Coincidences between intervals in two partial orders on complex reflection groups

Abstract

In a finite real reflection group, the reflection length of each element is equal to the codimension of its fixed space, and the two coincident functions determine a partial order structure called the absolute order. In complex reflection groups, the reflection length is no longer always equal to the codimension of fixed space, and the two functions give rise to two different partial orders on the group. We characterize the elements w in the combinatorial family $G(m,p,n)$ of complex reflection groups for which the intervals below w in these two posets coincide. We also explore the relationship between this property and other natural properties of elements in complex reflection groups; some general theory of posets arising from subadditive functions on groups; and the particular case of subadditive functions on the symmetric group.