Λ-ring

In algebra, a λ-ring or lambda ring is a commutative ring together with some operations λⁿ on it that behave like the exterior powers of vector spaces. Many rings considered in K-theory carry a natural λ-ring structure. λ-rings also provide a powerful formalism for studying an action of the symmetric functions|symmetric function]s on the ring of polynomials, recovering and extending many classical results.
λ-rings were introduced by. For more about λ-rings see,, and.

Motivation

If V and W are finite-dimensional vector spaces over a field k, then we can form the direct sum V ⊕ W, the tensor product V ⊗ W, and the n-th exterior power of V, Λⁿ. All of these are again finite-dimensional vector spaces over k. The same three operations of direct sum, tensor product and exterior power are also available when working with k-linear representations of a finite group, when working with vector bundles over some topological space, and in more general situations.
λ-rings are designed to abstract the common algebraic properties of these three operations, where we also allow for formal inverses with respect to the direct sum operation. The addition in the ring corresponds to the direct sum, the multiplication in the ring corresponds to the tensor product, and the λ-operations to the exterior powers. For example, the isomorphism
corresponds to the formula
valid in all λ-rings, and the isomorphism
corresponds to the formula
valid in all λ-rings. Analogous but more complicated formulas govern the higher order λ-operators.

Motivation with Vector Bundles

If we have a short exact sequence of vector bundles over a smooth scheme

then locally, for a small enough open neighborhood we have the isomorphism
Now, in the Grothendieck group of , we get this local equation globally for free, from the defining equivalence relations. So
demonstrating the basic relation in a λ-ring, that

Definition

A λ-ring is a commutative ring R together with operations λⁿ : R → R for every non-negative integer n. These operations are required to have the following properties valid for all x, y in R and all n, m ≥ 0:

λ⁰ = 1
λ¹ = x
λⁿ = 0 if n ≥ 2
λⁿ = Σ_i+''j=n'' λⁱ λ^j
λⁿ = P_n,..., λⁿ, λ¹,..., λⁿ)
λⁿ = P_n,''m,..., λmn)

where P''_n and P_n,m are certain universal polynomials with integer coefficients that describe the behavior of exterior powers on tensor products and under composition. These polynomials can be defined as follows.
Let e₁,..., e_mn be the elementary symmetric polynomials in the variables X₁,..., X_mn. Then P_n,''m is the unique polynomial in nm variables with integer coefficients such that P_n,m is the coefficient of t''ⁿ in the expression
Now let e₁,..., e_n be the elementary symmetric polynomials in the variables X₁,..., X_n and f₁,..., f_n be the elementary symmetric polynomials in the variables Y₁,..., Y_n. Then P_n is the unique polynomial in 2n variables with integer coefficients such that is the coefficient of tⁿ in the expression

Plethystic formulation

A λ-ring is a commutative ring equipped with a map
called plethysm, satisfying the following axioms for all :

The map, is a ring homomorphism.
.
for.
for.
for.

Here is the ring of symmetric functions,
are the elementary symmetric functions,
and the plethysm on is defined by
for
and power sum symmetric functions.
The original definition of a λ-ring is obtained by setting
The maps are ring homomorphisms, called Adams operations.
The first three axioms define a pre-λ-ring.

Variations

The λ-rings defined above are called "special λ-rings" by some authors, who use the term "λ-ring" for a more general concept where the conditions on λⁿ, λⁿ and λⁿ are dropped.

Examples

The ring Z of integers, with the binomial coefficients as operations is a λ-ring. In fact, this is the only λ-structure on Z. This example is closely related to the case of finite-dimensional vector spaces mentioned in the Motivation section above, identifying each vector space with its dimension and remembering that.
More generally, any binomial ring becomes a λ-ring if we define the λ-operations to be the binomial coefficients, λⁿ =. In these λ-rings, all Adams operations are the identity.
The K-theory K of a topological space X is a λ-ring, with the lambda operations induced by taking exterior powers of a vector bundle.
Given a group G and a base field k, the representation ring R is a λ-ring; the λ-operations are induced by the exterior powers of k-linear representations of the group G.
The ring Λ_Z of symmetric functions is a λ-ring. On the integer coefficients the λ-operations are defined by binomial coefficients as above, and if e₁, e₂,... denote the elementary symmetric functions, we set λⁿ = e_n. Using the axioms for the λ-operations, and the fact that the functions e_k are algebraically independent and generate the ring Λ_Z, this definition can be extended in a unique fashion so as to turn Λ_Z into a λ-ring. In fact, this is the free λ-ring on one generator, the generator being e₁..
The Grothendieck group of any monoidal category|symmetric] monoidal abelian category is a λ-ring, generalizing most of the examples above.

Further properties and definitions

Every λ-ring has characteristic 0 and contains the λ-ring Z as a λ-subring.
Many notions of commutative algebra can be extended to λ-rings. For example, a λ-homomorphism between λ-rings R and S is a ring homomorphism f : R → S such that f = λⁿ for all x in R and all n ≥ 0. A λ-ideal in the λ-ring R is an ideal I in R such that λⁿ ϵ I for all x in R and all n ≥ 1.
If x is an element of a λ-ring and m a non-negative integer such that λ^m ≠ 0 and λⁿ = 0 for all n > m, we write dim = m and call the element x finite-dimensional. Not all elements need to be finite-dimensional. We have dim ≤ dim + dim and the product of elements is.
Symmetric functions act on λ-rings, as follows: given a symmetric polynomial p in arbitrary many variables with integer coefficients, and an element x of a λ-ring R, there exists a unique λ-homomorphism f : Λ_Z → R with f=x, and we set p.x := f.''