathrm{}(jJ|j\text{ even})`$. Note that $`E_J=E_{IJ}`$ and $`f(J)=f(IJ)`$. By \[L2,  4.23\], the multiplicity of $`\rho `$ in $`R_w`$ is

$$2^m\underset{J}{}(1)^{f(J)}\text{tr}(w_m,E_J)$$
$`a`$
where $`J`$ runs over all subsets of $`I`$ of cardinal $`m`$. Using 2.9 and 2.10 we see that (a) equals $`2^m\mathrm{}(J;J(2mJ)=\mathrm{})=1`$. The proposition is proved.

We return to the general case.

###### Theorem 2.13

Let $`\rho `$ be a unipotent cuspidal representation of $`G^F`$. There exists $`wW`$ such that $`\rho `$ appears with multiplicity $`1`$ in $`R_w`$.

In view of 2.11, 2.12, we may assume that $`G`$ is of exceptional type. If $`\rho 𝒰`$ is cuspidal, we have $`\rho _{,y,\sigma }`$ where $``$ is independent of $`\rho `$; we will write $`\rho _{y,\sigma }`$ instead of $`\rho _{,y,\sigma }`$; for the pairs $`(y,\sigma )`$ we will use the notation of \[L2,  4.3\]. For $`wW`$ we denote by $`|w|`$ the characteristic polynomial of $`w`$ in the reflection representation of $`W`$. (A product of cyclotomic polynomials $`\mathrm{\Phi }_d`$.) In the cases that appear below, $`|w|`$ determines uniquely $`w`$ up to conjugacy.

Type $`E_6`$.

$`|w|=\mathrm{\Phi }_{12}\mathrm{\Phi }_3`$: $`\rho _{g_3,\theta ^{\pm 1}}`$.

Type $`E_7`$.

$`|w|=\mathrm{\Phi }_{18}\mathrm{\Phi }_2`$: $`\rho _{g_2,1},\rho _{g_2,ϵ}`$.

Type $`E_8`$.

$`|w|=\mathrm{\Phi }_{30}`$: $`\rho _{g_5,\zeta ^j},j=1,2,3,4`$; $`\rho _{g_6,\theta ^{\pm 1}}`$.

$`|w|=\mathrm{\Phi }_{24}`$: $`\rho _{g_4,i^{\pm 1}}`$.

$`|w|=\mathrm{\Phi }_{18}\mathrm{\Phi }_6`$: $`\rho _{g_3,ϵ\theta ^{\pm 1}}`$.

$`|w|=\mathrm{\Phi }_{12}^2`$: $`\rho _{g_2^{},ϵ}`$.

$`|w|=\mathrm{\Phi }_{12}\mathrm{\Phi }_6^2`$: $`\rho _{g_2,ϵ}`$.

$`|w|=\mathrm{\Phi }_6^4`$: $`\rho _{1,\lambda ^4}`$.

Type $`F_4`$.

$`|w|=\mathrm{\Phi }_{12}`$: $`\rho _{g_3,\theta ^{\pm 1}}`$, $`\rho _{g_4,i^{\pm 1}}`$.

$`|w|=\mathrm{\Phi }_6^2`$: $`\rho _{g_2^{},ϵ}`$.

$`|w|=\mathrm{\Phi }_8`$: $`\rho _{g_2,ϵ}`$.

$`|w|=\mathrm{\Phi }_4^2`$: $`\rho _{1,\lambda ^3}`$.

Type $`G_2`$.

$`|w|=\mathrm{\Phi }_6`$: $`\rho _{g_3,\theta ^{\pm 1}}`$, $`\rho _{g_2,ϵ}`$.

$`|w|=\mathrm{\Phi }_3`$: $`\rho _{1,\lambda ^2}`$.

In each case, one can compute the multiplicity of $`\rho _{y,\sigma }`$ in $`R_w`$ for $`w`$ in the same row, using \[L2,  4.23\]; for the computation we need the character table of $`W`$ and the explicit entries of the non-abelian Fourier transform \[L2,  p.110-113\]. The result in each case is $`1`$. This completes the proof.

###### Theorem 2.14

(a) Assume that $`\rho \stackrel{~}{𝒰}_{}`$ is cuspidal. Then $`\rho 𝒰_{}`$.

(b) If $`G`$ is of type $`B,C`$ or $`D`$ and $`\rho `$ is a unipotent cuspidal representation then $`\rho 𝒰_{}`$.

