A Kohno-Drinfeld theorem for quantum Weyl groups (Q1847918)

Let \(\mathfrak{g}\) be a complex, simple Lie algebra with Cartan subalgebra \(\mathfrak{h}\) and Weyl group \(W\). Let \(B_{\mathfrak{g}}=\pi_1(\mathfrak{h}_{\text{reg}}/W)\) be the generalised braid group of type \(\mathfrak{g}\), i.e., the fundamental group of the orbit space \(\mathfrak{h}_{\text{reg}}/W\) of the set of regular elements in \(\mathfrak{h}\) under the action of \(W\). According to [\textit{J. Millson} and the author, Casimir operators and monodromy representations of generalised braid groups (preprint), Transform. Groups 10, No. 2, 217--254 (2005; Zbl 1130.17005)], one can define a flat vector bundle \((\mathcal{V},\nabla_{\kappa})\) with fibre \(V\) over \(\mathfrak{h}_{\text{reg}}/W\), for any finite-dimensional \(\mathfrak{g}\)-module \(V\). The connection \(\nabla_{\kappa}\) depends on a parameter \(\hbar\in\mathbb{C}\) and it was conjectured in [the author, Monodromy representations of generalised braid groups and quantum Weyl groups (preprint)] that, when \(\hbar\) is regarded as a formal variable, its monodromy is equivalent to the quantum Weyl group action of \(B_{\mathfrak{g}}\) on \(V\). This conjecture was checked in the preprint cited above for a number of pairs \((\mathfrak{g},V)\) including vector representations of classical Lie algebras and adjoint representations of simple Lie algebras. In the present paper, the author proves this conjecture for \(\mathfrak{g}=\mathfrak{sl}_n\). The proof relies on the Kohno-Drinfeld theorem for \(U_{\hbar}\mathfrak{sl}_k\) via the use of the dual pair \((\mathfrak{gl}_k,\mathfrak{gl}_n)\), where \(U_{\hbar}\mathfrak{sl}_k\) is the Drinfeld-Jimbo quantum group of \(\mathfrak{sl}_k\). The main point is that the duality between \(\mathfrak{gl}_k\) and \(\mathfrak{gl}_n\) derived from their joint action on the space \(\mathbf{M}_{k,n}\) of \((k\times n)\)-matrices identifies the Knizhnik-Zamolodchikov connection for \(n\)-fold tensor products of symmetric powers of the vector representation of \(\mathfrak{sl}_k\) and the connection \(\nabla_{\kappa}\) for \(\mathfrak{sl}_n\). This shows the equivalence of the monodromy representation of \(\nabla_{\kappa}\) for \(\mathfrak{sl}_n\) with a suitable \(R\)-matrix representation for \(U_{\hbar}\mathfrak{sl}_k\). The proof is completed by noting that the duality between \(U_{\hbar}\mathfrak{gl}_k\) and \(U_{\hbar}\mathfrak{gl}_n\) exchanges the \(R\)-matrix representation of \(U_{\hbar}\mathfrak{sl}_k\) with the quantum Weyl group representation of \(U_{\hbar}\mathfrak{sl}_n\).