Works by Sean Cotner

The Steinberg Representation

2026TheorySean Cotner

An introduction to the Steinberg representation of a finite group of Lie type — its alternating-sum construction from parabolic inductions, worked out explicitly for SL_2.

Some examples of algebraic groups

2026TheorySean Cotner

Two pathological phenomena for algebraic groups over general bases — a group degenerating between the multiplicative and additive group across a DVR, and a non-affine identity component — built as centralizers in SL_n.

Finite flat commutative group schemes embed locally into abelian schemes

2026TheorySean Cotner

A proof of Raynaud's theorem: every finite flat commutative group scheme over a locally noetherian base embeds, Zariski-locally, as a closed subgroup of an abelian scheme.

An example of a non-reduced Picard scheme

2026TheorySean Cotner

An example, due to Serre, of a smooth projective surface in positive characteristic whose Picard scheme fails to be reduced, worked out via the two governing dimension inequalities.

A curiosity: “supersmooth” varieties

2026TheorySean Cotner

A rigidity condition on schemes, strictly stronger than smoothness, introduced with examples and a look at where it fails to be geometric — no known application, just a curiosity.