The irreducible representations of the Hecke category (Q1291105)

The Iwahori-Hecke algebra (or \(A_n\)-series Hecke algebra) is defined as the quotient of the group algebra of the (\(A_n\)-type) braid group by the quadratic relations \((\sigma_i-1)(\sigma_i+q)=0\), where \(\sigma_i\) (\(1\leq i\leq n-1\)) are the standard symmetric group generators, reducing to the group algebra of the symmetric group at \(q=1\). (Some authors use other signs.) The representation theory of these Hecke algebras was studied by \textit{H.~Wenzl} [in Invent. Math. 92, No. 2, 349-383 (1988; Zbl 0663.46055)] where it was seen that for generic \(q\) (that is, not a root of unity), the representation theory is just a `deformation' of that of the symmetric group, while the irreducible modules were determined when \(q\) is a root of unity, bases being labelled by special types of Young tableaux. The Hecke category, \(\mathcal H\), depends on two non-zero parameters \(q\) and \(a\), and is defined as the quotient of the category, \(\mathcal T\), of oriented tangles by the skein relation \(a^{-1}D_--aD_+=(q-q^{-1})D_0\) where \(D_+\), \(D_-\) and \(D_0\) are three oriented tangles identical except in the neighbourhood of one crossing, where they differ by either having a crossing with one of two possible orientations, or not having the crossing. In the paper under review, the representation theory of \(\mathcal H\) is investigated. In particular it is shown that for generic \(q\) and \(a\) (\(q\) not a root of unity and \(a\) not a power of \(q\)), \(\mathcal H\) is completely reducible with irreducible representations labelled by pairs of partitions. Further, if \(\epsilon\) is an object in \(\mathcal T\), that is a string of orientations (signs), say \(k\) \(+1\)'s and \(l\) \(-1\)'s, then the restriction of \(\mathcal H\) to morphisms from \(\epsilon\) to itself, is shown to form a semisimple algebra whose irreducible representations are labelled by pairs of partitions \((\alpha,\beta)\) where \(|\alpha|-|\beta|=k-l\). This is again in the case of generic \(a\) and \(q\), that is where \([a]_q\not=0\). The paper is well-written and self-contained, including a section containing basic results needed from category theory. The author points out that the main results have independently been obtained by \textit{R.~Leduc} [Ph.D. thesis, Univ. Wisconsin (1994)] as well as by \textit{G.~Benkart, M.~Chakrabarti, Th.~Halverson, R.~Leduc, C.~Lee} and \textit{J.~Stroomer} [J. Algebra 166, No. 3, 529-567 (1994; Zbl 0815.20028)].