Study of the \(q\)-commutations in the algebra \(U_ q(n^ +)\) (Q1906630)

Let \(G\) be a semisimple Lie algebra with maximal nilpotent subalgebra \(N^+\), \(U_q (N^+)\) the quantized enveloping algebra, \(q\) an indeterminant. Elements \(x\) and \(y\) are said to \(q\)-commute if \(yx = q^n xy\) for some integer \(n\). An element of \(U_q (N^+)\) is called \(q\)-central if it \(q\)-commutes with the natural generators of \(U_q (N^+)\). The author first notes that the \(q\)-central elements of \(U_q (N^+)\) are precisely the normal elements, and can be described as a union of certain vector spaces. This is used to show that every ideal of \(U_q (N^+)\) can be generated by a normal sequence. Analogous results are obtained for \(U_q (B^+)\), \(B\) a Borel subalgebra of \(G\).