Invariant differential operators. Volume 2: Quantum groups (Q2362411)

This is the second of two volumes, for a review of the first one [Invariant differential operators. Volume 1: Noncompact semisimple Lie algebras and groups. Berlin: De Gruyter (2016)] see Zbl 1348.22001. The second volume consists of seven chapters. The first chapter is designed as a general introduction to quantum groups and quantum algebras. Both Jimbo's and Drinfeld's definitions for such algebras are presented and compared. The \(q\)-deformation technique is described and many examples are given. These examples include \(q\)-deformations of the Lorentz algebra, de Sitter algebra, Poincaré and Weyl algebras and some others. The second chapter is about highest weight modules over quantum algebras. The main emphasis is made on Verma modules and their singular vectors, the latter being described and explicitly computed for many examples in various situations (in particular, for some root of unity case) and bases. The third chapter describes positive energy representation of noncompact quantum algebras describing some character formulae. The fourth chapter addresses the phenomenon of duality in the setup of quantum groups which connects matrix quantum groups and some quantum algebras. Examples presented in this chapter include the multiparameter quantum \(\mathrm{GL}(n)\), the Lorentz quantum group and the Jordanian matrix quantum group. The fifth and the sixth chapter are about invariant \(q\)-difference operators, with the more general theory collected in the fifth chapter and the example of \(\mathrm{GL}_q(n)\) spelled out in the sixth chapter. The general part treats induces representations, highest weight representations and intertwining operators which a large number of explicit examples. The \(\mathrm{GL}_q(n)\) part contains, among other, a description of the Gelfand-Zeitlin approach to the study of simple finite dimensional modules. The final, seventh chapter, describes applications to the study of \(q\)-Maxwell equation, \(q\)-d'Alembert equation and \(q\)-Weyl gravity equations. Various polynomial and \(q\)-plane wave solutions are presented and discussed. Compared to the first volume, this second volume contains more detailed explanations and more proofs. Still, the material is presented in a way which makes the volume a tough read for the audience which is used to more mathematically oriented literature, especially, if one is interested in general theory, facts and results. A big portion of the presented material contains various formulae or explicit computations in special (usually small) cases. Finally, the volume has a very extensive bibliography.