The cubic Hecke algebra on at most 5 strands

Abstract

We prove that the quotient of the group algebra of the braid group on 5 strands by a generic cubic relation has finite rank. This was conjectured in 1998 by Brou\'e, Malle and Rouquier and has for consequence that this algebra is a flat deformation of the group algebra of the complex reflection group $G_{32}$, of order 155,520.