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We study the stirring process with $N-1$ species on a generic graph $G=(V,\mathcal{E})$ with reservoirs. The multispecies stirring process generalizes the symmetric exclusion process, which is recovered in the case $N=2$. We prove the existence of a dual process defined on an extended graph $\widetilde{G}=(\widetilde{V},\widetilde{\mathcal{E})}$ which includes additional extra-sites $\widetilde{V}\setminus V$ where dual particles get absorbed in the long-time limit. We thus obtain a characterization of the non-equilibrium steady state of the boundary-driven system in terms of the absorption probabilities of dual particles. The process is integrable for the case of the one-dimensional chain with two reservoirs at the boundaries and with maximally one particle per site. We compute the absorption probabilities by relying on the underlying ${gl}(N)$ symmetry and the matrix product ansatz. Thus one gets a closed-formula for (long-ranged) correlations and for the non-equilibrium stationary measure. Extensions beyond this integrable set-up are also discussed., Comment: 47 pages, no figures

We consider the multiparticle asymmetric diffusion model (MADM) introduced by Sasamoto and Wadati with integrability preserving reservoirs at the boundaries. In contrast to the open asymmetric simple exclusion process (ASEP) the number of particles allowed per site is unbounded in the MADM. Taking inspiration from the stationary measure in the symmetric case, i.e. the rational limit, we first obtain the length 1 solution and then show that the steady state can be expressed as an iterated product of Jackson q-integrals. In the proof of the stationarity condition, we observe a cancellation mechanism that closely resembles the one of the matrix product ansatz. To our knowledge, the occupation probabilities in the steady state of the boundary-driven MADM were not available before., Comment: 13 pages; v2: references added, text improved

We construct Lax matrices of superoscillator type that are solutions of the RTT-relation for the rational orthosymplectic $R$-matrix, generalizing orthogonal and symplectic oscillator type Lax matrices previously constructed by the authors in arXiv:2001.06825, arXiv:2104.14518, and arXiv:2112.12065. We further establish factorisation formulas among the presented solutions., Comment: v1: 25 pages, comments are welcome! v2: 26 pages, minor corrections, details added (including a new Appendix)

We consider the boundary driven harmonic model, i.e. the Markov process associated to the open integrable XXX chain with non-compact spins. Using the factorial moments we characterize the stationary measure as a mixture of product measures. For all spin values, we identify the law of the mixture in terms of the Dirichlet process. Next, by using the explicit knowledge of the non-equilibrium steady state we establish formulas predicted by Macroscopic Fluctuation Theory for several quantities of interest: the pressure (by Varadhan's lemma), the density large deviation function (by contraction principle), the additivity principle (by using the Markov property of the mixing law). To our knowledge, the results presented in this paper constitute the first rigorous derivation of these macroscopic properties for models of energy transport with unbounded state space, starting from the microscopic structure of the non-equilibrium steady state., Comment: 34 pages, no figures

We consider a stochastic process of heat conduction where energy is redistributed along a chain between nearest neighbor sites via an improper beta distribution. Similar to the well-known Kipnis-Marchioro-Presutti (KMP) model, the finite chain is coupled at its ends with two reservoirs that break the conservation of energy when working at different temperatures. At variance with KMP, the model considered here is integrable and one can write in a closed form the $n$-point correlation functions of the non-equilibrium steady state. As a consequence of the exact solution one can directly prove that the system is in a `local equilibrium' and described at the macro-scale by a product measure. Integrability manifests itself through the description of the model via the open Heisenberg chain with non-compact spins. The algebraic formulation of the model allows to interpret its duality relation with a purely absorbing particle system as a change of representation., Comment: 27 pages

In this note we construct Q-operators for the spin s open Heisenberg XXX chain with diagonal boundaries in the framework of the quantum inverse scattering method. Following the algebraic Bethe ansatz we diagonalise the introduced Q-operators using the fundamental commutation relations. By acting on Bethe off-shell states and explicitly evaluating the trace in the auxiliary space we compute the eigenvalues of the Q-operators in terms of Bethe roots and show that the unwanted terms vanish if the Bethe equations are satisfied., Comment: 17 pages

