On the structure of coboundary \(R\)-matrices of classical series. (Q1405629)

Quasitriangular \(R\)-matrices satisfying the Yang-Baxter equations have been extensively studied. Less study has been devoted to coboundary \(R\)-matrices (in \(A\otimes A\), \(A\) a Hopf algebra), i.e., \(R_{12}(\Delta\otimes I)R=R_{23}(I\otimes\Delta)R\) and \(R_{21}=R^{-1}_{12}\). If \(R\) is quasitriangular, then \textit{V. G. Drinfel'd} has observed that \(R^c=(R_{12}R_{21})^{-{\tfrac 12}}R\) is coboundary [Proc. Int. Congr. Math., Berkeley/Calif. 1986, Vol. I, 798-820 (1987; Zbl 0667.16003)]. But not every coboundary \(R\)-matrix arises in this way. If \(R\) is a numerical \(R\)-matrix (complex entries), then the FRT-relations for matrix quantum group generators when \(R\) is quasitriangular are given by \(RX_1X_2=X_2X_1R\). The authors point out that these are the same relations determined by \(R^c\). Thus they suggest that the class of coboundary \(R\)-matrices should contain some simple examples which are connected to classical \(r\)-matrices in a simple way (e.g. exponentially). They consider numerical quasitriangular \(R\)-matrices of some simple Lie algebras of classical type and the corresponding numerical coboundary \(R\)-matrices. In these cases, they show that the coboundary \(R\)-matrices can be expressed as products of matrix exponential factors whose arguments are connected to classical \(r\)-matrices. The specific quantum groups studied are \(\text{SL}_q(2)\), \(\text{SL}_q(n)\), \(\text{SO}_q(3)\) and \(\text{SO}_q(4)\). They point out the technical difficulties in trying to extend this to higher-dimensional orthogonal and symplectic groups, but conjecture that the same type of matrix exponential factorization holds in higher dimensions.