# 1 Introduction

## 1 Introduction

The non-standard quantum deformation of $`sl(2,𝐑)so(2,1)`$ , here denoted $`U_z(sl(2,𝐑))`$, has been the starting point in the obtention of non-standard quantum algebras in higher dimensions. In particular, by taking two copies of $`U_z(sl(2,𝐑))`$ and applying the same procedure as in the standard (Drinfel’d–Jimbo) case , a quantum $`so(2,2)`$ algebra has been obtained in , while the corresponding deformation for $`so(3,2)`$ has been found in . These quantum algebras have been realized as deformations of conformal algebras for the Minkowskian spacetime. Furthermore, by following either a contraction approach  or a deformation embedding method , non-standard quantum deformations for other Lie algebras have been deduced; amongst them it is remarkable the appearance of a non-standard quantum Poincaré algebra, which can be considered as a conformal quantum algebra for the Carroll spacetime, or alternatively as a null-plane quantum Poincaré algebra . All these results are summarized in the following diagram where the vertical arrows indicate the corresponding contractions leading to Poincaré algebras:

$$\begin{array}{ccccc}U_z(sl(2,𝐑))& & U_z(sl(2,𝐑))U_z(sl(2,𝐑))U_z(so(2,2))& & U_z(so(3,2))\\ \epsilon 0& & \epsilon 0& & \epsilon 0\\ U_z(iso(1,1))& & \text{Null-plane Poincaré algebra}U_z(iso(2,1))& & U_z(iso(3,1))\end{array}$$

The aim of this contribution is to provide, starting again from $`U_z(sl(2,𝐑))`$, a new way in the obtention of non-standard quantum algebras. The first step is to construct a new non-standard quantum $`so(2,2)`$ algebra which could be the cornerstone of further constructions in higher dimensions. The essential idea is to require that $`U_z(sl(2,𝐑))`$ remains as a Hopf subalgebra so that this approach can be seen as a kind of complete deformation embedding method. Next, a contraction limit gives rise to a new $`(2+1)`$ quantum Poincaré algebra which contains a $`(1+1)`$ quantum Poincaré Hopf subalgebra:

$$U_z(sl(2,𝐑))U_z(so(2,2))\stackrel{\epsilon 0}{}U_z(iso(1,1))U_z(iso(2,1))$$

It is interesting to stress that such new quantum $`so(2,2)`$ algebra is the symmetry algebra of a time discretization of the wave equation. Thus we recall in the next section the basic facts of the Lie algebra $`so(2,2)`$ in a conformal basis as well as its relationship with the $`(1+1)`$ wave equation. The Hopf algebra structure deforming $`so(2,2)`$, its role as a discrete symmetry algebra and its contraction to Poincaré are presented in the section 3.

## 2 Lie algebra so(2,2)

Let us consider the real Lie algebra $`so(2,2)`$ generated by $`H`$ (time translations), $`P`$ (space translations), $`K`$ (boosts), $`D`$ (dilations) and $`C_1`$, $`C_2`$ (special conformal transformations). In this basis $`so(2,2)`$ is the Lie algebra of the group of conformal transformations of the $`(1+1)`$ Minkowskian spacetime. The Lie brackets of $`so(2,2)`$ read

$$\begin{array}{ccc}[K,H]=P\hfill & [K,P]=H\hfill & [H,P]=0\hfill \\ [D,H]=H\hfill & [D,C_1]=C_1\hfill & [H,C_1]=2D\hfill \\ [D,P]=P\hfill & [D,C_2]=C_2\hfill & [P,C_2]=2D\hfill \\ [K,C_1]=C_2\hfill & [K,C_2]=C_1\hfill & [C_1,C_2]=0\hfill \\ [H,C_2]=2K\hfill & [P,C_1]=2K\hfill & [K,D]=0.\hfill \end{array}$$
(1)   
Three subalgebras of $`so(2,2)`$ are relevant for our purposes:   
$``$ $`\{H,P,K\}`$ which span the $`(1+1)`$ Poincaré algebra (first row in (1)).

$``$ $`\{D,H,C_1\}`$ which give rise to $`so(2,1)sl(2,𝐑)`$ (second row in (1)).

$``$ $`\{D,P,C_2\}`$ which also generate $`so(2,1)sl(2,𝐑)`$ (third row in (1)).