We prove (a). Let $`wW`$ be such that $`\rho `$ appears with multiplicity $`1`$ in $`R_w`$ (see 2.13). Since $`R_w`$ is the character of a virtual representation defined over $`_l`$, it follows that $`\rho `$ is defined over $`_l`$. (Here $`l`$ is any prime $`p`$.) Using the Hasse principle it is then enough to show that $`\rho `$ is defined over $``$. The following argument is inspired by an argument of Ohmori \[Oh\]. Let $`x`$ be an element of minimal length in $`W`$ such that $`\rho `$ appears with odd multiplicity in $`R_x`$. (Such $`x`$ exists by 2.13.) The multiplicity of $`\rho `$ in $`_j(1)^j^j(\overline{X}_x,_l)`$ is equal to the multiplicity of $`\rho `$ in $`_j(1)^jH_c^j(X_x,_l)`$ plus an integer linear combination of the multiplicities of $`\rho `$ in $`_j(1)^jH_c^j(X_x^{},_l)`$ for various $`x^{}`$ of strictly smaller length than $`x`$ (these multiplicities are even, by the choice of $`x`$). It follows that the multiplicity of $`\rho `$ in $`_j(1)^j^j(\overline{X}_x,_l)`$ is odd. Recall that $`\overline{X}_x`$ has pure dimension $`l(x)`$. By Poincaré duality, the $`G^F`$-modules $`^j(\overline{X}_x,_l),^{2l(x)j}(\overline{X}_x,_l)`$ are dual to each other. Hence they contain $`\rho `$ with the same multiplicity (recall that $`\rho `$ is self-dual.) It follows that the multiplicity of $`\rho `$ in $`^{l(x)}(\overline{X}_x,_l)`$ is odd. Now $`^{l(x)}(\overline{X}_x,_l)`$ admits a $`(1)^{l(x)}`$-symmetric, non-degenerate, $`G^F`$-invariant $`_l`$-bilinear form with values in $`_l`$. (Actually, $`l(x)`$ is even, by 1.4.) Since $`\rho `$ is self-dual and has odd multiplicity in $`^{l(x)}(\overline{X}_x,_l)`$, an argument in \[Oh\] shows that $`\rho `$ itself (regarded as a $`_l[G^F]`$-module) admits a symmetric, non-degenerate, $`G^F`$-invariant $`_l`$-bilinear form with values in $`_l`$. It follows that $`\rho `$ is defined over $``$. This proves (a).

In the setup of (b), $`\rho `$ is unique up to isomorphism hence it is automatically in $`\stackrel{~}{𝒰}_{}`$. Thus, (a) is applicable and $`\rho 𝒰_{}`$. The theorem is proved.

### 2.15

In this subsection we assume that $`G`$ is non-split. The analogue of 2.13 continues to hold for $`G`$. But the analogue of 2.14(a) fails if $`G`$ is non-split of type $`A`$.

### 2.16

A statement like 2.13 was made without proof in \[L2,  p.356\] (for not necessarily split $`G`$). In that statement, the assumption that $`\rho `$ is cuspidal was missing. That assumption is in fact necessary, as 2.17(ii) below (for $`G`$ of type $`C_4`$) shows.

###### Lemma 2.17

(i) Let $`ϵ:W_2\times W_2\mathrm{@}>>>\{\pm 1\}`$ be a character. Then

$$\text{tr}(w,\text{ind}_{W_2\times W_2}^{W_4}(ϵ))2$$
$`a`$
for all $`wW_4`$.

(ii) Let $`E=\left[\begin{array}{cc}1& 2\\ 2& \end{array}\right]`$ (an ireducible representation of $`W_4`$). Then $`R_E`$ is of the form $`\chi _\rho `$ for some $`\rho 𝒰`$. The multiplicity of $`\rho `$ in $`R_w`$ is even for any $`wW=W_4`$.

The residue class $`mod2`$ of the left hand side of (a) is clearly independent of the choice of $`ϵ`$. Hence to prove (a) we may assume that $`ϵ=1`$. Let $`\pi :W_4\mathrm{@}>>>S_4`$ be the canonical homomorphism. We have $`\text{tr}(w,\text{ind}_{W_2\times W_2}^{W_4}(1))=\text{tr}(\pi (w),\text{ind}_{S_2\times S_2}^{S_4}(1))`$. But if $`yS_4`$, then $`\text{tr}(y,\text{ind}_{S_2\times S_2}^{S_4}(1))`$ is $`6`$ if $`y=1`$, is $`2`$ if $`y`$ has order $`2`$ and is $`0`$, otherwise; in particular, it is even for any $`y`$. This proves (i).

