On relative complete reducibility

Abstract

Let $K$ be a reductive subgroup of a reductive group $G$ over an algebraically closed field $k$. The notion of relative complete reducibility, introduced in previous work of Bate-Martin-Roehrle-Tange, gives a purely algebraic description of the closed $K$-orbits in $G^n$, where $K$ acts by simultaneous conjugation on $n$-tuples of elements from $G$. This extends work of Richardson and is also a natural generalization of Serre's notion of $G$-complete reducibility. In this paper we revisit this idea, giving a characterization of relative $G$-complete reducibility which directly generalizes equivalent formulations of $G$-complete reducibility. If the ambient group $G$ is a general linear group, this characterization yields representation-theoretic criteria. Along the way, we extend and generalize several results from the aforementioned work of Bate-Martin-Roehrle-Tange.

10 pages; v2 15 pages; substantially revised and expanded version: most results are generalized from the case of a general linear group to an arbitrary connected reductive algebraic group. List of authors expanded. To appear in Quarterly Journal of Mathematics