Rational K-matrices for finite-dimensional representations of quantum affine algebras

Andrea Appel, Bart Vlaar

Published 2022-03-30Version 1

Let $\mathfrak{g}$ be a complex simple Lie algebra. We prove that every finite-dimensional representation of the (untwisted) quantum affine algebra $U_qL\mathfrak{g}$ gives rise to a family of spectral K-matrices, namely solutions of Cherednik's generalized reflection equation, which depends upon the choice of a quantum affine symmetric pair $U_q\mathfrak{k}\subset U_qL\mathfrak{g}$. Moreover, we prove that every irreducible representation over $U_qL\mathfrak{g}$ remains generically irreducible under restriction to $U_q\mathfrak{k}$. From the latter result, we deduce that every obtained K-matrix can be normalized to a matrix-valued rational function in a multiplicative parameter, known in the study of quantum integrability as a trigonometric K-matrix. Finally, we show that our construction recovers many of the known solutions of the standard reflection equation and gives rise to a large class of new solutions.