In (ii), the multiplicity of $`\rho `$ in $`R_w`$ is $`\text{tr}(w,E)`$ that is, the left hand side of (a) for a suitable $`ϵ`$. Hence it is even by (i). The lemma is proved.

## 3. An example in $`SO_5`$

### 3.1

In this section we assume that $`p2`$ and that $`G=SO(V)`$ where $`V`$ is a $`5`$-dimensional $`𝕜`$-vector space with a fixed $`F_q`$-rational structure and a fixed non-degenerate symmetric bilinear form $`(,)`$ defined over $`F_q`$. Let $`C`$ be the set of all $`gG`$ such that $`g=su=us`$ where $`sO(V)`$ is a reflection and $`uSO(V)`$ has Jordan blocks of sizes $`2,2,1`$. Then $`C`$ is a conjugacy class in $`G`$ and $`F(C)=C`$. A line $`L`$ in $`V(F_q)`$ is said to be of type $`1`$ if $`(x,x)F_q^20`$ for any $`xL\{0\}`$ and of type $`1`$ if $`(x,x)F_qF_q^2`$ for any $`xL\{0\}`$. Let $`_1`$ (resp. $`_1`$) be the set of lines of type $`1`$ (resp. $`1`$) in $`V(F_q)`$. For $`ϵ,\delta \{1,1\}`$, let $`C^{ϵ,\delta }`$ be the set of all $`gC^F`$ such that the line $`L`$ in $`V(F_q)`$ such that $`g|_L=1`$ is in $`_ϵ`$ and any line $`L`$ in $`V(F_q)`$ such that $`g|_L=1`$ and $`(L,L)0`$ is in $`_\delta `$. Then $`C^{ϵ,\delta }`$ is a conjugacy class of $`G^F`$ and $`C^F`$ is union of the four conjugacy classes $`C^{1,1},C^{1,1},C^{1,1},C^{1,1}`$. We define a class function $`\varphi :G^F\mathrm{@}>>>`$ by $`\varphi (g)=2\delta q`$ if $`gC^{ϵ,\delta }`$ and $`\varphi (g)=0`$ if $`gGC^F`$. (This is the characteristic function of a cuspidal character sheaf on $`G`$.)

Let $`O_+`$ (resp. $`O_{}`$) be the stabilizer in $`G`$ of a $`4`$-dimensional subspace of $`V`$ defined over $`F_q`$ on which $`(,)`$ is non-degenerate and split (resp. non-split). Let $`det:O_+\mathrm{@}>>>\{\pm 1\}`$ (resp. $`det:O_{}\mathrm{@}>>>\{\pm 1\}`$) be the unique nontrivial homomorphism of algebraic groups. The restriction of $`det`$ to $`O_+^F`$ or $`O_{}^F`$ is denoted again by $`det`$. Consider the virtual representation

$$\mathrm{\Phi }=\text{ind}_{O_+^F}^{G^F}(1)\text{ind}_{O_+^F}^{G^F}(det)\text{ind}_{O_{}^F}^{G^F}(1)+\text{ind}_{O_{}^F}^{G^F}(det)$$

of $`G^F`$. For $`gG^F`$ we have

$$\text{tr}(g,\mathrm{\Phi })=2\mathrm{}(L_1;g|_L=1\}2\mathrm{}(L_1;g|_L=1\}$$

. It follows easily that $`\text{tr}(g,\mathrm{\Phi })=\varphi (g)`$.

Let $`\theta `$ be the unique unipotent cuspidal representation of $`G^F`$. Then $`\theta `$ appears with multiplicity $`1`$ in $`\varphi `$. It follows that $`\theta `$ appears with multiplicity $`1`$ in $`\mathrm{\Phi }`$. Since the character of $`\theta `$ is $``$-valued and $`\mathrm{\Phi }`$ is a difference of two representations defined over $``$, it follows that $`\theta `$ is defined over $``$. Thus we have proved the rationality of $`\theta `$ without using the Hasse principle.

