On the prime and primitive spectra of the algebra of functions on a quantum group (Q1337438)

Let \({\mathfrak g}\) be a complex semisimple Lie algebra, \(U:= U_ q ({\mathfrak g})\) its quantized enveloping algebra, and \(R:= R_ q [G]\) the algebra of functions on its (as yet undefined) ``quantum group'' \(G\); here \(R\) may be defined as the span of the matrix coefficients of finite- dimensional representations of \(U\), or essentially just the Hopf dual of \(U\). The purpose of this article is to classify the prime and primitive spectrum of \(R\), proving thereby a conjectural description of \textit{T. J. Hodges} and \textit{T. Levasseur} [Commun. Math. Phys. 156, 581-605 (1993; Zbl 0801.17012)], who had already proved it for \({\mathfrak g}= {\mathfrak {sl}} (n)\) [J. Algebra 168, No. 2, 455-468 (1994; Zbl 0814.17012) see the preceding review]. It turns out that, up to tensoring with one- dimensional representations, the primitive and prime spectra \(\text{Prim }R\), \(\text{Spec }R\) are parametrized by elements of \(W\times W\), where \(W\) is the Weyl group of \({\mathfrak g}\), and that every prime ideal is completely prime. Many of the ideas in the classification proof come from a fundamental paper of \textit{Ya. Soibelman} [Leningr. Math. J. 2, 161-178 (1991); translation from Algebra Anal. 2, 190-212 (1990; Zbl 0708.46029)], while the techniques in the proof largely come from the author and \textit{G. Letzter's} paper [J. Algebra 153, 289-318 (1992; Zbl 0779.17012)]. There is another exposition of most of the proofs in \textit{A. Joseph's} recently published book entitled ``Quantum groups and their primitive ideals'' [Ergebnisse der Mathematik, 3. Folge, Band 29, Springer-Verlag (1995; Zbl 0808.17004)].