Characteristic polynomials and finitely dimensional representations of \(\mathfrak{sl}(2, \mathbb{C})\) (Q2135536)

This paper concerns the study of representations of the Lie algebra \(\mathfrak{sl}_2(\mathbb{C})\), via characteristic polynomials. Representation theory of complex finite dimensional Lie algebras has been a prevailing theme of research in representation theory since the early 20th century. The classification of representations of such algebras has taken many forms throughout the years: algebraic -- via the notion of highest weights; combinatorial -- via Young tableaux; geometric -- via Littelmann paths etc. Recently, through the works of Chen-Chen-Ding and Hu-Zhang, a classical approach in the study of group representations is being adapted to the context of Lie algebras, namely classifying representations via their characteristic polynomials. The first step in developing any such approach naturally needs to start with the basic building block of any Lie algebra -- the special linear Lie algebra of rank 2, denoted \(\mathfrak{sl}_2(\mathbb{C})\). This Lie algebra has a canonical basis \(\{h,e,f\}\) with the Lie bracket given by \([h,e]=2e\), \([h,f]=-2f\), and \([e,f]=h\). The \textit{characteristic polynomial} of a representation \(\phi:\mathfrak{sl}_2(\mathbb{C})\longrightarrow \mathfrak{gl}(V)\) is defined as \[ f_\mathfrak{\phi}(z_0,z_1,z_2,z_3) = \det\left(z_0 I + z_1\phi(h) + z_2\phi(e) + z_3\phi(f)\right). \] In the present article the authors build on the works of Chen-Chen-Ding and Hu-Zhang to give explicit formulas for the characteristic polynomial of any finite dimensional representation of \(\mathfrak{sl}_2(\mathbb{C})\), and endow the set of such polynomials with a monoidal structure. In section 2 the authors prove a result that permits a large choice of canonical bases for \(\mathfrak{sl}_2(\mathbb{C})\). Utilizing this result, in section 3 they supply a simplified proof of a conjecture of Hu-Zhang, which gives a formula of \(f_\phi(z_0,z_1,1,1)\) in terms of a finite product of degree-2 polynomials in \(z_0\) and \(z_1\). In section 4, the authors provide an explicit formula for the characteristic polynomial \(f_\phi\) of any finite dimensional representation of \(\mathfrak{sl}_2(\mathbb{C})\). Moreover they show that there is a bijection between the isomorphism classes of finite dimensional representations of \(\mathfrak{sl}_2(\mathbb{C})\) and the set \(\mathbf{CP}_{\mathfrak{sl}_2(\mathbb{C})}\subseteq\mathbb{C}[z_0,z_1,z_2,z_3]\) consisting of their characteristic polynomials. In section 5 the authors endow \(\mathbf{CP}_{\mathfrak{sl}_2(\mathbb{C})}\) with a monoidal structure by defining a \textit{resolution product} \(\ast\) which satisfies \(f_\phi \ast f_\psi = f_{\phi\otimes \psi}\). They show that this product is commutative, and the identity element is the monomial \(z_0\). In other words, they model the representation theory of \(\mathfrak{sl}_2(\mathbb{C})\) and the tensor product in the monoid \(\mathbf{CP}_{\mathfrak{sl}_2(\mathbb{C})}\). Finally in section 6 the authors use their results to compute the characteristic polynomial of representations of the form \(\mbox{ad}\circ \phi\) for the adjoint representation \(\mbox{ad}\) of \(\mathfrak{sl}_n(\mathbb{C})\), and a representation \(\phi\) of \(\mathfrak{sl}_2(\mathbb{C})\). The article concludes with a partial computation of the characteristic polynomial of \(\mathfrak{sl}_n(\mathbb{C})\) as defined by Key-Yang.