### 3.2

Assume now that $`q=3`$. Then $`SO(V)`$ is isomorphic to a Weyl group $`W`$ of type $`E_6`$ while $`O_+^F`$ is isomorphic to a Weyl group of type $`F_4`$ and $`O_{}^F`$ is isomorphic to a Weyl group of type $`A_5\times A_1`$ (imbedded in the standard way in the $`W`$). Now $`\theta `$ corresponds to the $`6`$-dimensional reflection representation of $`W`$ (Kneser). Its restriction to the Weyl group of type $`F_4`$ contains no one dimensional invariant subspace while its restriction to the Weyl group of type $`A_5\times A_1`$ splits into a $`5`$-dimensional irreducible representation and a non-trivial $`1`$ dimensional representation. Since $`\theta `$ has multiplicity $`1`$ in $`\mathrm{\Phi }`$ (see 3.1) it follows that $`\theta `$ has multiplicity $`1`$ in $`\text{ind}_{O_{}^F}^{G^F}(det)`$.


text:
# ∂̄-equations, integrable deformations of quasiconformal mappings and Whitham hierarchy B. Konopelchenko is supported in part by COFIN 2000 ”S intesi” and L. Martinez Alonso by CICYT proyecto PB98–0821

## 1 Introduction

It is widely recognize now that the dispersionless or quasiclassical integrable equations and hierarchies form an important part of the theory of integrable systems (see e.g. -). They are the main ingredients of various approaches to different problems which arise in physics and applied mathematics, as in the theory of topological quantum fields , hydrodynamics  or optical communications modelling . Moreover, it was recently shown in  that the dispersionless hierarchies provide an effective tool to study some classical problems of the theory of conformal maps.

A purpose of this letter is to demonstrate the existence of an intimate relation between dispersionless hierarchies and quasiconformal mappings on the complex plane. We show that the dispersionless scalar integrable hierarchies and, in general, the members of the universal Whitham hierarchy are nothing but infinite-dimensional rings of integrable deformations of quasiconformal mappings on the plane. The nonlinear $`\overline{}`$-equation

$$S_{\overline{z}}=W(z,\overline{z},S_z),$$
(1)
is the basic element of our analysis. Here $`S(z,\overline{z},𝒕)`$ is a complex-valued function depending an infinite set $`𝒕`$ of parameters (times), $`S_{\overline{z}}:=\frac{S}{\overline{z}},S_z:=\frac{S}{z}`$ and $`W`$ is an appropriate function of $`z,\overline{z}`$ and $`S_z`$. Equation (1) is well-known in the theory of quasiconformal mappings. Namely, under some mild conditions its solutions define quasiconformal mappings on the plane (see -).

On the other hand, as it was shown in  equation (1) is a quasiclassical limit of the standard nonlocal $`\overline{}`$-problem arising in the $`\overline{}`$-dressing method, which allows us to generate the dispersionless hierarchies. These two faces of equation (1) together with some available rigorous results about the Beltrami equation, lead to a natural derivation of the universal Whitham hierachy from equation (1) as well as an exact solution method for dispersionless hierarchies. To illustrate these facts we present examples of exact solutions of the dKP hierarchy or, equivalently, of explicit integrable deformations for the quasiconformal mappings determined by equation (1).

## 2 Quasiconformal mappings

Quasiconformal mappings are a natural and very rich extension of the concept of conformal mappings. For the sake of convenience we remind here some of their basic properties (see e.g. , -).

A sense-preserving homeomorphism $`w=f(z,\overline{z})`$ defined on a domain $`G`$ of the complex plane $``$ is called *quasiconformal* (qc) if

$$\frac{|f_z|+|f_{\overline{z}}|}{|f_z||f_{\overline{z}}|},$$

is bounded on $`G`$. Here $`f_z`$ and $`f_{\overline{z}}`$ are assumed to be locally square-integrable generalized derivatives. Since the Jacobian of $`f`$ is assumed to satisfy $`J=|f_z|^2|f_{\overline{z}}|^2>0`$ almost everywhere in $`G`$, the so-called *complex dilatation* of $`f`$ $`\mu _f:=\frac{f_{\overline{z}}}{f_z}`$ verifies $`|\mu _f|<1`$ almost everywhere in $`G`$. Thus, a natural analytic characterization of qc-mappings can be given in terms of homeomorphic generalized solutions of the linear Beltrami equation

$$f_{\overline{z}}=\mu f_z,$$
(2)
where $`\mu `$ is any given measurable function $`\mu _{\mathrm{}}<1`$ on $`G`$. Obviously, for $`\mu 0`$ we get into the class of conformal mappings. There is a qc-version of the Riemann’s mapping theorem for conformal mappings. Namely, for any $`\mu _{\mathrm{}}<1`$ on a simply-connected domain $`G`$ there exists a homeomorphism $`w=f(z,\overline{z})`$ which solves (2) and maps $`G`$ onto a given simply-connected domain $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$. A very simple example of qc-mapping is the affine mapping $`w=az+b\overline{z}+c`$ where $`a,b,c`$ are complex constants with $`|b|>|a|`$. It maps every circle into a ellipse.

