Thin coverings of modules (Q2460807)

Multiloop algebras are formed by a generalization of the twisting process used in Kac's construction of the affine Lie algebras. When \(\mathcal{B}\) is a finite-dimensional simple Lie algebra and the base field \(\mathbb{K}\) is the field \(\mathbb{C}\) of complex numbers, one can construct realizations for almost all extended affine Lie algebras by taking central extensions of the resulting multiloop algebras and adjoining appropriate derivations. The classification of bounded weight modules for such extended affine Lie algebras of nullity \(r\) depends on classifying the corresponding modules for multiloop algebras. Working on this classification, the authors considered methods of twisting simple \(\mathcal{B}\)-modules into graded-simple modules for the multiloop algebras \(L(\mathcal{B},\sigma_1,\dots,\sigma_N).\) As part of the construction the authors used structures called thin coverings of modules. The authors consider finite-dimensional and infinite-dimensional quasifinite modules over a \(G\)-graded associative algebra \(\mathcal{A}\). Each thin covering of an (ungraded) left \(\mathcal{A}\)-module \(M\) is associated with a graded left \(\mathcal{A}\)-module \(\widetilde{M}.\) The isomorphism class of \(M\) completely determines the graded-isomorphism class of \(\widetilde{M}\) under mild conditions, \(\widetilde{M}\) is graded-simple whenever \(M\) is simple. The authors give an explicit characterization of thin coverings of quasifinite simple modules over arbitrary unital associative algebras graded by finite abelian groups. The classification uses the fact that any such module is also a module for a cyclotomic quantum torus coming from isomorphisms between twists of the module. The article is concluded with an application to the representation theory of multiloop Lie algebras. This is an alternative to Clifford theory, where graded-simple \(\mathcal{A}\)-modules are constructed by inducing from simple \(\mathcal{A}_0\)-modules. The method gives an explicit procedure for constructing graded-simple \(\mathcal{A}\)-modules from (ungraded) simple \(\mathcal{A}\)-modules via the action of a cyclotomic quantum torus. It is difficult to get a classification of simple \(\mathcal{A}_0\)-modules, whereas graded simple \(\mathcal{A}\)-modules are well understood. The authors treat thin coverings of modules in detail. The coverings of \(M\) as a \(\mathfrak g\)-module coincide with its coverings as a \(U(\mathfrak g)\)-module. By studying thin coverings of modules over associative algebras, the corresponding results for Lie algebras are automatically obtained. The authors prove that if \(\mathcal{A}\) is semisimple, under mild conditions on \(\mathcal{A}\), the isomorphism class of the graded-simple module \(\widetilde{M}\) does not depend on the choice of the thin covering of \(M\). The method of associating graded modules \(\widetilde{M}\) with modules \(M\) is surjective in the sense that not only does every graded module come from a thin covering, but every graded-simple module comes from a thin covering of a simple module. The authors classify thin coverings in a very nice chapter, and finally they classify thin coverings of quasifinite modules. The obtained results are explicit and very nice.