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Write the diagonal maximal torus of $U(n)$ as $t=\mathrm{diag}(z_1,\dots ,z_n)$, $|z_i|=1$, and let $\delta =(n-1,n-2,\dots ,0)$. Irreducible complex representations are indexed by dominant integer tuples ${\lambda }_1\ge \cdots \ge {\lambda }_n$, their highest weights. The Weyl character formula in integer-exponent form isThe ratio initially uses distinct $z_i$, and extends to repeated eigenvalues by continuity. Every unitary matrix is conjugate to such a diagonal matrix, so this determines the character on the entire group. The shift $\delta$ differs from the usual Weyl vector $\rho =((n-1)/2,(n-3)/2,\dots ,(1-n)/2)$ by a multiple of $(1,\dots ,1)$; the corresponding determinant factors cancel between numerator and denominator.

We first justify the highest-weight information needed in the proof. Restriction to the torus splits a representation into integer weight spaces. In an irreducible representation choose a lexicographically largest weight $\lambda$ and a nonzero vector $v$ of that weight. A matrix unit $E_{ij}$ with $i<j$ raises the weight by $e_i-e_j$, so it annihilates $v$. The character is invariant under permutations of diagonal coordinates, because permutation matrices conjugate the torus. Hence permutations of $\lambda$ are also weights, and lexical maximality forces ${\lambda }_1\ge \cdots \ge {\lambda }_n$.

Irreducibility implies that $v$ generates the representation under the complexified Lie algebra. Indeed, a Lie-algebra invariant subspace is preserved by exponentials of skew-Hermitian matrices, which generate $U(n)$. Reorder any product of matrix units into lower-triangular units, diagonal units and upper-triangular units, usingInduction on length and on the number of out-of-order pairs gives the required spanning version of the Poincaré-Birkhoff-Witt theorem. Upper-triangular units kill $v$, and diagonal units act by scalars. Every nonempty product of lower-triangular units lowers its weight by a nonzero sum of positive roots. Therefore the top weight space is exactly $\mathbb{C}v$, and its multiplicity is one. This supplies the leading coefficient without assuming a character formula.

For completeness, every dominant integer tuple occurs. Put $d_j={\lambda }_j-{\lambda }_{j+1}\ge 0$ and form the representationIts lexicographically highest weight is $\lambda$, with one-dimensional highest space, represented by the tensor products of $e_1\wedge \cdots \wedge e_j$. A negative determinant exponent is a legitimate one-dimensional unitary-group character. Averaging an inner product over normalized Haar measure gives invariant orthogonal complements, so the tensor representation splits into irreducible summands. One of them has highest weight $\lambda$. Uniqueness will also follow from the formula and Schur orthogonality relations.

Define the alternant $A_{\kappa }(z)=\det (z_i^{{\kappa }_j})$ for a strictly decreasing integer tuple $\kappa$. The denominatoris the Vandermonde determinant, and its modulus is the denominator modulus in the Weyl integration formula. The Laurent polynomial ${\chi }_{\lambda }{A}_{\delta }$ is alternating. Any alternating Laurent polynomial decomposes as a finite summonomials with repeated exponents have zero coefficient, and the remaining permutation orbits are indexed uniquely by strictly decreasing tuples.

The lexicographically highest monomial in the product is $z^{\lambda +\delta }$ with coefficient one. Indeed, the highest monomial of the character is $z^{\lambda }$ with coefficient one, and the unique lexical maximum among permutations of $\delta$ is $\delta$ itself. It follows that $c_{\lambda +\delta }=1$.

Fourier orthogonality on the torus, whose probability measure is ${\prod }_{i}d{\theta }_i/(2\pi )$, gives alternant orthogonality on a unitary torus:Expand both determinants: an integral survives exactly when the two exponent tuples are identical up to permutation. Strict decreasing order then forces $\kappa =\eta$, and its $n!$ matching terms each contribute one.

Finally, Schur orthogonality relations give ${\int }_{U(n)}|{\chi }_{\lambda }{|}^2=1$. Applying the allowed Weyl integration formula to this class function givesSince the coefficient $c_{\lambda +\delta }$ already equals one, every other coefficient vanishes. Thus ${\chi }_{\lambda }{A}_{\delta }=A_{\lambda +\delta }$, proving the formula. If two irreducible representations had the same highest weight, their characters would now coincide; the Schur orthogonality relations imply that they are isomorphic. Apparent singularities at repeated diagonal eigenvalues are removable because the quotient equals the actual finite Laurent-polynomial character. No dimension formula has been assumed.