Set-theoretic solutions of the Yang-Baxter equation, Braces, and Symmetric groups

We involve simultaneously the theory of matched pairs of groups and the theory of braces to study set-theoretic solutions of the Yang-Baxter equation (YBE). We show the intimate relation between the notions of a symmetric group (a braided involutive group) and a left brace, and find new results on symmetric groups of finite multipermutation level and the corresponding braces. We introduce a new invariant of a symmetric group $(G,r)$, \emph{the derived chain of ideals of} $G$, which gives a precise information about the recursive process of retraction of $G$. We prove that every symmetric group $(G,r)$ of finite multipermutation level $m$ is a solvable group of solvable length at most $m$. To each set-theoretic solution $(X,r)$ of YBE we associate two invariant sequences of symmetric groups: (i) the sequence of its derived symmetric groups; (ii) the sequence of its derived permutation groups and explore these for explicit descriptions of the recursive process of retraction. We find new criteria necessary and sufficient to claim that $(X, r)$ is a multipermutation solution.Comment: 44 page

Noncommutative Multi-Instantons on R^{2n} x S^2

Generalizing self-duality on R^2 x S^2 to higher dimensions, we consider the Donaldson-Uhlenbeck-Yau equations on R^{2n} x S^2 and their noncommutative deformation for the gauge group U(2). Imposing SO(3) invariance (up to gauge transformations) reduces these equations to vortex-type equations for an abelian gauge field and a complex scalar on R^{2n}_\theta. For a special S^2-radius R depending on the noncommutativity \theta we find explicit solutions in terms of shift operators. These vortex-like configurations on R^{2n}_\theta determine SO(3)-invariant multi-instantons on R^{2n}_\theta x S^2_R for R=R(\theta). The latter may be interpreted as sub-branes of codimension 2n inside a coincident pair of noncommutative Dp-branes with an S^2 factor of suitable size.Comment: 1+8 pages, v2: reference added, version published in PL