On the endomorphism algebra of generalised Gelfand-Graev representations

Abstract

Let $G$ be a connected reductive algebraic group defined over the finite field $\F_q$, where $q$ is a power of a good prime for $G$, and let $F$ denote the corresponding Frobenius endomorphism, so that $G^F$ is a finite reductive group. Let $u\in G^F$ be a unipotent element and let ${\Gamma }_u$ be the associated generalised Gelfand-Graev representation of $G^F$. Under the assumption that $G$ has a connected centre, we show that the dimension of the endomorphism algebra of ${\Gamma }_u$ is a polynomial in $q$, with degree given by $\dim C_G(u)$. When the centre of $G$ is disconnected, it is impossible, in general, to parametrise the (isomorphism classes of) generalised Gelfand-Graev representations independently of $q$, unless one adopts a convention of considering separately various congruence classes of $q$. Subject to such a convention we extend our result.

18 pages. To appear in Transactions of the American Mathematical Society