Total positivity, Schubert positivity, and Geometric Satake

Abstract: Let G be a simple and simply-connected complex algebraic group, and let X \subset G^\vee be the centralizer subgroup of a principal nilpotent element. Ginzburg and Peterson independently related the ring of functions on X with the homology ring of the affine Grassmannian Gr_G. Peterson furthermore connected this ring to the quantum cohomology rings of partial flag varieties G/P. The first aim of this paper is to study three different notions of positivity on X: (1) Schubert positivity arising via Peterson's work, (2) total positivity in the sense of Lusztig, and (3) Mirkovic-Vilonen positivity obtained from the MV-cycles in Gr_G. Our first main theorem establishes that these three notions of positivity coincide. The second aim of this paper is to parametrize the totally nonnegative part of X, confirming a conjecture of the second author. In type A a substantial part of our results were previously established by the second author. The crucial new component of this paper is the connection with the affine Grassmannian and the geometric Satake correspondence.