Taking inspiration from the harmonic process with reservoirs introduced by Giardin\`a, Kurchan and the author in arXiv:1904.01048, we propose integrable boundary conditions for its trigonometric deformation which is known as the q-Hahn process. Following the formalism established by Mangazeev and Lu in arXiv:1903.00274 using the stochastic R-matrix, we argue that the proposed boundary conditions can be derived from a transfer matrix constructed in the framework of Sklyanin's extension of the quantum inverse scattering method and consequently preserve the integrable structure of the model. The approach avoids the explicit construction of the K-matrix., Comment: v1: One figure and 16 pages v2: added symmetric limit and improved conclusion

We obtain BGG-type formulas for transfer matrices of irreducible finite-dimensional representations of the classical Lie algebras $\mathfrak{g}$, whose highest weight is a multiple of a fundamental one and which can be lifted to the representations over the Yangian $Y(\mathfrak{g})$. These transfer matrices are expressed in terms of transfer matrices of certain infinite-dimensional highest weight representations (such as parabolic Verma modules and their generalizations) in the auxiliary space. We further factorise the corresponding infinite-dimensional transfer matrices into the products of two Baxter $Q$-operators, arising from our previous study (arXiv:2001.04929, arXiv:2104.14518) of the degenerate Lax matrices. Our approach is crucially based on the new BGG-type resolutions of the finite-dimensional $\mathfrak{g}$-modules, which naturally arise geometrically as the restricted duals of the Cousin complexes of relative local cohomology groups of ample line bundles on the partial flag variety $G/P$ stratified by $B_{-}$-orbits., Comment: v2: 61 pages, minor corrections. v1: 61 pages; Comments are Welcome!

We consider the integrable family of symmetric boundary-driven interacting particle systems that arise from the non-compact XXX Heisenberg model in one dimension with open boundaries. In contrast to the well-known symmetric exclusion process, the number of particles at each site is unbounded. We show that a finite chain of $N$ sites connected at its ends to two reservoirs can be solved exactly, i.e. the factorial moments of the non-equilibrium steady-state can be written in closed form for each $N$. The solution relies on probabilistic arguments and techniques inspired by integrable systems. It is obtained in two steps: i) the introduction of a dual absorbing process reducing the problem to a finite number of particles; ii) the solution of the dual dynamics exploiting a symmetry obtained from the Quantum Inverse Scattering Method. Long-range correlations are computed in the finite-volume system. The exact solution allows to prove by a direct computation that, in the thermodynamic limit, the system approaches local equilibrium. A by-product of the solution is the algebraic construction of a direct mapping between the non-equilibrium steady state and the equilibrium reversible measure., Comment: 45 pages, 2 figures, v2: minor improvements, v3: typo fixed

Generalizing our recent joint paper with Vasily Pestun (arXiv:2001.04929), we construct a family of $SO(2r),Sp(2r),SO(2r+1)$ rational Lax matrices, polynomial in the spectral parameter, parametrized by the divisors on the projective line with coefficients being dominant integral coweights of associated Lie algebras. To this end, we provide the RTT realization of the antidominantly shifted extended Drinfeld Yangians of $\mathfrak{so}_{2r}, \mathfrak{sp}_{2r}, \mathfrak{so}_{2r+1}$, and of their coproduct homomorphisms. This establishes some of the recent conjectures in the physics literature by Costello-Gaiotto-Yagi (arXiv:2103.01835) in the classical types., Comment: v3: 67 pages, minor corrections, details added. v2: 65 pages, minor corrections, some details added, Remark 4.37 added. v1: 64 pages, comments are welcome!

