On reflection algebras and twisted Yangians

It is known that integrable models associated to rational R matrices give rise to certain non-abelian symmetries known as Yangians. Analogously ‘boundary’ symmetries arise when general but still integrable boundary conditions are implemented, as originally argued by Delius, Mackay and Short from the field theory point of view, in the context of the principal chiral model on the half line. In the present study we deal with a discrete quantummechanical system with boundaries, that is the N site gl(n) open quantum spin chain. In particular, the open spin chain with two distinct types of boundary condition known as soliton preserving and soliton non-preserving is considered. For both types of boundaries we present a unified framework for deriving the corresponding boundary non-local charges directly at the quantum level. The non-local charges are simply coproduct realizations of particular boundary quantum algebras called ‘boundary’ or twisted Yangians, depending on the choice of boundary conditions. Finally, with the help of linear intertwining relations between the solutions of the reflection equation and the generators of the boundary or twisted Yangians we are able to exhibit the symmetry of the open spin chain, namely we show that a number of the boundary non-local charges are in fact conserved quantities. LAPTH-1035/04 March 2004 e-mail: [email protected]