Tight frames generated by finite nonabelian groups

Abstract

Let $cH$ be a Hilbert space of finite dimension $d$, such as the finite signals $Cd$ or a space of multivariate orthogonal polynomials, and $nge d$. There is a finite number of tight frames of $n$ vectors for $cH$ which can be obtained as the orbit of a single vector under the unitary action of an abelian group $G$ (of symmetries of the frame). Each of these so called {it harmonic frames} or {it geometrically uniform frames} can be obtained from the character table of $G$ in a simple way. These frames are used in signal processing and information theory. For a nonabelian group $G$ there are in general uncountably many inequivalent tight frames of $n$ vectors for $cH$ which can be obtained as such a $G$--orbit. However, by adding an additional natural symmetry condition (which automatically holds if $G$ is abelian), we obtain a finite class of such frames which can be constructed from the character table of $G$ in a similar fashion to the harmonic frames. This is done by identifying each $G$--orbit with an element of the group algebra $CC G$ (via its Gramian), imposing the condition in the group algebra, and then describing the corresponding class of tight frames.