An action of the free product Z2⋆Z2⋆Z2\mathbb Z_2 \star \mathbb Z_2 \star \mathbb Z_2 on the qq-Onsager algebra and its current algebra

Recently Pascal Baseilhac and Stefan Kolb introduced some automorphisms $T_0$, $T_1$ of the $q$-Onsager algebra $\mathcal O_q$, that are roughly analogous to the Lusztig automorphisms of $U_q(\widehat{\mathfrak{sl}}_2)$. We use $T_0, T_1$ and a certain antiautomorphism of $\mathcal O_q$ to obtain an action of the free product $\mathbb Z_2 \star \mathbb Z_2 \star \mathbb Z_2$ on $\mathcal O_q$ as a group of (auto/antiauto)-morphisms. The action forms a pattern much more symmetric than expected. We show that a similar phenomenon occurs for the associated current algebra $\mathcal A_q$. We give some conjectures and problems concerning $\mathcal O_q$ and $\mathcal A_q$.Comment: 15 page

The Universal Askey-Wilson Algebra and DAHA of Type (C1∨,C1)(C_1^{\vee},C_1)

Let $\mathbb F$ denote a field, and fix a nonzero $q\in\mathbb F$ such that $q^4\not=1$. The universal Askey-Wilson algebra $\Delta_q$ is the associative $\mathbb F$-algebra defined by generators and relations in the following way. The generators are $A$, $B$, $C$. The relations assert that each of $A+\frac{qBC-q^{-1}CB}{q^2-q^{-2}}$, $B+\frac{qCA-q^{-1}AC}{q^2-q^{-2}}$, $C+\frac{qAB-q^{-1}BA}{q^2-q^{-2}}$ is central in $\Delta_q$. The universal DAHA $\hat H_q$ of type $(C_1^\vee,C_1)$ is the associative $\mathbb F$-algebra defined by generators $\lbrace t^{\pm1}_i\rbrace_{i=0}^3$ and relations (i) $t_i t^{-1}_i=t^{-1}_i t_i=1$; (ii) $t_i+t^{-1}_i$ is central; (iii) $t_0t_1t_2t_3=q^{-1}$. We display an injection of $\mathbb F$-algebras $\psi:\Delta_q\to\hat H_q$ that sends $A\mapsto t_1t_0+(t_1t_0)^{-1}$, $B\mapsto t_3t_0+(t_3t_0)^{-1}$, $C\mapsto t_2t_0+(t_2t_0)^{-1}$. For the map $\psi$ we compute the image of the three central elements mentioned above. The algebra $\Delta_q$ has another central element of interest, called the Casimir element $\Omega$. We compute the image of $\Omega$ under $\psi$. We describe how the Artin braid group $B_3$ acts on $\Delta_q$ and $\hat H_q$ as a group of automorphisms. We show that $\psi$ commutes with these $B_3$ actions. Some related results are obtained