Racah problems for the oscillator algebra, the Lie algebra \(\mathfrak{sl}_n\), and multivariate Krawtchouk polynomials (Q2216168)

In this paper, the authors extend recent work concerning algebraic structures of considerable interest in the context of superintegrable systems. The main objective is to introduce an associative algebra called the oscillator Racah algebra \(\mathcal{R}_n(\mathfrak{h})\), obtained as the centralizer of the diagonal action of the oscillator algebra \(\mathfrak{h}\) [\textit{R. F. Streater}, Commun. Math. Phys. 4, 217--236 (1967; Zbl 0155.32503)], and shows the explicit relations between the representation theory of the oscillator algebra and the multivariate Krawtchouk polynomials [\textit{L. Carlitz}, Rev. Mat. Hisp.-Am., IV. Ser. 21, 79--84 (1961; Zbl 0101.29302)]. An important concept within this approach is given by the labelling abelian subalgebras of \(\mathcal{R}_n(\mathfrak{h})\). These are used to determine embedding of the special lineal algebra of rank \(n-1\) into \(\mathcal{R}_n(\mathfrak{h})\), so that the labelling subalgebra plays the role of the Cartan subalgebra of the embedded simple Lie algebra. This allows to extend the formalism of the representation theory of \(\mathfrak{sl}(n)\) to the Racah algebra. The multivariate Krawtchouk polynomials appear as the recoupling coefficients for \(\mathcal{h}\) and matrix elements of irreducible representations \(\mathfrak{sl}(n)\). It is further shown how multivariate Krawtchouk polynomials of Tratnik and Griffiths types emerge as the overlap coefficients between bases of irreducible representations.