Invariant differential operators on a class of multiplicity-free spaces (Q466212)

For a multiplicity-free space \((G,V)\) with one-dimensional quotient the author describes the algebra \(D(V)^{G'}\) of differential operators on \(V\) which are invariant under the derived group \(G'=[G,G]\). The reductive Lie group \(G\) acts linearly on the complex vector space \(V\), and also on the space \({\mathbb C}[V]\) of polynomials. If the space \({\mathbb C}[V]\) decomposes multiplicity free under the action of \(G\), one says that \((G,V)\) is a multiplicity-free space. This is equivalent to the commutativity of the algebra \(D(V)^G\) of differential operators on \(V\) with polynomial coefficients which are \(G\)-invariant. If furthermore there exists a homogeneous polynomial \(\Delta _0\), which is not \(G\)-invariant, and generates the algebra of \(G'\)-invariant polynomials, one says that \((G,V)\) is a multiplicity-free space with one-dimensional quotient. The main result of the paper says that, if \((G,V)\) is a multiplicity-free space with one-dimensional quotient, then the algebra \(D(V)^{G'}\) is isomorphic to a Smith algebra quotiented by a certain two-sided ideal. Let us give the definition of a Smith algebra: for a commutative associative algebra \(A\), a polynomial \(f\) in one variable with coefficients in \(A\), and a positive integer \(n\), the Smith algebra \(S(A,f,n)\) is the associative algebra over \(A\) with genertors \(x,y,e\) satisfying \[ [e,x]=nx,\;[e,y]=-ny,\;[y,x]=f(e). \] These algebras share many properties with the envelopping algebra \({\mathcal U}(\mathfrak{sl}_2)\). The algebra \(A\) and the polynomial \(f\) involved in this isomorphism are explicitly described.