Affine quantum algebras, Weyl groups and constructible functions

Abstract

This thesis consists of two parts. In the first part we study the affine quantum group of type A, giving a geometric description of its natural inner product, and studying the theory of cells attached to the canonical basis. In the second part we study a realization of the group algebra of the Weyl group in a convolution algebra of constructible functions on the Steinberg variety, and examine how this may be used to see Springer representations.