Braided doubles and rational Cherednik algebras. (Q1007229)

In the paper under review the authors introduce and study a new class of associative algebras, which they call `braided doubles'. This class provides a unifying framework for classical and quantum universal enveloping algebras and rational Cherednik algebras. A braided double is an algebra with triangular decomposition \(A=U^-\otimes H\otimes U^+\) over a Hopf algebra \(H\) such that \(U^-\) and \(U^+\) are generated by dually paired \(H\)-modules \(V\) and \(V^*\), whose commutator (in \(A\)) lies in \(H\). The main result of the paper is that any rational Cherednik algebra canonically embeds in the braided Heisenberg double attached to the corresponding complex reflection group. This gives a new, quantum group-like realization of rational Cherednik algebras. Free braided doubles are classified in terms of quasi-Yetter-Drinfeld modules. Braided doubles are quotients of free braided doubles that still admit triangular decomposition. In particular, there is a natural notion of a minimal double, examples of which are (quantum) universal enveloping algebras. In many cases it is shown that a minimal double embeds into a braided Heisenberg double. As a corollary the authors get the PBW theorem for rational Cherednik algebras over an arbitrary field.