Signature Characters for A_2 and B_2

TL;DR

This paper derives difference equations for signature characters of highest weight representations of finite-dimensional Lie algebras, specifically A_2 and B_2, revealing patterns similar to those in Virasoro algebra representations.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach using difference equations to compute signature characters for A_2 and B_2 Lie algebra representations, extending known signature patterns.

Findings

Derived difference equations for signature characters

Computed signature characters for A_2 and B_2

Revealed patterns analogous to Virasoro algebra

Abstract

The signatures of the inner product matrices on a Lie algebra's highest weight representation are encoded in the representation's signature character. We show that the signature characters of a finite-dimensional Lie algebra's highest weight representations obey simple difference equations that have a unique solution once appropriate boundary conditions are imposed. We use these results to derive the signature characters of all $A_2$ and $B_2$ highest weight representations. Our results extend, and explain, signature patterns analogous to those observed by Friedan, Qiu and Shenker in the Virasoro algebra's representation theory.