An integral form of the quantized enveloping algebra of \(sl_2\) and its completions (Q2371822)

Let \(U\) be the quantized enveloping algebra of \(sl(2)\) over the rational function field \(Q(v)\) generated by \(K, K^{-1}, E\) and \(F\) with relations \(KE=v^2 EK,\) \(KF=v^{-2}FK\), \([E,F]=(K-K^{-1})/(v-v^{-1})\). Let \(\mathcal{A}=\mathbb{Z}[v,v^{-1}]\). For \(i \in \mathbb{Z}\), \(n\) non-negative, let \([i]=(v^i-v^{-i})/(v-v^{-1})\), \([n]!=[1][2]\dots[n]\). There are two well-known \(\mathbb{Z}[v,v^{-1}]\)-forms \(U_{\mathcal{A}}\) and \(U'\) of \(U\). \(U_{\mathcal{A}}\) is the \(\mathcal{A}\)-subalgebra generated by \(K, K^{-1}\) and the divided powers \(E^{(n)}=(E^n)/[n]!\) and \(F^{(n)}\) for positive \(n\), and \(U'\) is the \(\mathcal{A}\)-subalgebra generated by \(K, K^{-1}, e=(v-v^{-1})E\) and \(f=(v-v^{-1})F\). The quasi-R-matrix \(\Theta\) of \(U\) is in a completion of \(U\otimes U\). The author introduces another \(\mathbb{Z}[v,v^{-1}]\)-form \(V\) of \(U\) generated by \(K, K^{-1}, e\) and \(F^{(n)}\) for non-negative \(n\). Then the summands of \(\Theta\) are in the tensor product over \(\mathcal{A}\) of \(V\) with itself. Let \(\check{V}\) be the inverse limit of \(V/(V e^n V)\), a completion of \(V\). \(\check{V}\) is complicated, but the author also considers some other completions of \(V\). For \(i \in \mathbb{Z}\), \(n\) non-negative, let \(\{i\}=v^i-v^{-i}\) and \(\{n\}!=\{1\}\{2\}\dots\{n\}=(((v-v^{-1})^n)[n]!\). Let \(\hat{\mathcal{A}}\) and \(\dot{\mathcal{A}}\) be the completions of \(\mathcal{A}\) given by the inverse limits \(\mathcal{A}/(\{n\}!)\) and and \(\mathcal{A}/((v-v^{-1})^n)\) respectively. For each positive \(n\), a certain ideal \(V_n\) of \(V\) generated by two elements is defined. Then the completions \(\hat{V}\) and \(\dot{V}\) of \(V\) are the inverse limits \(V/V_n\) and \(V/((V_1)^n)\) respectively. There is a sequence of homomorphisms \(\check{V}\to\hat{V}\to \dot{V}\dots>U_h\), where \(U_h\) is the \(h\)-adic version of \(U\), i.e., \(v=\exp(h/2) \in Q[[h]]\). The main theorem of the paper determines the centers of \(V, \hat{V}, \dot{V}\) and \(\tilde{V}\), where \(\tilde{V}\) is the image of \(\check{V}\) in \(\hat{V}\). Let \(C=((v-v^{-1})Fe+vK+(v^{-1})(K^{-1}\) and let \(s_n\) be the product from \(i=1\) to \(i=n\) of \((C^2)-((v^i-v^{-i})^2\). \(C\) is central in \(V\), and \(s_n\) is a monic polynomial of degree \(n\) in \(C^2\). Then the center of \(V\) is \(\mathcal{A}[C]\), the center of \(\tilde{V}\) is is the inverse limit \(\mathcal{A}[C]/(s_n)\), the center of \(\hat{V}\) is the inverse limit \((\hat{\mathcal{A}}[C])/(s_n)\), and the center of \(\dot{V}\) is the inverse limit \(((\dot{\mathcal{A}}[C]))/(s_n)\). Most of the paper is devoted to the proof of these results. All algebras and completions inherit Hopf algebra structures from \(U\), the completions being complete Hopf algebras. The paper is motivated by a study of integrality properties of quantum \(sl(2)\) invariants of links and integral homology spheres. The results of the paper under review can be used in proving that if \(L\) is a string knot with 0 framing, then for non-negative \(n\), there are unique elements \((a_n)(L) \in \mathbb{Z}[v^2,v^{-2}]\) such that \(J_L\) (the universal \(sl(2)\) invariant of \(L\)) in the center of \(U_h\) is the sum over non-negative \(n\) of \(((a_n)[L])s_n\). This can be used in showing the existence of an invariant of integral homology 3-spheres. Proofs of these last two results appear in the author's paper [Invent. Math. 171, No. 1, 1--81 (2008; Zbl 1144.57006), see also \url{arXiv:math/0605314}.