A BASIS OF THE BASIC $\mathfrak{sl} ({\bf 3}, {\mathbb C})^~$-MODULE (Q4539766)

In the eighties Lepowsky and Wilson developed a vertex operator approach to combinatorial identities via representations of the affine Lie algebra \(A_1^{(1)}\). This approach was later extended by several researchers including the two authors of the paper under review. Using ideas developed in previous work, the authors construct a basis of the basic \(A_2^{(1)}\)-module parametrized by colored partitions. The starting point is an ordered basis of the 8-dimensional simple Lie algebra \(\mathfrak g = \mathfrak{sl}(3,\mathbb C)\). This gives rise to an ordered basis of \(\widetilde{\mathfrak g}\) and therefore to an ordered spanning set of the basic \(\widetilde{\mathfrak g}\)-module \(L(\Lambda_0)\). Part of the paper is devoted to reducing this spanning set to a smaller spanning set, which is then proved to be a basis. To reduce the spanning set, they start by taking a fundamental vertex operator relation holding on the basic module, namely, \(X_1(z)^2=0\). By interpreting \(X_1(z)^2\) inside a suitable completion of the universal enveloping algebra of \(\widetilde{\mathfrak g}\), they are able to determine a 27-dimensional space of relations that are satisfied on \(L(\Lambda_0)\). They also construct two additional relations. These are the relations used to reduce the spanning set. The remaining part of the paper is devoted to showing the linear independence of these vectors. Using ideas developed in the authors' memoirs [Mem. Am. Math. Soc. 652 (1999; Zbl 0918.17018)], they exploit the vertex operator algebra structure of \(L(\Lambda_0)\) to obtain a space of relations among relations. Since \(L(\Lambda_0)\) is a quotient of the Verma module \(N(\Lambda_0)\) by the maximal submodule \(N^1(\Lambda_0)\), the study of linear independence is transferred to the maximal submodule \(N^1(\Lambda_0)\). The relations among relations are used to describe a basis of \(N^1(\Lambda_0)\) and therefore a basis of \(L(\Lambda_0)\). Finally, by using the Lepowsky numerator formula for the Weyl-Kac formula, they write the principally specialized character of \(L(\Lambda_0)\) as an infinite product. On the other hand, the explicit basis of \(L(\Lambda_0)\) gives a different way of counting the basis elements. This results in a new combinatorial identity of Rogers-Ramanujan type.