The properties of solutions of the Beltrami equation (2) are rather well studied (see e.g. ). Some of them are particularly important for our discussion. To present these results we need to introduce the operators

$$Th(z):=\frac{1}{2\pi ı}_\times \frac{h(z^{})}{z^{}z}\mathrm{d}z^{}\mathrm{d}\overline{z}^{},\mathrm{\Pi }(z):=\frac{Th}{z}(z),$$

where the integral is taken in the sense of the Cauchy principal value. Then one has :

###### Lemma 1.

For any $`p>1`$ the operator $`\mathrm{\Pi }`$ defines a bounded operator in $`L^p()`$ and for any $`0k<1`$ there exists $`\delta >0`$ such that

$$k\mathrm{\Pi }_p<1,$$

for all $`|p2|<\delta `$.

The next theorem summarizes the properties of qc-mappings that we need in the subsequent discussion .

###### Theorem 1.

Given a measurable function $`\mu `$ with compact support inside the circle $`|z|<R`$ and such that $`\mu _{\mathrm{}}<k<1`$. Then, for any fixed exponent $`p=p(k)>2`$ such that $`k\mathrm{\Pi }_p<1`$, it follows that

There is a function $`f_0`$ on $``$ with distributional derivatives satisfying the Beltrami equation (2) such that

$$f_0(z)=z+O(\frac{1}{z}),z\mathrm{},$$
(3)
with $`f_{0,\overline{z}}`$ and $`f_{0,z}1`$ being elements of $`L^p()`$. Any such $`f_0`$ is unique and determines a homeomorphism on $``$ (the basic homeomorphism of (2)).

Every solution of (2) on a domain $`G`$ of $``$ can be represented as

$$f(z)=\mathrm{\Phi }(f_0(z)),$$
(4)
where $`\mathrm{\Phi }`$ is an arbitrary analytic function on the image domain $`f_0(G)`$ of $`G`$ under the basic homeomorphism $`f_0`$.

Deformations of qc-mappings have been discussed by several authors. One can show  that if $`\mu (z,\overline{z},𝒕)`$ depend analytically on one or several parameters $`𝒕`$, for fixed $`z`$, then the corresponding family of basic homeomorphisms $`f_0(z,\overline{z},𝒕)`$also depend analytically on $`𝒕`$. However, it seems that apart from concrete examples, as the isotropy deformation  $`\mu t\mu `$, most of this field remains to be investigated.

## 3 Integrable deformations of qc-mappings and the universal Whitham hierarchy

Let us consider the $`\overline{}`$-equation

$$S_{\overline{z}}=W(z,\overline{z},S_z),$$
(5)
where the function $`W`$ has a compact support in $``$. The infinitesimal symmetries $`SS+ϵf`$ of (5) satisfy the Beltrami equation

$$f_{\overline{z}}=W^{}(z,\overline{z},S_z)f_z,$$
(6)
where $`W^{}(z,\overline{z},\xi ):=W_\xi (z,\overline{z},\xi )`$. By assuming that the hypothesis of Theorem 1 are fulfilled, there is a unique solution $`p`$ of (6) on $``$ (the basic homemorphism) such that

$$p=z+\frac{a_1}{z}+\frac{a_2}{z}+\mathrm{},z\mathrm{},$$
(7)
and all other solutions of (6) are of the form

$$f=\mathrm{\Phi }(p),$$
(8)
with $`\mathrm{\Phi }`$ being an analytic function . This means that the set of infinitesimal symmetries of (5) form an infinite-dimensional ring.

Suppose we take a finite set of points $`\{z_i\}_{i=1}^N`$ outside the support of the function $`W`$ in the complex plane, with $`z_1=\mathrm{}`$ . We may consider solutions of (5) $`S(z,\overline{z},𝒕)`$ depending on an infinite set of time parameters $`𝒕:=(𝒕_1,\mathrm{},𝒕_N),𝒕_n:=(t_{1,1},t_{1,2},\mathrm{})`$ , such that near the points $`\{z_i\}_{i=1}^N`$ have a prescribed behaviour

$$S(z,\overline{z},𝒕)=S_i(z,𝒕_i)+\text{holomorphic part},zz_i,$$
(9)
where the functions $`S_i`$ are singular at $`z_i`$. Thus for every time $`t_A,(A=(i,n))`$ we have a symmetry of (5)

$$f_A=\frac{S}{t_A},$$
(10)
and from Theorem 1 it follows that for any appropriate solution $`S(z,\overline{z},𝒕)`$ of (5) there exist a unique family of basic homeomorphisms on $``$

