A Q-operator for the quantum transfer matrix

Baxter's Q-operator for the quantum transfer matrix of the XXZ spin-chain is constructed employing the representation theory of quantum groups. The spectrum of this Q-operator is discussed and novel functional relations which describe the finite temperature regime of the XXZ spin-chain are derived. For non-vanishing magnetic field the previously known Bethe ansatz equations can be replaced by a system of quadratic equations which is an important advantage for numerical studies. For vanishing magnetic field and rational coupling values it is argued that the quantum transfer matrix exhibits a loop algebra symmetry closely related to the one of the classical six-vertex transfer matrix at roots of unity.Comment: 20 pages, v2: some minor style improvement

From Quantum B\"acklund Transforms to Topological Quantum Field Theory

We derive the quantum analogue of a B\"acklund transformation for the quantised Ablowitz-Ladik chain, a space discretisation of the nonlinear Schr\"odinger equation. The quantisation of the Ablowitz-Ladik chain leads to the $q$-boson model. Using a previous construction of Baxter's Q-operator for this model by the author, a set of functional relations is obtained which matches the relations of a one-variable classical B\"acklund transform to all orders in $\hbar$. We construct also a second Q-operator and show that it is closely related to the inverse of the first. The multi-B\"acklund transforms generated from the Q-operator define the fusion matrices of a 2D TQFT and we derive a linear system for the solution to the quantum B\"acklund relations in terms of the TQFT fusion coefficients.Comment: 29 pages,4 figures (v3: published version

The su(n) WZNW fusion ring as integrable model: a new algorithm to compute fusion coefficients

This is a proceedings article reviewing a recent combinatorial construction of the su(n) WZNW fusion ring by C. Stroppel and the author. It contains one novel aspect: the explicit derivation of an algorithm for the computation of fusion coefficients different from the Kac-Walton formula. The discussion is presented from the point of view of a vertex model in statistical mechanics whose partition function generates the fusion coefficients. The statistical model can be shown to be integrable by linking its transfer matrix to a particular solution of the Yang-Baxter equation. This transfer matrix can be identified with the generating function of an (infinite) set of polynomials in a noncommutative alphabet: the generators of the local affine plactic algebra. The latter is a generalisation of the plactic algebra occurring in the context of the Robinson-Schensted correspondence. One can define analogues of Schur polynomials in this noncommutative alphabet which become identical to the fusion matrices when represented as endomorphisms over the state space of the integrable model. Crucial is the construction of an eigenbasis, the Bethe vectors, which are the idempotents of the fusion algebra.Comment: 33 pages, 8 figures; published in conference proceedings (Kokyuroku Bessatsu) of the workshop "Infinite Analysis 10, Developments in Quantum Integrable Systems", Research Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Kyoto, June 14-16, 2010; v2: some typos in Section 4 fixe

Dimers, crystals and quantum Kostka numbers

We relate the counting of honeycomb dimer configurations on the cylinder to the counting of certain vertices in Kirillov-Reshetikhin crystal graphs. We show that these dimer configurations yield the quantum Kostka numbers of the small quantum cohomology ring of the Grassmannian, i.e. the expansion coefficients when multiplying a Schubert class repeatedly with different Chern classes. This allows one to derive sum rules for Gromov-Witten invariants in terms of dimer configurations

A Combinatorial Derivation of the Racah-Speiser Algorithm for Gromov-Witten invariants

Using a finite-dimensional Clifford algebra a new combinatorial product formula for the small quantum cohomology ring of the complex Grassmannian is presented. In particular, Gromov-Witten invariants can be expressed through certain elements in the Clifford algebra, this leads to a q-deformation of the Racah-Speiser algorithm allowing for their computation in terms of Kostka numbers. The second main result is a simple and explicit combinatorial formula for projecting product expansions in the quantum cohomology ring onto the sl(n) Verlinde algebra. This projection is non-trivial and amounts to an identity between numbers of rational curves intersecting Schubert varieties and dimensions of moduli spaces of generalised theta-functions.Comment: 24 pages, 3 figure

