Hidden quantum groups inside Kac-Moody algebras (Q1201399)

A new connection is established between quantum groups and Kac-Moody algebras. Let \({\mathcal A}_{LC}\) stand for the lattice version [\textit{M. A. Semenov-Tian-Shansky}, Publ. Res. Inst. Math. Sci. 21, 1237-1260 (1985; Zbl 0673.58019)] of the current algebra \(\widetilde{\mathfrak g}\), associated to a finite-dimensional simple Lie algebra \({\mathfrak g}\). The main result of the paper (mathematically rigorous!) states that the monodromy matrix \(M\) of \({\mathcal A}_{LC}\) satisfies the commutation relations for the generators of the quantum deformation of the universal enveloping algebra \(U_ q({\mathfrak g})\), where the deformation parameter \(q\) and the central charge \(k\) of \(\widetilde{\mathfrak g}\) are related through \(q=\exp(\pi i/k+n)\). Later in the work the center of \({\mathcal A}_{LC}\) is explicitly described; tensor products of representations of \({\mathcal A}_{LC}\) with those of \(\widetilde{\mathfrak g}\) are defined. Finally, the scaling (continuous) limit of the lattice algebra \({\mathcal A}_{LC}\) is discussed, but at the physical level of rigour only; in particular, some connections with conformal field theory are outlined.