Reducibility of quantum representations of mapping class groups (Q2380513)

Reshetikhin-Turaev TQFT's give rise to finite dimensional representations of mapping class groups of compact orientable surfaces. How these representations decompose is an interesting question. Using techniques from rational conformal field theory, this paper provides a general condition for such representations to be reducible. The result suggests that reducibility might be a generic feature of mapping class group representations arising from TQFT. In particular, the paper proves reducibility of representations arising from \(SU(N)\) Reshetikhin-Turaev theory for certain levels and ranks. Additionally, for quantum \(SU(2)\) Reshetikhin-Turaev theory, a decomposition of the representation is constructed for all even levels, which is conjectured to be complete for high enough levels. Comparing this decomposition with the decomposition found in [\textit{J. E. Andersen} and \textit{G. Masbaum}, Math. Ann. 314, No.~2, 291--326 (1999; Zbl 0943.14016)] would be interesting.