On formal quantum group laws (Q1305350)

Quantum formal group laws are presented. Let \(k\) be a field and let \(A=k\langle\langle x_1,\ldots,x_m\rangle\rangle\) be the free associative algebra with \(m\) generators. Write \({\mathfrak X}_i=x_i\otimes 1\) and \({\mathfrak Y}_i=1\otimes x_i\in A\widehat\otimes A\). An \(m\)-dimensional quantum formal group is an \(m\)-tuple of powers series \(F=(F_1,F_2,\ldots,F_m)\), where \(F_i({\mathfrak X},{\mathfrak Y})=F_i({\mathfrak X}_1,{\mathfrak X}_2,\ldots,{\mathfrak X}_m,{\mathfrak Y}_1,{\mathfrak Y}_2,\ldots,{\mathfrak Y}_m)\in A\widehat\otimes A\) satisfying the same properties as classical formal groups (i.e., group laws obtained from elements of the commutative ring of power series \(k[[x_1,\ldots,x_m]]\)). Categorically, quantum formal group laws are discussed as \(\widehat\otimes\)-cogroup-objects in the category of noncommutative formal power series algebras. The authors provide several examples of quantum formal groups and their relationship with topological Hopf algebras. Let \(\text{char }k=0\), and let \(J\) be the (two-sided) ideal generated by the \(x_i\). The focus of this paper is a study of quantum group law chunks. A chunk of degree \(r\) is a polynomial in \(\mathfrak X\) and \(\mathfrak Y\) of degree at most \(r\) that satisfy the formal group properties modulo \(J^{r+1}(A\otimes A\otimes A)\). It is known that the Lie structure constants of a quantum group law chunk are precisely the coefficients of a quantum group law chunk of degree 2. A classification of quantum group law chunks of degree 3 is given, and it is shown to be much larger than the corresponding classical chunks of degree 3. Finally, generalizations are discussed, including attempts to classify higher degree chunks and quantum group law chunks over an infinite number of variables.