The half-twist for \(U_q(\mathfrak g)\) representations (Q1047633)

Let \((H,R,v)\) be a quasitriangular ribbon Hopf algebra, \(v\) an invertible central element satisfying the necessary properties. For a complex simple Lie algebra \(g\), the quantum universal enveloping algebra \(U=(U_q)(g)\) is a topological ribbon Hopf algebra in the sense that \(v\) and \(R\) belong to the completions of \(H\) and \(H \otimes H\) respectively. Let \(C\) be the element in the completion of \(U\) which acts on the irreducible module \(V_s\) of \(U\) with highest weight \(s\) by \(q^{-(s,s)-2(s,p)}\), where \(p\) is the well-known element of \(h^*\), \(h\) a Cartan subalegebra. Then \((U,R,C)\) is a topological ribbon Hopf algebra, and \(C\) is called the standard ribbon element [\textit{V. Chari} and \textit{A. Pressley}, A guide to quantum groups. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press (1995; Zbl 0839.17010)]. In the paper under review, the authors define a half-ribbon Hopf algebra as a ribbon Hopf algebra with a distinguished invertible element t such that \(R=(t^{-1})ct\), where \(c\) is the coproduct, and \(v=t^{-2}\). If t is only in the completion of \(H\), \(H\) is called a topological half-ribbon Hopf algebra. The authors study topological half-ribbon Hopf algebra structures on \(U\), whose main ingredient is a formula for \(R\) due to \textit{A. N. Kirillov} and \textit{N. Reshetikhin} [Commun. Math. Phys. 134, No. 2, 421--431 (1990; Zbl 0723.17014)] and to \textit{S. Z. Levendorskii} and \textit{Ya. S. Soibelman} [Funct. Anal. Appl. 25, No. 2, 143--145 (1991); translation from Funkts. Anal. Prilozh. 25, No. 2, 73--76 (1991; Zbl 0729.17010)], namely that \(R=(X^{-1}\otimes X^{-1})cX\). The authors of the paper under review show that \(X\) is a half-ribbon element for \(U\), although \(X^{-2}\) is not the standard ribbon element \(C\). They classify the ribbon elements of the completion of \(U\). For \(g-sl_2\), they show that there is no topological half-ribbon element \(t\) for \(U\) such that \(t^{-2}=C\). They also give complete descriptions for \(sl_3\) and \(sl_4\). They also discuss their basic concepts in terms of twists (by 360 degrees) and half-twists (by 180 degrees) of ribbons.