On Drinfel'd associators
G\'erard Duchamp (LIPN), Ngoc Minh (LIPN), K Penson (LPTMC)

TL;DR
This paper explores Drinfel'd associators, providing new interpretations and tools related to noncommutative evolution equations, with a focus on their role in braid group representations and asymptotic behaviors.
Contribution
It offers a novel interpretation of Drinfel'd associators and introduces new tools involving noncommutative evolution equations.
Findings
New interpretation of Drinfel'd associators
Development of tools for noncommutative evolution equations
Discussion of asymptotic phenomena related to associators
Abstract
In 1986, in order to study the linear representations of the braid group coming from the monodromy of the Knizhnik-Zamolodchikov differential equations,Drinfel'd introduced a class of formal power series on noncommutative variables. These formal series can be considered as a class of associators. We here give an interpretation of them as well as some new tools over Noncommutative Evolution Equations. Asymptotic phenomena are also discussed.
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Taxonomy
TopicsAlgebraic structures and combinatorial models · Advanced Mathematical Identities · Advanced Algebra and Geometry
On Drinfel’d associators
G. H. E. Duchamp*♯, V. Hoang Ngoc Minh◆, K. A. Penson♭*
*♯*Université Paris XIII, 99 Jean-Baptiste Clément, 93430 Villetaneuse, France.
*◆*Université Lille II, 1, Place Déliot, 59024 Lille, France.
*♭*Université Paris VI, 75252 Paris Cedex 05, France.
1 Knizhnik-Zamolodchikov differential equations and coefficients of Drinfel’d associators
In 1986 [6], in order to study the linear representations of the braid group coming from the monodromy of the Knizhnik-Zamolodchikov differential equations, Drinfel’d introduced a class of formal power series on noncommutative variables over the finite alphabet . Such a power series is called an associator. For , it leads to the following fuchsian noncommutative differential equation with three regular singularities in :
[TABLE]
Solutions of are power series, with coefficients which are mono-valued functions on the simply connex domain and can be seen as multi-valued over111In fact, we have mappings from the connected covering . , on noncommutative variables and . Drinfel’d proved that admits two particular mono-valued solutions on , and [7, 8]. and the existence of an associator such that [7, 8]. After that, via representations of the chord diagram algebras, Lê and Murakami [17] expressed the coefficients of as linear combinations of special values of several complex variables zeta functions, ,
[TABLE]
where . For , one has two ways of thinking as limits, fulfilling identities [14, 13, 1]. Firstly, they are limits of polylogarithms and secondly, as truncated sums, they are limits of harmonic sums, for :
[TABLE]
More precisely, if then, after a theorem by Abel, one has
[TABLE]
else it does not hold, for , while is well defined over and so is , as Taylor coefficients of the following function
[TABLE]
Note also that, for , is nothing else but the famous Riemann zeta function and, for , it is convenient to set to the constant function . In all the sequel, for simplification, we will adopt the notation for .
In this work, we will describe the regularized solutions of .
For that, we are considering the alphabets and equipped of the total ordering and , respectively. Let . The free monoid generated by (resp. ) is denoted by (resp. ) and admits (resp. ) as unit.
The sets of, respectively, polynomials and formal power series, with coefficients in a commutative -algebra , over (resp. ) are denoted by (resp. ) and (resp. ). The sets of polynomials are the -modules and endowed with the associative concatenation, the associative commutative shuffle (resp. quasi-shuffle) product, over (resp. ). Their associated coproducts are denoted, respectively, and \Delta_{\;\begin{picture}(20.0,10.0)(220.0,580.0)\put(220.0,592.0){\line(0,-1){10.0}} \put(220.0,582.0){\line(1,0){20.0}} \put(240.0,582.0){\line(0,1){10.0}} \put(230.0,592.0){\line(0,-1){10.0}} \put(225.0,587.0){\line(1,0){10.0}} \end{picture}\;}. The algebras and (A\langle Y\rangle,\;\begin{picture}(20.0,10.0)(220.0,580.0)\put(220.0,592.0){\line(0,-1){10.0}} \put(220.0,582.0){\line(1,0){20.0}} \put(240.0,582.0){\line(0,1){10.0}} \put(230.0,592.0){\line(0,-1){10.0}} \put(225.0,587.0){\line(1,0){10.0}} \end{picture}\;,1_{Y^{*}}) admit the sets of Lyndon words denoted, respectively, by and , as transcendence bases [18] (resp. [15, 16]).