$$p=z+\frac{a_1(𝒕)}{z}+\frac{a_2(𝒕)}{z}+\mathrm{},z\mathrm{}.$$

We assume that $`p`$ can be characterized as $`p(z,\overline{z},𝒕):=\frac{S}{t_{A_0}}`$ for a certain time parameter $`t_{A_0}`$. In this way, for any time $`t_A`$ there exists a function $`\mathrm{\Omega }_A(p,𝒕)`$ such that

$$\frac{S}{t_A}=\mathrm{\Omega }_A(p,𝒕).$$
(11)
If $`A=(i,n)`$ then $`\frac{S}{t_A}`$ is a solution of (6) on $`G=^{}\{z_i\}`$, so that $`\mathrm{\Omega }_A(p,𝒕)`$ is an analytic function of $`p`$ on the image of $`G`$ under $`p(z,\overline{z},𝒕)`$.

The system (11) is an infinite set of Hamilton-Jacobi type equations which characterizes the infinite family of deformations $`p(z,\overline{z},𝒕)`$ of qc-mappings. By construction, all the equations (11) are compatible, so that we have

$$\frac{\mathrm{\Omega }_A}{t_B}\frac{\mathrm{\Omega }_B}{t_A}+\{\mathrm{\Omega }_A,\mathrm{\Omega }_B\}=0,$$
(12)
where the Poisson bracket $`\{,\}`$ is given by

$$\{F,G\}=\frac{F}{p}\frac{G}{x}\frac{F}{x}\frac{G}{p}.$$
(13)
Equations (12) constitute examples of the so-called universal Whitham hierarchy introduced in . Particular choices of the functions $`S_i`$ in (9) give rise to different dispersionless hierarchies.

For instance, if we take a unique reference point $`z_1=\mathrm{}`$ and assume

$$S(z,𝒕)=\underset{n1}{}z^nt_n+O(\frac{1}{z}),z\mathrm{},$$
(14)
we get the dKP hierarchy. In this case

$$p=\frac{S}{t_1}=z+O(\frac{1}{z}),z\mathrm{}.$$
(15)
Moreover, as the functions $`\frac{S}{t_i}`$ are solutions of (6) on $``$, their corresponding representations $`\mathrm{\Omega }_i(p,𝒕)`$ are entire functions of $`p`$. Therefore, according to the asymptotic behaviours (14) and (15) it is clear that $`\mathrm{\Omega }_i(p,𝒕)=(z^i)_+`$, where $`z:=z(p,𝒕)`$ denotes the Laurent series obtained by eliminating $`z`$ as a function of $`p`$ in (15), and $`(z^i)_+`$ is the part corresponding to the nonnegative powers of $`p`$ in the expansion of $`z^i`$.. Hence, we conclude that

$$\frac{S}{t_i}=(z^i)_+,i2.$$
(16)
The first two equations read

$$\begin{array}{c}\frac{S}{t_2}=\left(\frac{S}{t_1}\right)^2+u(𝒕),\\ \\ \frac{S}{t_3}=\left(\frac{S}{t_1}\right)^3+\frac{3}{2}u(𝒕)\frac{S}{t_1}+\frac{3}{4}v(𝒕),\end{array}$$
(17)
where $`v_{t_1}=u_{t_2}`$ and the function $`u`$ obeys the dKP equation

$$\left(u_{t_3}\frac{3}{2}uu_{t_1}\right)_{t_1}=\frac{3}{4}u_{t_2t_2}.$$
(18)
It must be noticed that by eliminating $`u`$ and $`v`$ in (17) we get an autonomous partial differential equation for $`S`$

$$\frac{^2S}{t_1t_3}=\frac{3}{4}\frac{^2S}{t_2^2}+\frac{3}{2}\left[\frac{S}{t_2}\left(\frac{S}{t_1}\right)^2\right]\frac{^2S}{t_1^2}.$$
(19)
It is just the first member of a hierarchy of autonomous equations for $`S`$ which can be derived from (16).

