The \(q\)-characters at roots of unity (Q1865271)

The aim of the paper is to define and study the \(q\)-characters of the finite dimensional representations of the untwisted quantum affine algebras at roots of unity. Several versions of the quantum affine algebra \(U_q\widehat{g}\), where \(q\) is specialized to a root of unity \(\varepsilon\), are known: the non-restricted specialization \(\tilde{U}_{\varepsilon}\widehat{g}\) studied by \textit{J. Beck} and \textit{V. G. Kac} [J. Am. Math. Soc. 9, 391-423 (1996; Zbl 0867.17011)], the restricted specialization \(U^{\text{res}}_{\varepsilon}\widehat{g}\) studied by \textit{V. Chari} and \textit{A. Pressley} [Represent. Theory 1, 280-328 (1997; Zbl 0891.17013)], and the small affine quantum group \(U^{fin}_{\varepsilon}\widehat{g}\), which is the image of the natural morphism \(\tilde{U}_{\varepsilon}\widehat{g}\rightarrow U^{\text{res}}_{\varepsilon}\widehat{g}\). The \(\varepsilon\)-character of a \(U^{\text{res}}_{\varepsilon}\widehat{g}\)-module \(V\) is defined via the generalized eigenvalues of a commutative subalgebra of \(U^{\text{res}}_{\varepsilon}\widehat{g}\) on \(V\). It is proved that all irreducible finite dimensional representations of \(U^{fin}_{\varepsilon}\widehat{g}\) (of type 1) are highest weight representations. Each irreducible \(U^{fin}_{\varepsilon}\widehat{g}\)-module is proved to have a unique structure of a \(U^{\text{res}}_{\varepsilon}\widehat{g}\)-module. This allows the \(\varepsilon\)-characters of \(U^{fin}_{\varepsilon}\widehat{g}\)-modules to be obtained from the \(\varepsilon\)-characters of \(U^{\text{res}}_{\varepsilon}\widehat{g}\)-modules. Finally, the quantum Frobenius homomorphism is studied and applied to the theory of characters.