Quasi-exactly solvable problems and the dual (q-)Hahn polynomials

A second-order differential (q-difference) eigenvalue equation is constructed whose solutions are generating functions of the dual (q-)Hahn polynomials. The fact is noticed that these generating functions are reduced to the (little q-)Jacobi polynomials, and implications of this for quasi-exactly solvable problems are studied. A connection with the Azbel-Hofstadter problem is indicated.Comment: 15 pages, LaTex; final version, presentation improved, title changed, to appear in J.Math.Phy

Three dimensional quadratic algebras: Some realizations and representations

Four classes of three dimensional quadratic algebras of the type \lsb Q_0 , Q_\pm \rsb $=$ $\pm Q_\pm$, \lsb Q_+ , Q_- \rsb $=$ $aQ_0^2 + bQ_0 + c$, where $(a,b,c)$ are constants or central elements of the algebra, are constructed using a generalization of the well known two-mode bosonic realizations of $su(2)$ and $su(1,1)$. The resulting matrix representations and single variable differential operator realizations are obtained. Some remarks on the mathematical and physical relevance of such algebras are given.Comment: LaTeX2e, 23 pages, to appear in J. Phys. A: Math. Ge

Deformed algebras, position-dependent effective masses and curved spaces: An exactly solvable Coulomb problem

We show that there exist some intimate connections between three unconventional Schr\"odinger equations based on the use of deformed canonical commutation relations, of a position-dependent effective mass or of a curved space, respectively. This occurs whenever a specific relation between the deforming function, the position-dependent mass and the (diagonal) metric tensor holds true. We illustrate these three equivalent approaches by considering a new Coulomb problem and solving it by means of supersymmetric quantum mechanical and shape invariance techniques. We show that in contrast with the conventional Coulomb problem, the new one gives rise to only a finite number of bound states.Comment: 22 pages, no figure. Archive version is already official. Published by JPA at http://stacks.iop.org/0305-4470/37/426

The Kazhdan-Lusztig conjecture for finite W-algebras

We study the representation theory of finite W-algebras. After introducing parabolic subalgebras to describe the structure of W-algebras, we define the Verma modules and give a conjecture for the Kac determinant. This allows us to find the completely degenerate representations of the finite W-algebras. To extract the irreducible representations we analyse the structure of singular and subsingular vectors, and find that for W-algebras, in general the maximal submodule of a Verma module is not generated by singular vectors only. Surprisingly, the role of the (sub)singular vectors can be encapsulated in terms of a `dual' analogue of the Kazhdan-Lusztig theorem for simple Lie algebras. These involve dual relative Kazhdan-Lusztig polynomials. We support our conjectures with some examples, and briefly discuss applications and the generalisation to infinite W-algebras.Comment: 11 page

Symmetric angular momentum coupling, the quantum volume operator and the 7-spin network: a computational perspective

A unified vision of the symmetric coupling of angular momenta and of the quantum mechanical volume operator is illustrated. The focus is on the quantum mechanical angular momentum theory of Wigner's 6j symbols and on the volume operator of the symmetric coupling in spin network approaches: here, crucial to our presentation are an appreciation of the role of the Racah sum rule and the simplification arising from the use of Regge symmetry. The projective geometry approach permits the introduction of a symmetric representation of a network of seven spins or angular momenta. Results of extensive computational investigations are summarized, presented and briefly discussed.Comment: 15 pages, 10 figures, presented at ICCSA 2014, 14th International Conference on Computational Science and Application

Casimir Effect as a Test for Thermal Corrections and Hypothetical Long-Range Interactions