Quantum Integrability and Generalised Quantum Schubert Calculus

We introduce and study a new mathematical structure in the generalised (quantum) cohomology theory for Grassmannians. Namely, we relate the Schubert calculus to a quantum integrable system known in the physics literature as the asymmetric six-vertex model. Our approach offers a new perspective on already established and well-studied special cases, for example equivariant K-theory, and in addition allows us to formulate a conjecture on the so-far unknown case of quantum equivariant K-theory.Comment: 57 pages, 10 figures; v2: some references added and some minor changes; v3: abstract shortened, some typos corrected and a discussion of the Bethe roots for the non-equivariant case added; v4: accepted versio

Cylindric Reverse Plane Partitions and 2D TQFT

The ring of symmetric functions carries the structure of a Hopf algebra. When computing the coproduct of complete symmetric functions $h_\lambda$ one arrives at weighted sums over reverse plane partitions (RPP) involving binomial coefficients. Employing the action of the extended affine symmetric group at fixed level $n$ we generalise these weighted sums to cylindric RPP and define cylindric complete symmetric functions. The latter are shown to be $h$-positive, that is, their expansions coefficients in the basis of complete symmetric functions are non-negative integers. We state an explicit formula in terms of tensor multiplicities for irreducible representations of the generalised symmetric group. Moreover, we relate the cylindric complete symmetric functions to a 2D topological quantum field theory (TQFT) that is a generalisation of the celebrated $\mathfrak{\widehat{sl}}_n$-Verlinde algebra or Wess-Zumino-Witten fusion ring, which plays a prominent role in the context of vertex operator algebras and algebraic geometry.Comment: 13 pages, 1 figure, accepted conference proceedings article for FPSAC2018 (Hanover

Equivariant quantum cohomology and Yang-Baxter algebras

There are two intriguing statements regarding the quantum cohomology of partial flag varieties. The first one relates quantum cohomology to the affinisation of Lie algebras and the homology of the affine Grassmannian, the second one connects it with the geometry of quiver varieties. The connection with the affine Grassmannian was first discussed in unpublished work of Peterson and subsequently proved by Lam and Shimozono. The second development is based on recent works of Nekrasov, Shatashvili and of Maulik, Okounkov relating the quantum cohomology of Nakajima varieties with integrable systems and quantum groups. In this article we explore for the simplest case, the Grassmannian, the relation between the two approaches. We extend the definition of the integrable systems called vicious and osculating walkers to the equivariant setting and show that these models have simple expressions in a particular representation of the affine nil-Hecke ring. We compare this representation with the one introduced by Kostant and Kumar and later used by Peterson in his approach to Schubert calculus. We reveal an underlying quantum group structure in terms of Yang-Baxter algebras and relate them to Schur-Weyl duality. We also derive new combinatorial results for equivariant Gromov-Witten invariants such as an explicit determinant formula.Comment: 60 pages, 11 figures; v2: statement about Schur-Weyl duality added and introduction slightly rewritten, see last paragraph on page 2 and first paragraph on page 3 as well as Theorem 1.3 in the introductio

PT Symmetry on the Lattice: The Quantum Group Invariant XXZ Spin-Chain

We investigate the PT-symmetry of the quantum group invariant XXZ chain. We show that the PT-operator commutes with the quantum group action and also discuss the transformation properties of the Bethe wavefunction. We exploit the fact that the Hamiltonian is an element of the Temperley-Lieb algebra in order to give an explicit and exact construction of an operator that ensures quasi-Hermiticity of the model. This construction relys on earlier ideas related to quantum group reduction. We then employ this result in connection with the quantum analogue of Schur-Weyl duality to introduce a dual pair of C-operators, both of which have closed algebraic expressions. These are novel, exact results connecting the research areas of integrable lattice systems and non-Hermitian Hamiltonians.Comment: 32 pages with figures, v2: some minor changes and added references, version published in JP