A vector field representation of $`so(2,2)`$ in terms of the space and time coordinates $`(x,t)`$ is given by

$$\begin{array}{c}H=_tP=_xK=t_xx_tD=x_xt_t\hfill \\ C_1=(x^2+t^2)_t+2xt_xC_2=(x^2+t^2)_x2xt_t.\hfill \end{array}$$
(2)   
The Casimir of the above Poincaré subalgebra is $`E=P^2H^2`$. The action of $`E`$ on a function $`\mathrm{\Phi }(x,t)`$ through the representation (2) (choosing for $`E`$ the value zero) leads to the $`(1+1)`$ wave equation:

$$E\mathrm{\Phi }(x,t)=0\left(\frac{^2}{x^2}\frac{^2}{t^2}\right)\mathrm{\Phi }(x,t)=0.$$
(3)   
We shall say that an operator $`𝒪`$ is a symmetry of the equation $`E\mathrm{\Phi }(x,t)=0`$ if $`𝒪`$ transforms solutions into solutions, that is, $`E𝒪=\mathrm{\Lambda }E`$ where $`\mathrm{\Lambda }`$ is another operator. The Lie algebra $`so(2,2)`$ is the symmetry algebra of the wave equation: $`E`$ commutes with $`\{H,P,K\}`$ and in the realization (2) the remaining generators verify

$$[E,D]=2E[E,C_1]=4tE[E,C_2]=4xE.$$
(4)   
## 3 Non-standard quantum so(2,2) algebra

We choose the $`sl(2,𝐑)`$ subalgebra of $`so(2,2)`$ spanned by $`\{D,H,C_1\}`$. Then we write in terms of these generators the non-standard quantum deformation of $`sl(2,𝐑)`$ in the form introduced in  and denote $`\tau `$ the deformation parameter. This means that the classical $`r`$-matrix we are considering for $`so(2,2)`$ is $`r=\tau DH`$ (which is a solution of the classical Yang–Baxter equation). Now we look for a quantum $`so(2,2)`$ algebra that keeps the quantum $`sl(2,𝐑)`$ algebra as a Hopf subalgebra: $`U_\tau (sl(2,𝐑))U_\tau (so(2,2))`$. The resulting coproduct and commutation rules for $`U_\tau (so(2,2))`$ are given by:

$$\begin{array}{c}\mathrm{\Delta }(H)=1H+H1\mathrm{\Delta }(P)=1P+Pe^{\tau H}\hfill \\ \mathrm{\Delta }(D)=1D+De^{\tau H}\mathrm{\Delta }(C_1)=1C_1+C_1e^{\tau H}\hfill \\ \mathrm{\Delta }(K)=1K+K1\tau De^{\tau H}P\hfill \\ \mathrm{\Delta }(C_2)=1C_2+C_2e^{\tau H}+2\tau De^{\tau H}K\tau ^2D(D+1)e^{2\tau H}P\hfill \end{array}$$
(5)   
$$\begin{array}{c}[K,H]=e^{\tau H}P[K,P]=(e^{\tau H}1)/\tau [H,P]=0\hfill \\ [D,H]=(1e^{\tau H})/\tau [D,C_1]=C_1+\tau D^2[H,C_1]=2D\hfill \\ [D,P]=P[D,C_2]=C_2[P,C_2]=2D\hfill \\ [K,C_1]=C_2[K,C_2]=C_1\tau D^2[C_1,C_2]=\tau (DC_2+C_2D)\hfill \\ [H,C_2]=e^{\tau H}K+Ke^{\tau H}[P,C_1]=2K\tau (DP+PD)[K,D]=0.\hfill \end{array}$$
(6)   
It can be checked that the universal quantum $`R`$-matrix for $`U_\tau (sl(2,𝐑))`$  also holds for $`U_\tau (so(2,2))`$. In our basis this element reads

$$=\mathrm{exp}\left\{\tau HD\right\}\mathrm{exp}\left\{\tau DH\right\}.$$
(7)   
The relationship between $`U_\tau (so(2,2))`$ and a discretization of the wave equation can be established by means of the following differential-difference realization which under the limit $`\tau 0`$ gives the classical realization (2):

$`H=_tP=_x`$   
$`K=x\left({\displaystyle \frac{e^{\tau _t}1}{\tau }}\right)te^{\tau _t}_xD=x_xt\left({\displaystyle \frac{1e^{\tau _t}}{\tau }}\right)`$ (8)   
$`C_1=(x^2+t^2e^{\tau _t})\left({\displaystyle \frac{e^{\tau _t}1}{\tau }}\right)+2xt_x+\tau x_x+\tau x^2_x^2`$ (9)   
$`C_2=(x^2+t^2e^{2\tau _t})_x2xt\left({\displaystyle \frac{1e^{\tau _t}}{\tau }}\right)+\tau te^{2\tau _t}_x.`$ (10)   
The generators $`\{H,P,K\}`$ close a deformed Poincaré subalgebra (although not a Hopf subalgebra) whose Casimir is now $`E_\tau =P^2\left(\frac{e^{\tau H}1}{\tau }\right)^2`$. If we introduce the realization (10) then we find a time discretization of the wave equation on a uniform lattice with $`x`$ as a continuous variable:

