The modular representation theory of Iwahori-Hecke algebras and this theory's connection to groups of Lie type is an area of rapidly expanding interest; it is one that has also seen a number of breakthroughs in recent years. In classifying the irreducible representations of Iwahori-Hecke algebras at roots of unity, this book is a particularly valuable addition to current research in this field. Using the framework provided by the Kazhdan-Lusztig theory of cells, the authors develop an analogue of James' (1970) "characteristic-free'' approach to the representation theory of Iwahori-Hecke algebras in general. Presenting a systematic and unified treatment of representations of Hecke algebras at roots of unity, this book is unique in its approach and includes new results that have not yet been published in book form. It also serves as background reading to further active areas of current research such as the theory of affine Hecke algebras and Cherednik algebras. The main results of this book are obtained by an interaction of several branches of mathematics, namely the theory of Fock spaces for quantum affine Lie algebras and Ariki's theorem, the combinatorics of crystal bases, the theory of Kazhdan-Lusztig bases and cells, and computational methods. This book will be of use to researchers and graduate students in representation theory as well as any researchers outside of the field with an interest in Hecke algebras.

This is an essentially self-contained monograph in an intriguing field of fundamental importance for Representation Theory, Harmonic Analysis, Mathematical Physics, and Combinatorics. It is a major source of general information about the double affine Hecke algebra, also called Cherednik's algebra, and its impressive applications. Chapter 1 is devoted to the Knizhnik-Zamolodchikov equations attached to root systems and their relations to affine Hecke algebras, Kac-Moody algebras, and Fourier analysis. Chapter 2 contains a systematic exposition of the representation theory of the one-dimensional DAHA. It is the simplest case but far from trivial with deep connections in the theory of special functions. Chapter 3 is about DAHA in full generality, including applications to Macdonald polynomials, Fourier transforms, Gauss-Selberg integrals, Verlinde algebras, and Gaussian sums. This book is designed for mathematicians and physicists, experts and students, for those who want to master the double Hecke algebra technique. Visit http://arxiv.org/math.QA/0404307 to read Chapter 0 and selected topics from other chapters.

After the pioneering work of Brauer in the middle of the 20th century in the area of the representation theory of groups, many entirely new developments have taken place and the field has grown into a very large field of study. This progress, and the remaining open problems (e.g., the conjectures of Alterin, Dade, Broué, James, etc.) have ensured that group representation theory remains a lively area of research. In this book, the leading researchers in the field contribute a chapter in their field of specialty, namely: Broué (Finite reductive groups and spetses); Carlson (Cohomology and representations of finite groups); Geck (Representations of Hecke algebras); Seitz (Topics in algebraic groups); Kessar and Linckelmann (Fusion systems and blocks); Serre (On finite subgroups of Lie groups); Thévenaz (The classification of endo-permutaion modules); and Webb (Representations and cohomology of categories).

This book is an outgrowth of a Research Symposium on the Modular Representation Theory of Finite Groups, held at the University of Virginia in May 1998. The main themes of this symposium were representations of groups of Lie type in nondefining (or cross) characteristic, and recent developments in block theory. Series of lectures were given by M. Geck, A. Kleshchev and R. Rouquier, and their brief was to present material at the leading edge of research but accessible to graduate students working in the field. The first three articles are substantial expansions of their lectures, and each provides a complete account of a significant area of the subject together with an extensive bibliography. The remaining articles are based on some of the other lectures given at the symposium; some again are full surveys of the topic covered while others are short, but complete, research articles. The opportunity has been taken to produce a book of enduring value so that this is not a conference proceedings in the conventional sense. Material has been updated so that this book, through its own content and in its extensive bibliographies, will serve as an invaluable resource for all those working in the area, whether established researchers or graduate students who wish to gain a general knowledge of the subject starting from a single source.

In this well-written presentation, motivated by numerous examples and problems, the authors introduce the basic theory of braid groups, highlighting several definitions that show their equivalence; this is followed by a treatment of the relationship between braids, knots and links. Important results then treat the linearity and orderability of the subject. Relevant additional material is included in five large appendices. Braid Groups will serve graduate students and a number of mathematicians coming from diverse disciplines.