Symmetric Polynomials and $U_q(\hat{sl}_2)$

Abstract

We study the explicit formula of Lusztig's integral forms of the level one quantum affine algebra $U_q(\hat{sl}_2)$ in the endomorphism ring of symmetric functions in infinitely many variables tensored with the group algebra of $\mathbb Z$. Schur functions are realized as certain orthonormal basis vectors in the vertex representation associated to the standard Heisenberg algebra. In this picture the Littlewood-Richardson rule is expressed by integral formulas, and is used to define the action of Lusztig's $\mathbb Z[q, q]$-form of $U_q(\hat{sl}_2)$ on Schur polynomials.