Characters of irreducible representations of simple Lie superalgebras (Q1126763)

Let \(\mathfrak g\) be a simple Lie superalgebra. It is known that all finite dimensional irreducible representations of \(\mathfrak g\) are enumerated by highest weights satisfying certain conditions of dominance. The problem of finding the character of an irreducible highest weight module is extremely difficult and is completely solved for Cartan type superalgebras only. For contragredient and ``strange'' Lie superalgebras the characters are known only in the partial case of generic (typical) highest weights. In the atypical case the problem has been recently solved for \({\mathfrak g}=gl(m| n)\) [\textit{V. Serganova}, Sel. Math., New Ser. 2, No. 4, 607--651 (1996; Zbl 0881.17005)] and \({\mathfrak g}=Q(n)\) [\textit{I. Penkov} and \textit{V. Serganova}, Characters of irreducible \(G\)-modules and cohomology of \(G/P\) for the Lie supergroup \(G=Q(N)\), Algebraic geometry 7, J. Math. Sci., New York, 84, No. 5, 1382--1412 (1997; Zbl 0920.17003)]. In the paper under review the author outlines the main difficulties in the solution of the problem for the irreducible characters of contragredient and strange simple Lie superalgebras. She sketches the proofs of results giving the irreducible characters of atypical highest weights for \(gl(m|n)\) and \(osp(m|n)\). The result in the latter case is new and is announced for the first time in the paper under review. The author also believes that the methods exposed in the paper under review should work for exceptional Lie superalgebras and the only unclear case left is for \(P(n)\) because the centre of the universal enveloping algebra of \(P(n)\) is too small and central characters do not separate blocks.