Reflection equation as a tool for studying solutions to the Yang-Baxter equation

Abstract

Given a right-non-degenerate set-theoretic solution $(X,r)$ to the Yang-Baxter equation, we construct a whole family of YBE solutions $r^{(k)}$ on $X$ indexed by its reflections $k$ (i.e., solutions to the reflection equation for $r$). This family includes the original solution and the classical derived solution. All these solutions induce isomorphic actions of the braid group/monoid on $X^n$. The structure monoids of $r$ and $r^{(k)}$ are related by an explicit bijective $1$-cocycle-like map. We thus turn reflections into a tool for studying YBE solutions, rather than a side object of study. In a different direction, we study the reflection equation for non-degenerate involutive YBE solutions, show it to be equivalent to (any of the) three simpler relations, and deduce from the latter systematic ways of constructing new reflections.