Canonical basis and Macdonald polynomials (Q1275430)

In the basic representation of \(U_q(\widehat{\mathfrak{sl}}_2)\) realized via the algebra of symmetric functions, the authors compare the canonical basis [\textit{M. Kashiwara}, Duke Math. J. 73, 383-413 (1993; Zbl 0794.17009)] with the basis of Macdonald polynomials [\textit{I. Macdonald}, Symmetric functions and Hall polynomials, Cambridge Univ. Press 1995; Zbl 0824.05059); 2nd ed. (AMS, Providence 1998; Zbl 0887.05053)] where \(t=q^2\). The authors show that the Macdonald polynomials are invariant with respect to the bar involution defined abstractly on the representations of quantum groups. They also prove that the Macdonald scalar product coincides with the abstract Kashiwara form. This implies, in particular, that the Macdonald polynomials form an intermediate basis between the canonical basis and the dual canonical basis, and the coefficients of the transition matrix are necessarily bar invariant. The authors also verify that the Macdonald polynomials (after a natural rescaling) form a sublattice in the canonical basis lattice which is invariant under the divided powers action. The transition matrix with respect to this rescaling is integral and the authors conjecture its positivity.