Grassmannian Cohomolgy Rings and Fusion Rings from Algebraic Equations

Abstract

The potential that generates the cohomology ring of the Grassmannian is given in terms of the elementary symmetric functions using the Waring formula that computes the power sum of roots of an algebraic equation in terms of its coefficients. As a consequence, the fusion potential for $su(N)_K$ is obtained. This potential is the explicit Chebyshev polynomial in several variables of the first kind. We also derive the fusion potential for $sp(N)_K$ from a reciprocal algebraic equation. This potential is identified with another Chebyshev polynomial in several variables. We display a connection between these fusion potentials and generalized Fibonacci and Lucas numbers.