On the center of the small quantum group. (Q1873801)

Let \(\mathfrak{g}\) be a finite-dimensional semisimple complex Lie algebra and let \(q\) be a primitive \(l\)-th root of unity. The author of the paper under review combines Hopf algebra techniques and representation-theoretic methods in order to investigate certain subalgebras of the center \(\mathfrak{Z}\) of the small quantum group \(U_q^{\text{fin}}(\mathfrak{g})\) introduced by \textit{G. Lusztig} [J. Am. Math. Soc. 3, No. 1, 257--296 (1990; Zbl 0695.16006)]. As a finite-dimensional Hopf algebra, \(U_q^{\text{fin}}(\mathfrak{g})\) is a Frobenius algebra. Let \(\phi:U_q^{\text{fin}}(\mathfrak{g})\to U_q^{\text{fin}}(\mathfrak{g})^*\) denote a certain Frobenius isomorphism. Then \(\phi(\mathfrak{Z})\) is as a commutative algebra isomorphic to the set of traces on \(U_q^{\text{fin}}(\mathfrak{g})\). Let \(\mathfrak{R}\) denote the subspace of \(U_q^{\text{fin}}(\mathfrak{g})^*\) spanned by the traces of simple \(U_q^{\text{fin}}( \mathfrak{g})\)-modules. Note that \(\mathfrak{R}\) is a commutative subalgebra of \(U_q^{\text{fin}}( \mathfrak{g})^*\) which is isomorphic to the complexification of the Grothendieck ring of the category of finite-dimensional \(U_q^{\text{fin}}(\mathfrak{g})\)-modules. The author shows that \(\mathfrak{Z}^\prime:=\phi^{-1}(\mathfrak{R})\) is an ideal in \(\mathfrak{Z}\) isomorphic to the socle of \(\mathfrak{Z}\). Assume from now on that \(l\) is an odd natural number greater or equal to the Coxeter number of the root system of \(\mathfrak{g}\) and relatively prime to the determinant of the corresponding Cartan matrix. Then \(U_q^{\text{fin}}(\mathfrak{g})\) has a universal \(R\)-matrix which according to \textit{V.G. Drinfel'd} [Leningr. Math. J. 1, No. 2, 321--342 (1990; Zbl 0718.16035)] gives rise to an algebra monomorphism \(\mathfrak{J}:U_q^{\text{fin}}(\mathfrak{g})^*\to U_q^{\text{fin}} (\mathfrak{g})\). As was already observed by \textit{T. Kerler} [Commun. Math. Phys. 168, No. 2, 353--388 (1995; Zbl 0833.16039)] in the case \(\mathfrak{g}=\mathfrak{sl}_2\), the author proves that in general \(\widetilde{\mathfrak{Z}}:=\mathfrak{J}(\mathfrak{R})\) is a proper subalgebra of \(\mathfrak{Z}\). Furthermore, it is shown that \(\dim\widetilde{\mathfrak{Z}}=\dim\mathfrak{Z}^\prime\) and the elements of \(\widetilde{\mathfrak{Z}}\) distinguish the blocks of \(U_q^{\text{fin}}(\mathfrak{g})\). The map \(\mathcal{F}:=\mathfrak{J}\circ\phi:\mathfrak{Z}\to\mathfrak{Z}\) is a slight modification of the quantum Fourier transform considered by \textit{V. Lyubashenko} and \textit{S. Majid} in [J. Algebra 166, No. 3, 506--528 (1994; Zbl 0810.17006)]. The author proves that \(\widetilde{\mathfrak{Z}} +\mathfrak{Z}^\prime\) is the smallest \(\mathcal{F}\)-invariant subalgebra of \(\mathfrak{Z}\) that contains \(\widetilde{\mathfrak{Z}}\). Moreover, \(\widetilde{\mathfrak{Z}}\cap\mathfrak{Z}^\prime\) is an \(\mathcal{F}\)-invariant ideal in \(\mathfrak{Z}\) isomorphic to the socle of \(\widetilde{\mathfrak{Z}}\) which contains one element in each block of \(\mathfrak{Z}\). It is mentioned that \(\widetilde{\mathfrak{Z}} \cap\mathfrak{Z}^\prime\) is isomorphic to the ideal of characters of finite-dimensional projective \(U_q^{\text{fin}}(\mathfrak{g})\)-modules. In a subsequent paper [Duke Math. J. 118, No. 1, 37--60 (2003; Zbl 1036.17014)], the author shows that \(\widetilde{\mathfrak{Z}}\cap\mathfrak{Z}^\prime\) can be considered a natural counterpart of the Verlinde algebra for the small quantum group. Finally, the author investigates the action of \(\mathfrak{Z}\) on projective \(U_q^{\text{fin}} (\mathfrak{g})\)-modules and proves that \(\widetilde{\mathfrak{Z}}\) surjects onto the endomorphism algebras of certain indecomposable projective \(U_q^{\text{fin}}(\mathfrak{g})\)-modules. Since this holds for all indecomposable projective \(U_q^{\text{fin}}(\mathfrak{sl}_2)\)-modules, it follows in the case \(\mathfrak{g}=\mathfrak{sl}_2\) that \(\widetilde{\mathfrak{Z}}+\mathfrak{Z}^\prime\) coincides with the whole center. The paper concludes by considering the examples \(\mathfrak{g} =\mathfrak{sl}_2\) and \(\mathfrak{g}=\mathfrak{sl}_3\) in more detail.