Around 1992 A. Zhedanov introduced the Askey-Wilson algebra AW(3). Recently we introduced a central extension $Δ$ of AW(3) called the universal Askey-Wilson algebra. In this paper we discuss a connection between $Δ$ and the quantum algebra $U_q(\mathfrak{sl}_2)$. Our main result is an algebra injection from $Δ$ into a relative of $U_q(\mathfrak{sl}_2)$; the relative is obtained from $U_q(\mathfrak{sl}_2)$ by adjoining three mutually commuting indeterminates. We describe the injection using the equitable presentation of $U_q(\mathfrak{sl}_2)$
The little and big q-Jacobi polynomials are shown to arise as basis vectors for representations of the Askey-Wilson algebra. The operators that these polynomials respectively diagonalize are identified within the Askey-Wilson algebra generated by twisted primitive elements of $\mathfrak U_q(sl(2))$. The little q-Jacobi operator and a tridiagonalization of it are shown to realize the equitable embedding of the Askey-Wilson algebra into $\mathfrak U_q(sl(2))$.
The centralizer of the image of the diagonal embedding of $U_q(\mathfrak{sl}_2)$ in the tensor product of three irreducible representations is examined in a Schur-Weyl duality spirit. The aim is to offer a description in terms of generators and relations. A conjecture in this respect is offered with the centralizers presented as quotients of the Askey-Wilson algebra. Support for the conjecture is provided by an examination of the representations of the quotients. The conjecture is also shown to be true in a number of cases thereby exhibiting in particular the Temperley-Lieb, Birman-Murakami-We…
The $q$-difference equation, the shift and the contiguity relations of the Askey-Wilson polynomials are cast in the framework of the three and four-dimensional degenerate Sklyanin algebras $\mathfrak{ska}_3$ and $\mathfrak{ska}_4$. It is shown that the $q$-para Racah polynomials corresponding to a non-conventional truncation of the Askey-Wilson polynomials form a basis for a finite-dimensional representation of $\mathfrak{ska}_4$. The first order Heun operators defined by a degree raising condition on polynomials are shown to form a five-dimensional vector space that encompasses $\mathfrak{ska…
The Askey-Wilson algebra is realized in terms of the elements of the quantum algebras $U_q(\mathfrak{su}(2))$ or $U_q(\mathfrak{su}(1,1))$. A new realization of the Racah algebra in terms of the Lie algebras $\mathfrak{su}(2)$ or $\mathfrak{su}(1,1)$ is given also. Details for different specializations are provided. The advantage of these new realizations is that one generator of the Askey-Wilson (or Racah) algebra becomes diagonal in the usual representation of the quantum algebras whereas the second one is tridiagonal. This allows to recover easily the recurrence relations of the associated …
Inspired by a profound observation on the Racah--Wigner coefficients of $U_q(\mathfrak{sl}_2)$, the Askey--Wilson algebras were introduced in the early 1990s. A universal analog $\triangle_q$ of the Askey--Wilson algebras was recently studied. For $q$ not a root of unity, it is known that $Z(\triangle_q)$ is isomorphic to the polynomial ring of four variables. A presentation for $Z(\triangle_q)$ at $q$ a root of unity is displayed in this paper. As an application, a presentation for the center of the double affine Hecke algebra of type $(C_1^\vee,C_1)$ at roots of unity is obtained.
An algebra is introduced which can be considered as a rank 2 extension of the Askey-Wilson algebra. Relations in this algebra are motivated by relations between coproducts of twisted primitive elements in the two-fold tensor product of the quantum algebra $\mathcal{U}_{q}(\mathfrak{sl}(2,\mathbb C))$. It is shown that bivariate $q$-Racah polynomials appear as overlap coefficients of eigenvectors of generators of the algebra. Furthermore, the corresponding $q$-difference operators are calculated using the defining relations of the algebra, showing that it encodes the bispectral properties of th…
The higher rank Askey-Wilson algebra was recently constructed in the $n$-fold tensor product of $U_q(\mathfrak{sl}_2)$. In this paper we prove a class of identities inside this algebra, which generalize the defining relations of the rank one Askey-Wilson algebra. We extend the known construction algorithm by several equivalent methods, using a novel coaction. These allow to simplify calculations significantly. At the same time, this provides a proof of the corresponding relations for the higher rank $q$-Bannai-Ito algebra.
The $q$-deformed Bannai-Ito algebra was recently constructed in the threefold tensor product of the quantum superalgebra $\mathfrak{osp}_q(1\vert 2)$. It turned out to be isomorphic to the Askey-Wilson algebra. In the present paper these results will be extended to higher rank. The rank $n-2$ $q$-Bannai-Ito algebra $\mathcal{A}_n^q$, which by the established isomorphism also yields a higher rank version of the Askey-Wilson algebra, is constructed in the $n$-fold tensor product of $\mathfrak{osp}_q(1\vert 2)$. An explicit realization in terms of $q$-shift operators and reflections is proposed, …
Assume that $\mathbb F$ is an algebraically closed field and let $q$ denote a nonzero scalar in $\mathbb F$ that is not a root of unity. The universal Askey--Wilson algebra $\triangle_q$ is a unital associative $\mathbb F$-algebra defined by generators and relations. The generators are $A,B, C$ and the relations state that each of $$ A+\frac{q BC-q^{-1} CB}{q^2-q^{-2}}, \qquad B+\frac{q CA-q^{-1} AC}{q^2-q^{-2}}, \qquad C+\frac{q AB-q^{-1} BA}{q^2-q^{-2}} $$ is central in $\triangle_q$. The universal DAHA (double affine Hecke algebra) $\mathfrak H_q$ of type $(C_1^\vee,C_1)$ is a unital associ…
The occurrence of the Askey-Wilson (AW) algebra in the $SU(2)$ Chern-Simons (CS) theory and in the Reshetikhin-Turaev (RT) link invariant construction with quantum algebra $U_q(\mathfrak{su}_2)$ is explored. Tangle diagrams with three strands with some of them enclosed in a spin-$1/2$ closed loop are associated to the generators of the AW algebra. It is shown in both the CS theory and RT construction that the link invariant of these tangles obey the relations of the AW generators. It follows that the expectation values of certain Wilson loops in the CS theory satisfy relations dictated by the …
