Talk:Coxeter group

Let's define "Coxeter group" properly
The article defines Coxeter group as follows:

"Formally, a Coxeter group can be defined as a group with the presentation

''〈 r_1, r_2,. . ., r_n |  (r_i r_j)^m_ij 〉''

where m_ii = 1 and m_ij >= 2 for i ≠ j. The condition m_ij = ∞ means no relation of the form (r_i r_j)^m should be imposed."

The exact meaning of this definition can probably be guessed from reading further down the page. But why should anyone have to do that when a few more statements would make this definition clear, instead of unclear???

For one thing, no quantifier is applied to the subscripts of m_ij in the presentation, nor to the subscripts of m_ii in the next clause: Why not? And why not state *somewhere* that m_ij belongs to ℤ ∪ {∞} ???

Also: the last statement is mysterious, since it is unclear how "the condition m_ij = ∞" can be part of the presentation of the group (and there is nowhere else for this condition to be imposed). Probably this is backwards: what is intended is likely "If no relation of the form (r_i r_j)^m_ij appears in the presentation, then the number m_ij is taken to be ∞." If so, this should be stated clearly.Daqu (talk) 16:41, 29 January 2010 (UTC)

I think Daqu is exactly right --- and if not, could somebody please explain why not?

That is, why not say: "An involution is an element of order 2. A Coxeter group is any group generated by finitely many involutions."??

If true, that lets somebody know exactly what a Coxeter group is without knowing what the word "presentation" means, or (worse) having to know or accept on faith any theorems about presentations.

Then the stuff about m_ij and so on could be presented as consequences of the definition. And those who know about presentations could then say "Ah, yes, and in fact the class of Coxeter groups can be defined via presentations".

I think in general definitions should involve just as little apparatus as possible, and only involve extra machinery when that significantly shortens and simplifies what is being defined.

An easier definition should never depend on a harder definition.

Of course, if i'm wrong and this is not what a Coxeter group is, somebody please explain and give a counterexample, and thanks in advance. Son of eugene (talk) 20:11, 13 November 2010 (UTC)


 * There are many groups which are generated by involutions and which are not Coxeter groups. For example, (almost?) all non-abelian finite simple groups are generated by involutions. So your suggestion does not work. One really needs to define Coxeter groups using the m_ij. BlackFingolfin (talk) 20:44, 11 January 2011 (UTC)

Why Infinity?
Is there a reason why this page used $$m_{ij} = \infty$$ to mean "there is no relation between $$r_i$$ and $$r_j$$. Surely it would be more logical and less scary to write $$m_{ij} = 0$$ (the relation $$(r_ir_j)^{m_{ij}} = 1$$ would just reduce to $$(r_ir_j)^0 = 1 = 1$$), or have I missed something? 129.11.105.213 (talk) 16:23, 28 February 2010 (UTC)


 * I guess $$m_{ij} = 0$$ is technically correct, but it doesn't sound helpful. The question is - what is the order of the group element $$(r_ir_j)$$? or, how many times do we have to multiply the identity by (r_ir_j) to get back to the identity? In this case we will never get back to the identity, so "infinity" seems to me a more helpful answer than "0". Maproom (talk) 20:38, 28 February 2010 (UTC)


 * No, the exponent 0 does not add any additional information. The reason mij is assigned the "value" ∞ (for those products rirj that do not appear among the relators in the presentation) is solely for convenience. For when an element g of a group G has no power gn that is equal to the identity 1G (for any positive integer n), then as a shorthand, g is said to have "order infinity".  This should not be interpreted to mean that "g∞ = 1G". (Which would be considered a meaningless expression.)Daqu (talk) 18:26, 12 March 2010 (UTC)

Naming scheme of Coxeter graphs diagrams
Any one care to explain the reasoning for the naming scheme of the graphs? Jka02 (talk) 15:26, 28 March 2012 (UTC)

Relationship between Coxeter group and diagram
If it's known, it might be nice to put up the relationship between the graph and the corresponding classification by finite simple groups? If not, I think GAP might be able to do this? Jka02 (talk) 15:26, 28 March 2012 (UTC)

Connection between bilinear form and Cartan matrix
At some point in time a little discussion about the connection between the Cartan matrix and the bilinear form would be worth adding. Jka02 (talk) 15:26, 28 March 2012 (UTC)

Finitely generated?
We are told all finitely generated Coxeter groups are automatic. Sure, but why specify finitely generated - that's in the definition as given. Is this not assuming a more general convention? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.38.193.168 (talk) 01:55, 4 November 2011 (UTC)

--

I've almost always seen Coxeter groups and Coxeter systems presented as finitely generated, this does not mean that someone has not done any research on non-finitely generated Coxeter groups - it just means that it isn't very popular. Jka02 (talk) 15:22, 28 March 2012 (UTC)

B3 cartan matrix??
In the example in the table the Cartan matrix for B3 has sqrt(2) in it!!! --surely it should be non symmetric and have integral entries? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 158.109.1.18 (talk) 17:27, 29 May 2012 (UTC)


 * Coxeter groups are undirected, so the Cartan entries are symmetric. Tom Ruen (talk) 19:53, 29 May 2012 (UTC)

Cartan Matrices
In the table of Coxeter matrices and Cartan Matrices, and nowhere else in the article, the Cartan matrices are called "Schlaefli" matrices. Ericlord (talk) 07:10, 19 February 2013 (UTC)


 * I changed it to Schläfli matrix which redirects to a section at Coxeter-Dynkin diagram. Tom Ruen (talk) 20:06, 19 February 2013 (UTC)

All finitely generated Coxeter groups have a faithful reflection representation. This article suggests there exist Coxeter groups which do not. Since such a group must necessarily be infinitely generated, I'm curious if there's an example that can be given? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 50.131.246.101 (talk) 09:53, 16 March 2013 (UTC)

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 * Caused by a name change, seems to fix on refresh. Tom Ruen (talk) 10:06, 27 February 2019 (UTC)