Past exam of the groups and representations course of the University of Oxford / 2018 / 4 / b / Solution

In the convention of a, the fundamental weights areFor a weight $w=(w_1,w_2,w_3)$ in this orthonormal coordinate system, its Dynkin labels areThese labels, rather than the orthonormal coordinates, are used below and in the projection in c.

The highest weight $(1,0,0)$ is $e_1$. Successive subtraction of the simple roots gives the complete stringThe two consecutive short-root steps are allowed because $e_3$ has coroot pairing two with ${\alpha }_3$. The weight system of this seven-dimensional vector representation is thereforeAll seven weight multiplicities are one, including the zero weight.

The highest weight $(0,0,1)$ is ${\omega }_3$. The Weyl group of the B3 root system acts by signed coordinate permutations. Its orbit is the eight cube vertices $w=(s_1{e}_1+s_2{e}_2+s_3{e}_3)/2$, with independent $s_i=\pm 1$. Starting from $(+,+,+)$, lowering by ${\alpha }_3$, then ${\alpha }_2$, and then either ${\alpha }_1$ or ${\alpha }_3$ generates the middle branches; further lowering reaches all remaining sign choices. Thus the eight-dimensional spin representation hasThe stipulated unit weight multiplicities give dimensions seven and eight by counting these lists.