For or , denoting and the sets of, respectively, Lie polynomials and Lie series, the enveloping algebra is isomorphic to the Hopf algebra . We get also {\mathcal{H}}_{\;\begin{picture}(20.0,10.0)(220.0,580.0)\put(220.0,592.0){\line(0,-1){10.0}} \put(220.0,582.0){\line(1,0){20.0}} \put(240.0,582.0){\line(0,1){10.0}} \put(230.0,592.0){\line(0,-1){10.0}} \put(225.0,587.0){\line(1,0){10.0}} \end{picture}\;}:=(A\langle Y\rangle,.,1_{Y^{*}},\Delta_{\;\begin{picture}(20.0,10.0)(220.0,580.0)\put(220.0,592.0){\line(0,-1){10.0}} \put(220.0,582.0){\line(1,0){20.0}} \put(240.0,582.0){\line(0,1){10.0}} \put(230.0,592.0){\line(0,-1){10.0}} \put(225.0,587.0){\line(1,0){10.0}} \end{picture}\;},{\tt e})\cong\mathcal{U}(\mathrm{Prim}({\mathcal{H}}_{{\scriptstyle\;\begin{picture}(20.0,10.0)(220.0,580.0)\put(220.0,592.0){\line(0,-1){10.0}} \put(220.0,582.0){\line(1,0){20.0}} \put(240.0,582.0){\line(0,1){10.0}} \put(230.0,592.0){\line(0,-1){10.0}} \put(225.0,587.0){\line(1,0){10.0}} \end{picture}\;}})), where [15, 16]
[TABLE]
2 Indexing polylogarithms and harmonic sums by words and their generating series
For any , since any combinatorial composition can be associated with words and . Similarly, any multi-indice222The weight of (resp. ) is defined as the integer which corresponds to the weight, denoted , of its associated word (resp. ) and corresponds also to the length, denoted by , of its associated word . can be associated with words . Then let , and and be indexed by words [14] : and . Similarly, and be indexed by words333Note that, all these and are divergent at their singularities. [4, 5] : and . In particular, and . There exists a law of algebra, denoted by , in , such that he following morphisms of algebras are surjective [4]
[TABLE]
and [4]. Moreover, the families and are -linearly independent.
On the other hand, the following morphisms of algebras are injective
[TABLE]
Moreover, the families and are -linearly independent and the families and are -algebraically independent. But at singularities of , the following convergent values
[TABLE]
are no longer linearly independent and the values (resp. ) are no longer algebraically independent [14, 19].
The graphs of the isomorphisms of algebras, and , as generating series, read then [2, 14]
[TABLE]
where the PBW basis (resp. ) is expanded over the basis of (resp. \mathcal{U}(\mathrm{Prim}({\mathcal{H}}_{\;\begin{picture}(20.0,10.0)(220.0,580.0)\put(220.0,592.0){\line(0,-1){10.0}} \put(220.0,582.0){\line(1,0){20.0}} \put(240.0,582.0){\line(0,1){10.0}} \put(230.0,592.0){\line(0,-1){10.0}} \put(225.0,587.0){\line(1,0){10.0}} \end{picture}\;})), (resp. ), and (resp. ) is the basis of (resp. ({\mathbb{Q}}\langle Y\rangle,\;\begin{picture}(20.0,10.0)(220.0,580.0)\put(220.0,592.0){\line(0,-1){10.0}} \put(220.0,582.0){\line(1,0){20.0}} \put(240.0,582.0){\line(0,1){10.0}} \put(230.0,592.0){\line(0,-1){10.0}} \put(225.0,587.0){\line(1,0){10.0}} \end{picture}\;,1_{Y^{*}})) containing the transcendence basis (resp. ).