We propose the full system of Baxter Q-functions (QQ-system) for the integrable spin chains with the symmetry of the $D_r$ Lie algebra. We use this QQ-system to derive new Weyl-type formulas expressing transfer matrices in all symmetric and antisymmetric (fundamental) representations through $r+1$ basic Q-functions. Our functional relations are consistent with the Q-operators proposed recently by one of the authors and verified explicitly on the level of operators at small finite length., Comment: 42 pages, 9 Figures; v2: typos fixed, references added; v3: references added, section 9 improved

We develop the `duality approach', that has been extensively studied for classical models of transport, for quantum systems in contact with a thermal `Lindbladian' bath. The method provides (a) a mapping of the original model to a simpler one, containing only a few particles and (b) shows that any dynamic process of this kind with generic baths may be mapped onto one with equilibrium baths. We exemplify this through the study of a particular model: the quantum symmetric exclusion process introduced in [D. Bernard, T. Jin, Phys. Rev. Lett. 123, 080601 (2019)]. As in the classical case, the whole construction becomes intelligible by considering the dynamical symmetries of the problem., Comment: 8 pages; v2: presentation improved, references added

A large family of diffusive models of transport that has been considered in the past years admits a transformation into the same model in contact with an equilibrium bath. This mapping holds at the full dynamical level, and is independent of dimension or topology. It provides a good opportunity to discuss questions of time reversal in out of equilibrium contexts. In particular, thanks to the mapping one may define the free-energy in the non-equilibrium states very naturally as the (usual) free energy of the mapped system., Comment: 20 pages, 1 figure

We present a family of novel Lax operators corresponding to representations of the RTT-realisation of the Yangian associated with $D$-type Lie algebras. These Lax operators are of oscillator type, i.e. one space of the operators is infinite-dimensional while the other is in the first fundamental representation of $\mathfrak{so}(2r)$. We use the isomorphism between the first fundamental representation of $D_3$ and the $\mathbf{6}$ of $A_3$, for which the degenerate oscillator type Lax matrices are known, to derive the Lax operators for $r=3$. The results are used to generalise the Lax matrices to arbitrary rank for representations corresponding to the extremal nodes of the simply laced Dynkin diagram of $D_r$. The multiplicity of independent solutions at each extremal node is given by the dimension of the fundamental representation. We further derive certain factorisation formulas among these solutions and build transfer matrices with oscillators in the auxiliary space from the introduced degenerate Lax matrices. Finally, we provide some evidence that the constructed transfer matrices are Baxter Q-operators for $\mathfrak{so}(2r)$ spin chains by verifying certain QQ-relations for $D_4$ at low lengths., Comment: 17 pages, 2 figures; v2: references added; v3: published version

We construct a family of $GL_n$ rational and trigonometric Lax matrices $T_D(z)$ parametrized by $\Lambda^+$-valued divisors $D$ on $\mathbb{P}^1$. To this end, we study the shifted Drinfeld Yangians $Y_\mu(\mathfrak{gl}_n)$ and quantum affine algebras $U_{\mu^+,\mu^-}(L\mathfrak{gl}_n)$, which slightly generalize their $\mathfrak{sl}_n$-counterparts. Our key observation is that both algebras admit the RTT type realization when $\mu$ (respectively, $\mu^+$ and $\mu^-$) are antidominant coweights. We prove that $T_D(z)$ are polynomial in $z$ (up to a rational factor) and obtain explicit simple formulas for those linear in $z$. This generalizes the recent construction by the first two authors of linear rational Lax matrices in both trigonometric and higher $z$-degree directions. Furthermore, we show that all $T_D(z)$ are normalized limits of those parametrized by $D$ supported away from $\{\infty\}$ (in the rational case) or $\{0,\infty\}$ (in the trigonometric case). The RTT approach provides conceptual and elementary proofs for the construction of the coproduct homomorphisms on shifted Yangians and quantum affine algebras of $\mathfrak{sl}_n$, previously established via rather tedious computations. Finally, we establish a close relation between a certain collection of explicit linear Lax matrices and the well-known parabolic Gelfand-Tsetlin formulas., Comment: v2: 57 pages, typos fixed, some details and references added. v1: 54 pages, comments are welcome!

