Finite-dimensional irreducible modules of the universal Askey-Wilson algebra (Q748454)

As the title indicates, this paper studies a family of infinite-dimensional \(\Delta\)-modules of Askey-Wilson algebras introduced by \textit{A. S. Zhedanov} [Theor. Math. Phys. 89, No. 2, 1146--1157 (1991; Zbl 0782.33012); translation from Teor. Mat. Fiz. 89, No. 2, 190--204 (1991)]. These algebras are associative and unital over the field of complex numbers, defined by generators \(K_0,K_1,K_2\) (involving a non-zero scalar \(q\) and five parameters \(\rho, \rho^{\ast}, \eta, \eta^{\ast}, \omega\)) that satisfy \begin{align*} qK_1K_2-q^{-1}K_2K_1&= \omega K_1+\rho K_0+\eta^{\ast}\\ qK_2K_0-q^{-1}K_0K_2&= \omega K_0+\rho^{\ast} K_1+\eta\\ qK_0K_1-q^{-1}K_1K_0&= K_0 \end{align*} There is too much ground to cover in order to give an even `moderate complete' description of this very densely written manuscript in the context of a review, therefore the layout and an indication of the main results will be given only. {\S1. Introduction} Development and historical background covering Askey-Wilson algebras and special types as the quantum group \(U_q'(\mathit{so}_3)\), the Bannai-Ito algebra, cases where the generators are a Leonard pair, the universal algebra \(\Delta=\Delta_q\) with \(q^4\not= 1\) with generators satisfying certain commutation relations. {\S2. Notation and preliminaries} Introducing a.o. possibly infinite square tridiagonal matrices \(\mathbb N\times\mathbb N\). {\S3. The Verma \(\Delta\)-module \(M_{\lambda}(a,b,c)\)} {\S4. Finite-dimensional irreducible \(\Delta\)-modules} Classification of the finite irreducible \(\Delta\)-modules when \(q\) is \textit{not} a root of unity, leading to important results in Theorem 4.4 (necessary and sufficient conditions for irreducibility) and Theorem 4.7 (existence of a bijection between orbits in the set of special triples of non-zero scalars and a certain isomorphism class). {\S5. Applications} Subsections dedicated to - Leonard pairs and Leonard triples - The unitary structure on \(V_n(a,b,c)\) - A feedback to \(U_q'(\mathit{so}_3)\) modules - A connection to \(U_q(\mathit{sl}_2)\) modules - An application to the Racah coefficients of \(U_q(\mathit{sl}_2)\) {References} A list of 43 items.