By termwise differentiation, satisfies the noncommutative differential equation with the boundary condition . It is immediate that the power series and are group-like, for \Delta_{\;\begin{picture}(20.0,10.0)(220.0,580.0)\put(220.0,592.0){\line(0,-1){10.0}} \put(220.0,582.0){\line(1,0){20.0}} \put(240.0,582.0){\line(0,1){10.0}} \put(230.0,592.0){\line(0,-1){10.0}} \put(225.0,587.0){\line(1,0){10.0}} \end{picture}\;} and , respectively. Hence, the following noncommutative generating series are well defined and are group-like, for \Delta_{\;\begin{picture}(20.0,10.0)(220.0,580.0)\put(220.0,592.0){\line(0,-1){10.0}} \put(220.0,582.0){\line(1,0){20.0}} \put(240.0,582.0){\line(0,1){10.0}} \put(230.0,592.0){\line(0,-1){10.0}} \put(225.0,587.0){\line(1,0){10.0}} \end{picture}\;} and , respectively [14, 15, 16] :
[TABLE]
Definitions (3) and (11) lead then to the following surjective poly-morphism
[TABLE]
where is the -algebra generated by (resp. ), or equivalently, generated by (resp. ).
Now, let . For , we have [11]
[TABLE]
These suggest to extend the morphism over , via Lazard’s elimination, as follows (subjected to be convergent)
[TABLE]
with and denotes the closure, of in , by . For example [11, 12],
For any and , since and then . 2. 2.
For , since then
[TABLE] 3. 3.
Let , for . Then
[TABLE]
In particular, for , then one has
[TABLE] 4. 4.
From the previous points, one has
[TABLE]
3 Noncommutative evolution equations
As we said previously Drinfel’d proved that admits two particular solutions on . These new tools and results can be considered as pertaining to the domain of noncommutative evolution equations. We will, here, only mention what is relevant for our needs.
Even for one sided 444As the left (DE) for instance. differential equations, in order to cope with limit initial conditions (see applications below), one needs the two sided version.
Let then be simply connected and open and denote the algebra of holomorphic functions on . We suppose given two series (called multipliers) ( is an alphabet and the subscript indicates that the series have no constant term). Let then
[TABLE]
be our equation.
3.1 The main theorem
Theorem 1**.**
Let
[TABLE]
- (i)
Solutions of form a -vector space. 2. (ii)
Solutions of have their constant term (as coefficient of ) which are constant functions (on ); there exists solutions with constant coefficient (hence invertible). 3. (iii)
If two solutions coincide at one point , they coincide everywhere. 4. (iv)
Let be the following one-sided equations
[TABLE]
and let a solution of , then is a solution of . Conversely, every solution of can be constructed so. 5. (v)
If are primitive and if , a solution of , is group-like at one point, (or, even at one limit point) it is globally group-like.
Proof.
Omitted. ∎
Remark 1**.**
- •
Every holomorphic series which is group-like (* and ) is a solution of a left-sided dynamics with primitive multiplier (take and ).*
- •
Invertible solutions of an equation of type are on the same orbit by multiplication on the right by invertible constant series i.e. let be invertible solutions of , then there exists an unique invertible such that . From this and point (iv) of the theorem, one can parametrize the set of invertible solutions of .
3.2 Application: Unicity of solutions with asymptotic conditions.
In a previous work [3], we proved that asymptotic group-likeness, for a series, implies555Under the condition that the multiplier be primitive, result extended as point (v) of the theorem above. that the series in question is group-like everywhere. The process above (theorem (1), Picard’s process) can be performed, under certain conditions with improper integrals we then construct the series recursively as
[TABLE]
one can check that
- •
this process is well defined at each step and computes the series as below.
- •
is solution of , is exactly and is group-like
We here only prove that is unique using the theorem above. Consider the series . Then is solution of an equation of the type
[TABLE]
but so, by the point (iii) of theorem (1) one has and then .
A similar (and symmetric) argument can be performed for and then, in this interpretation and context, is unique.
