Jacobis Tripelprodukt-Identität und \(\eta\)-Identitäten in der Theorie affiner Lie-Algebren. (Jacobi's triple product identity and \(\eta\)- identities in the theory of affine Lie algebras) (Q1078308)

This is a nicely readable written version of the author's inaugural lecture. It begins with a report on classical results in partition theory: Euler's pentagonal number theorem, Jacobi's triple product identity, and identities for the first and third power of Dedekind's \(\eta\)-function. Then the author explains the transcription of Jacobi's triple product identity into a formula on the root system and the Weyl group of the affine Lie algebra attached to sl(2,\({\mathbb{C}})\). Finally he discusses the generalization to other affine Lie algebras which yield Macdonald's \(\eta\)-identities [\textit{I. G. Macdonald}, Invent. Math. 15, 91-143 (1972; Zbl 0244.17005)], exemplified by \(\eta^{24}\) and \(\eta^{248}\). There is a bibliography of 61 items.