Hall algebras and quantum symmetric pairs II: reflection functors

Abstract

Recently the authors initiated an $\imath$Hall algebra approach to (universal) $\imath$quantum groups arising from quantum symmetric pairs. In this paper we construct and study BGP type reflection functors which lead to isomorphisms of the $\imath$Hall algebras associated to acyclic $\imath$quivers. For Dynkin quivers, these symmetries on $\imath$Hall algebras induce automorphisms of universal $\imath$quantum groups, which are shown to satisfy the braid group relations associated to the restricted Weyl group of a symmetric pair; conjecturally these continue to hold for acyclic quivers/Kac-Moody setting. This leads to a conceptual construction of $q$-root vectors and PBW bases for (universal) quasi-split $\imath$quantum groups of ADE type.