4 Double global regularization of associators
Global singularities analysis leads to to the following global renormalization [2]
[TABLE]
Thus, the coefficients (i.e. ) and \{\langle Z_{\;\begin{picture}(20.0,10.0)(220.0,580.0)\put(220.0,592.0){\line(0,-1){10.0}} \put(220.0,582.0){\line(1,0){20.0}} \put(240.0,582.0){\line(0,1){10.0}} \put(230.0,592.0){\line(0,-1){10.0}} \put(225.0,587.0){\line(1,0){10.0}} \end{picture}\;}|v\rangle\}_{v\in Y^{*}} (i.e. \{\zeta_{\;\begin{picture}(20.0,10.0)(220.0,580.0)\put(220.0,592.0){\line(0,-1){10.0}} \put(220.0,582.0){\line(1,0){20.0}} \put(240.0,582.0){\line(0,1){10.0}} \put(230.0,592.0){\line(0,-1){10.0}} \put(225.0,587.0){\line(1,0){10.0}} \end{picture}\;}(v)\}_{v\in Y^{*}}) represent the finite part of the asymptotic expansions, in (resp. ) of (resp. ). On the other way, by a transfer theorem [10], let be the finite parts of , in , and let be their noncommutative generating series. The map \gamma_{\bullet}:({\mathbb{Q}}\langle Y\rangle,\;\begin{picture}(20.0,10.0)(220.0,580.0)\put(220.0,592.0){\line(0,-1){10.0}} \put(220.0,582.0){\line(1,0){20.0}} \put(240.0,582.0){\line(0,1){10.0}} \put(230.0,592.0){\line(0,-1){10.0}} \put(225.0,587.0){\line(1,0){10.0}} \end{picture}\;,1_{Y^{*}})\rightarrow({\cal Z},\times,1), mapping to , is then a character and is group-like, for \Delta_{\;\begin{picture}(20.0,10.0)(220.0,580.0)\put(220.0,592.0){\line(0,-1){10.0}} \put(220.0,582.0){\line(1,0){20.0}} \put(240.0,582.0){\line(0,1){10.0}} \put(230.0,592.0){\line(0,-1){10.0}} \put(225.0,587.0){\line(1,0){10.0}} \end{picture}\;}. Moreover [15, 16],
[TABLE]
The asymptotic behavior leads to the bridge666This equation is different from Jean Écalle’s one [9]. equation [2, 15, 16]
[TABLE]
where and .
Similarly, there is and , such that and [4]. Moreover,
[TABLE]
Now, one can then consider the following noncommutative generating series :
[TABLE]
Then and are group-like for, respectively, \Delta_{\;\begin{picture}(20.0,10.0)(220.0,580.0)\put(220.0,592.0){\line(0,-1){10.0}} \put(220.0,582.0){\line(1,0){20.0}} \put(240.0,582.0){\line(0,1){10.0}} \put(230.0,592.0){\line(0,-1){10.0}} \put(225.0,587.0){\line(1,0){10.0}} \end{picture}\;} and and [4]
[TABLE]
Next, for any , there exists then a unique polynomial of degree such that [4]
[TABLE]
where777Here, it is also convenient to denote the set of “polynomials” expanded as follows
\displaystyle\mathop{\mathrm{missing}}{deg}\nolimits(p)=d.
where mapping to . In other terms, for any , one has .
Hence, denoting the exponential transformed of the polynomial , one has and with
[TABLE]
Let us then associate and with the polynomial obtained as follows
[TABLE]
Let us recall also that, for any , one has and, with the respective scales of comparison, one has the following finite parts
[TABLE]
Hence, using the notations given in (40) and (41), one can see, from (44) and (45), that the values and obtained in (42) represent
[TABLE]
One can use then these values and , instead of the values and , to regularize, respectively, and as showed Theorem 2 bellow because, essentially, and do not realize characters for, respectively, and ({\mathbb{Q}}\langle Y\rangle,\;\begin{picture}(20.0,10.0)(220.0,580.0)\put(220.0,592.0){\line(0,-1){10.0}} \put(220.0,582.0){\line(1,0){20.0}} \put(240.0,582.0){\line(0,1){10.0}} \put(230.0,592.0){\line(0,-1){10.0}} \put(225.0,587.0){\line(1,0){10.0}} \end{picture}\;,1_{Y^{*}},\Delta_{\;\begin{picture}(20.0,10.0)(220.0,580.0)\put(220.0,592.0){\line(0,-1){10.0}} \put(220.0,582.0){\line(1,0){20.0}} \put(240.0,582.0){\line(0,1){10.0}} \put(230.0,592.0){\line(0,-1){10.0}} \put(225.0,587.0){\line(1,0){10.0}} \end{picture}\;},{\tt e}) [4].
Now, in virtue of the extension of , defined as in (16) and (17), and of the Taylor coefficients, the previous polynomials and given in (42)–(43) can be determined explicitly thanks to
Proposition 1**.**
The following morphisms of algebras are bijective
[TABLE] 2. 2.