## 4 Examples of qc-mappings and their dKP deformations

To illustrate our analysis let us consider the dKP hierarchy and a $`\overline{}`$-problem of the form

$$S_{\overline{z}}=\theta (1z\overline{z})W_0\left(S_z\right),$$
(20)
where $`\theta (\xi )`$ is the usual Heaviside function and $`W_0(\xi )`$ is an arbitrary differentiable function. Observe that (20) implies

$$m_{\overline{z}}=W_0^{}(m)m_z,m:=S_z,|z|<1,$$

where $`W_0^{}=\frac{\mathrm{d}W_0}{\mathrm{d}m}`$. This equation can be solved at once by applying the methods of characteristics, so that the general solution $`S_{in}`$ of (20) inside the unit circle $`|z|<1`$ is implicitly characterized by

$$\begin{array}{c}S_{in}=W_0(m)\overline{z}+mzf(m),\\ \\ W_0^{}(m)\overline{z}+z=f^{}(m),\end{array}$$
(21)
where $`f=f(m)`$ is an arbitrary differentiable function. Notice that according to the second equation in (21), we have

$$f^{}(m_0)=z,m_0:=m(z,\overline{z})|_{\overline{z}=0},$$

so that $`f^{}(m_0)`$ is the inverse function of $`m_0=m_0(z)`$.

The solution $`S_{out}`$ of (20) outside the unit circle is any arbitrary analytic function ($`\overline{z}`$-independent). However, in order to obtain a generalized solution of (20) with locally square-integrable generalized derivatives we impose the continuity of $`S`$ at the unit circle

$$S_{out}(z)=S_{in}(z,\frac{1}{z}),|z|=1.$$
(22)
Moreover, as we are dealing with the dKP hierarchy, we require $`S_{out}`$ to be of the form

$$S_{out}=\underset{n1}{}z^nT_n+\underset{n1}{}\frac{s_n(𝑻)}{z^n}.$$
(23)
In summary we may proceed as follows. Firstly we take a function $`m_0=m_0(z,𝒂)`$ depending on $`z`$ and a certain set of undetermined parameters $`𝒂=(a_1,\mathrm{},a_n)`$, then we get $`f=f(m,𝒂)`$ and solve for $`m=m(z,\overline{z},𝒂)`$ in the second equation of (21). The functions $`S_{in}(z,\overline{z},𝒂)`$ and $`S_{out}(z,𝒂)`$ are determined by means of the first equation of (21) and (22), respectively. Finally, we impose $`S_{out}`$ to admit an asymptotic expansion of the form (23) and find the parameters $`𝒂`$ as functions of the dKP times $`𝒕`$. According to the results described in Section 3, if we get solutions $`S`$ of (20) with enough regular generalized derivatives $`S_z`$ and $`S_{\overline{z}}`$, they will lead to solutions of the dKP hierarchy which, for suitable values of the parameters $`𝒕`$, will determine deformations of qc-mappings. We observe that the crucial property ensuring that a function $`S`$ of the form (23) leads to a solution of the dKP hierarchy is that all the derivatives $`\frac{S_{in}}{t_i}`$ can be written as polynomials in $`\frac{S_{in}}{t_1}`$. In this sense it is helpful to notice that in our method $`S`$ depends on $`𝒕`$ through the functions $`𝒂=𝒂(𝒕)`$ so that from (21)

$$\frac{S_{in}}{t_i}=\frac{f(m,𝒂(𝒕))}{t_i}.$$

Therefore, a way to verify that $`S`$ leads to a dKP solution is to check that the derivatives $`\frac{f(m,𝒂(𝒕))}{t_i}`$ can be expressed as polynomials in $`\frac{f(m,𝒂(𝒕))}{t_1}`$.

Let us consider a couple of examples with $`W_0(m)=m^2`$. In this case Equations (20) become

$$S_{in}=m^2\overline{z}+mzf(m),2m\overline{z}+z=f^{}(m).$$
(24)
Example 1. If we take $`m_0=\frac{1}{a}(zb)`$ ,then $`f(m)=\frac{a}{2}m^2+bm+c`$ and $`m=\frac{zb}{a2\overline{z}}`$. Thus we get

$$S=\{\begin{array}{c}\frac{1}{2}\frac{(zb)^2}{a2\overline{z}}c,|z|1\hfill \\ \\ \frac{1}{2}\frac{z(zb)^2}{az2}c,|z|1.\hfill \end{array}$$

Notice that the regularity of $`S`$ inside the unit circle requires

$$|a|>2,$$
(25)
which is in agreement with the required analyticity of $`S`$ on $`|z|>1`$.

Now we have

$$S=\frac{1}{2a}z^2+(\frac{1}{a^2}\frac{b}{a})z+\frac{2}{a^3}+\frac{b^2}{2a}\frac{2b}{a^2}c+O(\frac{1}{z}),z\mathrm{},$$

so that in order to fit with the dKP hierarchy we have to identify

$$a=\frac{1}{2t_2},b=2t_2\frac{t_1}{2t_2},c=\frac{2}{a^3}+\frac{b^2}{2a}\frac{2b}{a^2}.$$

Notice that

$$\frac{f}{t_i}=\frac{a}{t_i}m^2+\frac{b}{t_i}m+\frac{c}{t_i}.$$

Hence, as $`a`$ is $`t_1`$-independent we have that $`\frac{f}{t_2}`$ can be written as a quadratic polynomial in $`\frac{f}{t_1}`$.

