Geometric representations of finite groups on real toric spaces

Abstract

We develop a framework to construct geometric representations of finite groups $G$ through the correspondence between real toric spaces $X^{\mathbb R}$ and simplicial complexes with characteristic matrices. We give a combinatorial description of the $G$-module structure of the homology of $X^{\mathbb R}$. As applications, we make explicit computations of the Weyl group representations on the homology of real toric varieties associated to the Weyl chambers of type $A$ and $B$, which show an interesting connection to the topology of posets. We also realize a certain kind of Foulkes representation geometrically as the homology of real toric varieties.