For any , there exists a unique polynomial belonging to of degree , such that
[TABLE]
In particular, via the extension, by linearity, of over and via the linear independent family in , one has
[TABLE] 3. 3.
For any , one has . 4. 4.
More explicitly, for any , there exists a unique polynomial belonging to of degree , given by
[TABLE]
where, for any , if then else, for , denoting the Stirling numbers of second kind by ’s, one has
[TABLE]
Proposition 2** ([2, 15, 16]).**
With notations of (14), similar to the character , the poly-morphism can be extended as follows
[TABLE]
satisfying, for any , \zeta_{\mathop{{}_{{}^{\sqcup\!\sqcup}}}}(\pi_{X}(l))=\zeta_{\;\begin{picture}(20.0,10.0)(220.0,580.0)\put(220.0,592.0){\line(0,-1){10.0}} \put(220.0,582.0){\line(1,0){20.0}} \put(240.0,582.0){\line(0,1){10.0}} \put(230.0,592.0){\line(0,-1){10.0}} \put(225.0,587.0){\line(1,0){10.0}} \end{picture}\;}(l)=\gamma_{l}=\zeta(l) and, for the generators of length (resp. weight) one, for (resp. ), and \zeta_{\mathop{{}_{{}^{\sqcup\!\sqcup}}}}(x_{0})=\zeta_{\mathop{{}_{{}^{\sqcup\!\sqcup}}}}(x_{1})=\zeta_{\;\begin{picture}(20.0,10.0)(220.0,580.0)\put(220.0,592.0){\line(0,-1){10.0}} \put(220.0,582.0){\line(1,0){20.0}} \put(240.0,582.0){\line(0,1){10.0}} \put(230.0,592.0){\line(0,-1){10.0}} \put(225.0,587.0){\line(1,0){10.0}} \end{picture}\;}(y_{1})=0.
Now, to regularize , we use
Lemma 1** ([4]).**
The power series and are transcendent over . 2. 2.
The family is algebraically independent over within . 3. 3.
The module is -free and the family forms a -basis of it.
Hence, is a -basis of it. 4. 4.
One has, for any , .
Since, for any , one has and
[TABLE]
then, with the notations of Proposition 2, we extend extend the characters and , defined in Proposition 2, over and {\mathbb{C}}\langle Y\rangle\;\begin{picture}(20.0,10.0)(220.0,580.0)\put(220.0,592.0){\line(0,-1){10.0}} \put(220.0,582.0){\line(1,0){20.0}} \put(240.0,582.0){\line(0,1){10.0}} \put(230.0,592.0){\line(0,-1){10.0}} \put(225.0,587.0){\line(1,0){10.0}} \end{picture}\;{\mathbb{C}}[y_{1}^{*}], respectively, as follows
Proposition 3** ([4]).**
The characters and can be extended as follows
[TABLE]
Therefore, in virtue of Propositions 1 and 3, we obtain then
Theorem 2**.**
For any associated with , there exists a unique polynomial of valuation and of degree such that
[TABLE] 2. 2.
Let and be the noncommutative generating series of and :
[TABLE]
Then and are group-like, for respectively \Delta_{\;\begin{picture}(20.0,10.0)(220.0,580.0)\put(220.0,592.0){\line(0,-1){10.0}} \put(220.0,582.0){\line(1,0){20.0}} \put(240.0,582.0){\line(0,1){10.0}} \put(230.0,592.0){\line(0,-1){10.0}} \put(225.0,587.0){\line(1,0){10.0}} \end{picture}\;} and , and :
[TABLE] 3. 3.
Let and be the noncommutative generating series of and888On the one hand, by Proposition 2, one has . On the other hand, since then and . Hence, one also has and .* , respectively :*
[TABLE]
Then and are group-like, for respectively \Delta_{\;\begin{picture}(20.0,10.0)(220.0,580.0)\put(220.0,592.0){\line(0,-1){10.0}} \put(220.0,582.0){\line(1,0){20.0}} \put(240.0,582.0){\line(0,1){10.0}} \put(230.0,592.0){\line(0,-1){10.0}} \put(225.0,587.0){\line(1,0){10.0}} \end{picture}\;} and , and :
[TABLE]
Moreover, and meaning that, for any and , one has
[TABLE]
The reference list from the paper itself. Each links out to its DOI / PubMed record.
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