Example 2. If we take $`m_0=az^2+bz+c`$, then from (24) we get

$$\begin{array}{c}f(m)=\frac{b}{2a}m+\frac{1}{12a^2}(4am+b^24ac)^{\frac{3}{2}}+d\\ =\frac{b}{2a}m+\frac{1}{12a^2}(4a\overline{z}m+2az+b)^3+d,\end{array}$$
(26)
and

$$m=\frac{1}{8\overline{z}^2}\left(\frac{1}{a}4(z+\frac{b}{2a})\overline{z}\sqrt{\frac{4}{a}(\frac{b^2}{a}4c)\overline{z}^2\frac{8}{a}(z+\frac{b}{2a})\overline{z}+\frac{1}{a^2}}\right).$$
(27)
Hence we have

$$S_{in}=(z+\frac{b}{2a})m+\overline{z}m^2\frac{1}{12a^2}(4a\overline{z}m+2az+b)^3d.$$
(28)
It is clear that in order to ensure the regularity of $`S_{in}`$ on $`|z|1`$ and the analyticity of $`S_{out}`$ on $`|z|>1`$ we have to require

$$\begin{array}{c}\frac{4}{a}(\frac{b^2}{a}4c)\overline{z}^2\frac{8}{a}(z+\frac{b}{2a})\overline{z}+\frac{1}{a^2}0,|z|<1,\\ \\ \frac{4}{a}(\frac{b^2}{a}4c)\frac{1}{z^2}\frac{8}{a}(z+\frac{b}{2a})\frac{1}{z}+\frac{1}{a^2}0,|z|1.\end{array}$$

One can see that this can be achieved provided

$$\frac{|B|^2}{64}>(|A|+|B|+|C|),(\frac{|B|^2}{64}|B||C|)^2>4|A|(\frac{|B|^2}{64}|B|),$$

where

$$A=\frac{4}{a}(\frac{b^2}{a}4c),B=\frac{8}{a},C=4\frac{b}{a^2}.$$

Notice also that $`S_{in}`$ is regular at the origin as

$$\underset{z0}{lim}m=\frac{1}{2}8\frac{C^2}{B^3}.$$

In order to introduce the dKP times in our solution it is helpful to use the following identity valid on the unit circle $`\overline{z}=z^1`$

$$S_{out,z}=S_{in,z}\frac{1}{z^2}S_{in,\overline{z}}=m\left(\frac{m}{z}\right)^2.$$
(29)
Thus from the expansion

$$\begin{array}{c}m(z,z^1)=\left(\frac{1}{2}+\frac{1}{8a}(1\sqrt{18a})\right)z^2+\\ \\ \frac{b}{4a}\left(1+\frac{1}{\sqrt{18a}}\right)z+\frac{2b^2+(1+8a)c}{(1+8a)\sqrt{18a}}+\mathrm{},z\mathrm{},\end{array}$$

and by setting $`S_{out,z}=3t_3z^2+2t_2z+t_1+\mathrm{}`$ in (29) we get

$$\begin{array}{c}a=\frac{1+36t_3\sqrt{136t_3+432t_3^21728t_3^3}}{2\left(9+72t_3+144t_3^2\right)},\\ \\ b=\frac{32\sqrt{18a}a^2t_2}{\left(1+\sqrt{18a}\right)\left(1+\sqrt{18a}+8a\right)},\\ \\ c=32\sqrt{18a}[(a8a^2)(1\sqrt{18a}+4(2+\sqrt{18a})a+8a^2)t_1+\\ 16a^3(1\sqrt{18a}+4(2+\sqrt{18a})a)t_2^2]\times \\ [\left(1+\sqrt{18a}\right)^2\left(1+\sqrt{18a}+8a\right)^3]^1\end{array}$$

Observe that $`a`$ and $`b`$ are $`t_1`$-independent so that

$$\frac{f}{t_1}=\frac{1}{2a}\sqrt{4am+b^24ac}\frac{c}{t_1}+\frac{d}{t_1}.$$

Hence it follows at once that the derivatives of $`f`$ with respect to $`t_2`$ and $`t_3`$ can be written as polynomials in $`\frac{f}{t_1}`$.

Aknowledgements

We would like to thank Prof. E. Medina for carrying out the computer calculation of the coefficients in the second example of Section 4.