Is the function field of a reductive Lie algebra purely transcendental over the field of invariants for the adjoint action?

TL;DR

This paper investigates whether the fields of rational functions on a reductive Lie algebra and its group are purely transcendental over their invariants, revealing positive results for some types and negative for others, with implications for algebraic geometry and Lie theory.

Contribution

It reduces the transcendence problem to simple groups and classifies types where the field extension is purely transcendental, also addressing a question of Grothendieck.

Findings

Pure transcendence holds for split groups of type A_n and C_n.

Negative results for other types, possibly excluding G_2.

Connection to the Gelfand–Kirillov conjecture and rational sections of quotient morphisms.

Abstract

Let $k$ be a field of characteristic zero, let $G$ be a connected reductive algebraic group over $k$ and let $\mathfrak{g}$ be its Lie algebra. Let $k(G)$, respectively, $k(\mathfrak{g})$, be the field of $k$-rational functions on $G$, respectively, $\mathfrak{g}$. The conjugation action of $G$ on itself induces the adjoint action of $G$ on $\mathfrak{g}$. We investigate the question whether or not the field extensions $k(G)/k(G)^G$ and $k(\mathfrak{g})/k(\mathfrak{g})^G$ are purely transcendental. We show that the answer is the same for $k(G)/k(G)^G$ and $k(\mathfrak{g})/k(\mathfrak{g})^G$, and reduce the problem to the case where $G$ is simple. For simple groups we show that the answer is positive if $G$ is split of type ${\sf A}_{n}$ or ${\sf C}_n$, and negative for groups of other types, except possibly ${\sf G}_{2}$. A key ingredient in the proof of the negative result is a recent formula for the unramified Brauer group of a homogeneous space with connected stabilizers. As a byproduct of our investigation we give an affirmative answer to a question of Grothendieck about the existence of a rational section of the categorical quotient morphism for the conjugating action of $G$ on itself. The results and methods of this paper have played an important part in recent A. Premet's negative solution (arxiv:0907.2500) of the Gelfand--Kirillov conjecture for finite-dimensional simple Lie algebras of every type, other than ${\sf A}_n$, ${\sf C}_n$, and ${\sf G}_2$.