$$E_\tau \mathrm{\Phi }(x,t)=0\left\{\frac{^2}{x^2}\left(\frac{e^{\tau _t}1}{\tau }\right)^2\right\}\mathrm{\Phi }(x,t)=0.$$
(11)   
Therefore the deformation parameter $`\tau `$ appearing within the discrete derivative in (11) can be identified with the time lattice constant. Furthermore the generators (10) are symmetry operators of (11) since they fullfil

$`[E_\tau ,X]=0\text{for}X\{H,P,K\}[E_\tau ,D]=2E_\tau `$ (12)   
$`[E_\tau ,C_1]=4(t+\tau +\tau x_x)E_\tau [E_\tau ,C_2]=4xE_\tau .`$ (13)   
Hence we conclude that $`U_\tau (so(2,2))`$ is the symmetry algebra of the discrete wave equation (11). In this respect we recall that the symmetries of a discretization of the wave equation in both coordinates $`(x,t)`$ on a uniform lattice were computed in , showing that they are difference operators which preserve the Lie algebra $`so(2,2)`$ as in the continuous case. Therefore some kind of connection between the results of  and our quantum $`so(2,2)`$ algebra should exist as it was already established for discrete Shrödinger equations and quantum algebras .

To end with, we work out the contraction from $`U_\tau (so(2,2))`$ to a new quantum Poincaré algebra: $`U_\tau (so(2,2))U_\tau (iso(2,1))`$. We apply to the Hopf algebra $`U_\tau (so(2,2))`$ the Inönü–Wigner contraction defined by the map

$$H\epsilon HPPK\epsilon KC_1\epsilon C_1C_2C_2DD$$
(14)   
together with a transformation of the deformation parameter: $`\tau \tau /\epsilon `$. The limit $`\epsilon 0`$ leads to the coproduct and commutators of $`U_\tau (iso(2,1))`$:

$$\begin{array}{c}\mathrm{\Delta }(H)=1H+H1\mathrm{\Delta }(P)=1P+Pe^{\tau H}\hfill \\ \mathrm{\Delta }(D)=1D+De^{\tau H}\mathrm{\Delta }(C_1)=1C_1+C_1e^{\tau H}\hfill \\ \mathrm{\Delta }(K)=1K+K1\mathrm{\Delta }(C_2)=1C_2+C_2e^{\tau H}+2\tau De^{\tau H}K\hfill \end{array}$$
(15)   
$$\begin{array}{ccc}[K,H]=0\hfill & [K,P]=(e^{\tau H}1)/\tau \hfill & [H,P]=0\hfill \\ [D,H]=(1e^{\tau H})/\tau \hfill & [D,C_1]=C_1\hfill & [H,C_1]=0\hfill \\ [D,P]=P\hfill & [D,C_2]=C_2\hfill & [P,C_2]=2D\hfill \\ [K,C_1]=0\hfill & [K,C_2]=C_1\hfill & [C_1,C_2]=0\hfill \\ [H,C_2]=2e^{\tau H}K\hfill & [P,C_1]=2K\hfill & [K,D]=0.\hfill \end{array}$$
(16)   
The universal quantum $`R`$-matrix for $`U_\tau (iso(2,1))`$ is also (7) so that it is formally preserved under contraction. Note also that the generators $`\{D,H,C_1\}`$ give rise to a $`(1+1)`$ quantum Poincaré subalgebra such that: $`U_\tau (iso(1,1))U_\tau (iso(2,1))`$.

Finally we remark that if we would have chosen the $`sl(2,𝐑)`$ subalgebra spanned by $`\{D,P,C_2\}`$ instead of the one generated by $`\{D,H,C_1\}`$, then we would have obtained a quantum $`so(2,2)`$ algebra with $`P`$ as primitive generator (instead of $`H`$). This second choice would lead to a space discretization of the wave equation. Both quantum $`so(2,2)`$ algebras would be algebraically equivalent by the interchanges $`HP`$ and $`C_1C_2`$, however their contraction would lead to inequivalent quantum Poincaré algebras. A complete analysis of all these possibilities will be presented elsewhere.

## Acknowledgment

This work was partially supported by Junta de Castilla y León, Spain (Project CO2/399).