We have performed a precise experimental determination of the Casimir pressure between two gold-coated parallel plates by means of a micromachined oscillator. In contrast to all previous experiments on the Casimir effect, where a small relative error (varying from 1% to 15%) was achieved only at the shortest separation, our smallest experimental error ($\sim 0.5$%) is achieved over a wide separation range from 170 nm to 300 nm at 95% confidence. We have formulated a rigorous metrological procedure for the comparison of experiment and theory without resorting to the previously used root-mean-square deviation, which has been criticized in the literature. This enables us to discriminate among different competing theories of the thermal Casimir force, and to resolve a thermodynamic puzzle arising from the application of Lifshitz theory to real metals. Our results lead to a more rigorous approach for obtaining constraints on hypothetical long-range interactions predicted by extra-dimensional physics and other extensions of the Standard Model. In particular, the constraints on non-Newtonian gravity are strengthened by up to a factor of 20 in a wide interaction range at 95% confidence.Comment: 17 pages, 7 figures, Sixth Alexander Friedmann International Seminar on Gravitation and Cosmolog

On some nonlinear extensions of the angular momentum algebra

Deformations of the Lie algebras so(4), so(3,1), and e(3) that leave their so(3) subalgebra undeformed and preserve their coset structure are considered. It is shown that such deformed algebras are associative for any choice of the deformation parameters. Their Casimir operators are obtained and some of their unitary irreducible representations are constructed. For vanishing deformation, the latter go over into those of the corresponding Lie algebras that contain each of the so(3) unitary irreducible representations at most once. It is also proved that similar deformations of the Lie algebras su(3), sl(3,R), and of the semidirect sum of an abelian algebra t(5) and so(3) do not lead to associative algebras.Comment: 22 pages, plain TeX + preprint.sty, no figures, to appear in J.Phys.

An SU(2) Analog of the Azbel--Hofstadter Hamiltonian

Motivated by recent findings due to Wiegmann and Zabrodin, Faddeev and Kashaev concerning the appearence of the quantum U_q(sl(2)) symmetry in the problem of a Bloch electron on a two-dimensional magnetic lattice, we introduce a modification of the tight binding Azbel--Hofstadter Hamiltonian that is a specific spin-S Euler top and can be considered as its ``classical'' analog. The eigenvalue problem for the proposed model, in the coherent state representation, is described by the S-gap Lam\'e equation and, thus, is completely solvable. We observe a striking similarity between the shapes of the spectra of the two models for various values of the spin S.Comment: 19 pages, LaTeX, 4 PostScript figures. Relation between Cartan and Cartesian deformation of SU(2) and numerical results added. Final version as will appear in J. Phys. A: Math. Ge

From Quantum Affine Symmetry to Boundary Askey-Wilson Algebra and Reflection Equation

Within the quantum affine algebra representation theory we construct linear covariant operators that generate the Askey-Wilson algebra. It has the property of a coideal subalgebra, which can be interpreted as the boundary symmetry algebra of a model with quantum affine symmetry in the bulk. The generators of the Askey-Wilson algebra are implemented to construct an operator valued $K$- matrix, a solution of a spectral dependent reflection equation. We consider the open driven diffusive system where the Askey-Wilson algebra arises as a boundary symmetry and can be used for an exact solution of the model in the stationary state. We discuss the possibility of a solution beyond the stationary state on the basis of the proposed relation of the Askey-Wilson algebra to the reflection equation

Higher Order Quantum Superintegrability: a new "Painlev\'e conjecture"

We review recent results on superintegrable quantum systems in a two-dimensional Euclidean space with the following properties. They are integrable because they allow the separation of variables in Cartesian coordinates and hence allow a specific integral of motion that is a second order polynomial in the momenta. Moreover, they are superintegrable because they allow an additional integral of order $N>2$. Two types of such superintegrable potentials exist. The first type consists of "standard potentials" that satisfy linear differential equations. The second type consists of "exotic potentials" that satisfy nonlinear equations. For $N= 3$, 4 and 5 these equations have the Painlev\'e property. We conjecture that this is true for all $N\geq3$. The two integrals X and Y commute with the Hamiltonian, but not with each other. Together they generate a polynomial algebra (for any $N$) of integrals of motion. We show how this algebra can be used to calculate the energy spectrum and the wave functions.Comment: 23 pages, submitted as a contribution to the monographic volume "Integrability, Supersymmetry and Coherent States", a volume in honour of Professor V\'eronique Hussin. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1703.0975