In this article we study the relation between the eigenstates of open rational spin $\frac{1}{2}$ Heisenberg chains with different boundary conditions. The focus lies on the relation between the spin chain with diagonal boundary conditions and the spin chain with triangular boundary conditions as well as the class of spin chains that can be brought to such form by certain similarity transformations in the physical space. The boundary driven Symmetric Simple Exclusion Process (open SSEP) belongs to the latter. We derive a transformation that maps the eigenvectors of the diagonal spin chain to the eigenvectors of the triangular chain. This transformation yields an essential simplification for determining the states beyond half-filling. It allows to first determine the eigenstates of the diagonal chain through the Bethe ansatz on the fully excited reference state and subsequently map them to the triangular chain for which only the vacuum serves as a reference state. In particular the transformed reference state, i.e. the fully excited eigenstate of the triangular chain, is presented at any length of the chain. It can be mapped to the steady state of the open SSEP. This results in a concise closed-form expression for the probabilities of particle distributions and correlation functions in the steady state. Further, the complete set of eigenstates of the Markov generator is expressed in terms of the eigenstates of the diagonal open chain., Comment: 21 pages, 2 figures, published version

In this note we relate the Hamiltonian of the integrable non-compact spin $s$ XXZ chain to the Markov generator of a stochastic particle process. The hopping rates of the continuous-time process are identified with the ones of a q-Hahn asymmetric zero range model. The main difference with the asymmetric simple exclusion process (ASEP), which can be mapped to the ordinary XXZ spin chain, is that multiple particles can occupy one and the same site. For the non-compact spin $\frac{1}{2}$ XXZ chain the associated stochastic process reduces to the multiparticle asymmetric diffusion model introduced by Sasamoto-Wadati., Comment: 15 pages, 1 figure

In this paper we discuss a family of models of particle and energy diffusion on a one-dimensional lattice, related to those studied previously in [Sasamoto-Wadati], [Barraquand-Corwin] and [Povolotsky] in the context of KPZ universality class. We show that they may be mapped onto an integrable $\mathfrak{sl}(2)$ Heisenberg spin chain whose Hamiltonian density in the bulk has been already studied in the AdS/CFT and the integrable system literature. Using the quantum inverse scattering method, we study various new aspects, in particular we identify boundary terms, modeling reservoirs in non-equilibrium statistical mechanics models, for which the spin chain (and thus also the stochastic process) continues to be integrable. We also show how the construction of a "dual model" of probability theory is possible and useful. The fluctuating hydrodynamics of our stochastic model corresponds to the semiclassical evolution of a string that derives from correlation functions of local gauge invariant operators of $\mathcal{N}=4$ super Yang-Mills theory (SYM), in imaginary-time. As any stochastic system, it has a supersymmetric completion that encodes for the thermal equilibrium theorems: we show that in this case it is equivalent to the $\mathfrak{sl}(2|1)$ superstring that has been derived directly from $\mathcal{N}=4$ SYM., Comment: 35 pages, 2 figures, v2: typos fixed and references added, v3: typo fixed, v4,5: minor correction

In this paper we study a restricted family of holomorphic symplectic leaves in the Poisson-Lie group ${\rm GL}_r(\mathcal{K}_{\mathbb{P}^1_x})$ with rational quadratic Sklyanin brackets induced by a one-form with a single quadratic pole at $\infty \in \mathbb{P}_{1}$. The restriction of the family is that the matrix elements in the defining representation are linear functions of $x$. We study how the symplectic leaves in this family are obtained by the fusion of certain fundamental symplectic leaves. These symplectic leaves arise as minimal examples of (i) moduli spaces of multiplicative Higgs bundles on $\mathbb{P}^{1}$ with prescribed singularities, (ii) moduli spaces of $U(r)$ monopoles on $\mathbb{R}^2 \times S^1$ with Dirac singularities, (iii) Coulomb branches of the moduli space of vacua of 4d $\mathcal{N}=2$ supersymmetric $A_{r-1}$ quiver gauge theories compactified on a circle. While degree 1 symplectic leaves regular at $\infty \in \mathbb{P}^1$ (Coulomb branches of the superconformal quiver gauge theories) are isomorphic to co-adjoint orbits in $\mathfrak{gl}_{r}$ and their Darboux parametrization and quantization is well known, the case irregular at infinity (asymptotically free quiver gauge theories) is novel. We also explicitly quantize the algebra of functions on these moduli spaces by presenting the corresponding solutions to the quantum Yang-Baxter equation valued in Heisenberg algebra (free field realization).

We present an approach to evaluate the full operatorial Q-system of all $\mathfrak{u}(p,q|r+s)$-invariant spin chains with representations of Jordan-Schwinger type. In particular, this includes the super spin chain of planar $\mathcal{N}=4$ super Yang-Mills theory at one loop in the presence of a diagonal twist. Our method is based on the oscillator construction of Q-operators. The Q-operators are built as traces over Lax operators which are degenerate solutions of the Yang-Baxter equation. For non-compact representations these Lax operators may contain multiple infinite sums that conceal the form of the resulting functions. We determine these infinite sums and calculate the matrix elements of the lowest level Q-operators. Transforming the Lax operators corresponding to the Q-operators into a representation involving only finite sums allows us to take the supertrace and to obtain the explicit form of the Q-operators in terms of finite matrices for a given magnon sector. Imposing the functional relations, we then bootstrap the other Q-operators from those of the lowest level. We exemplify this approach for non-compact spin $-s$ spin chains and apply it to $\mathcal{N}=4$ SYM at the one-loop level using the BMN vacuum as an example., Comment: 31 pages, v2: minor changes, version published in JHEP, v3: typo fixed

We study the partition function of the six-vertex model in the rational limit on arbitrary Baxter lattices with reflecting boundary. Every such lattice is interpreted as an invariant of the twisted Yangian. This identification allows us to relate the partition function of the vertex model to the Bethe wave function of an open spin chain. We obtain the partition function in terms of creation operators on a reference state from the algebraic Bethe ansatz and as a sum of permutations and reflections from the coordinate Bethe ansatz., Comment: 21 pages, 10 figures

We introduce a series of articles reviewing various aspects of integrable models relevant to the AdS/CFT correspondence. Topics covered in these reviews are: classical integrability, Yangian symmetry, factorized scattering, the Bethe ansatz, the thermodynamic Bethe ansatz, and integrable structures in (conformal) quantum field theory. In the present article we highlight how these concepts have found application in AdS/CFT, and provide a brief overview of the material contained in this series., Comment: v2, published version

We take up the study of integrable structures behind non-planar contributions to scattering amplitudes in N=4 super Yang-Mills theory. Focusing on leading singularities, we derive the action of the Yangian generators on color-ordered subsets of the external states. Each subset corresponds to a single boundary of the non-planar on-shell diagram. While Yangian invariance is broken, we find that higher-level Yangian generators still annihilate the non-planar on-shell diagram. For a given diagram, the number of these generators is governed by the degree of non-planarity. Furthermore, we present additional identities involving integrable transfer matrices. In particular, for diagrams on a cylinder we obtain a conservation rule similar to the Yangian invariance condition of planar on-shell diagrams. To exemplify our results, we consider a five-point MHV on-shell function on a cylinder., Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures

We construct Q-operators for the open spin-1/2 XXX Heisenberg spin chain with diagonal boundary matrices. The Q-operators are defined as traces over an infinite-dimensional auxiliary space involving novel types of reflection operators derived from the boundary Yang-Baxter equation. We argue that the Q-operators defined in this way are polynomials in the spectral parameter and show that they commute with transfer matrix. Finally, we prove that the Q-operators satisfy Baxter's TQ-equation and derive the explicit form of their eigenvalues in terms of the Bethe roots., Comment: 23 pages, 1 figure; v2: refs added, minor changes; v3: refs added, summary and text improved

We apply on-shell and integrability methods that have been developed in the context of scattering amplitudes in N=4 SYM theory to tree-level form factors of this theory. Focussing on the colour-ordered super form factors of the chiral part of the stress-tensor multiplet as an example, we show how to systematically construct on-shell diagrams for these form factors with the minimal form factor as further building block in addition to the three-point amplitudes. Moreover, we obtain analytic representations in terms of Gra{\ss}mannian integrals in spinor helicity, twistor and momentum twistor variables. While Yangian invariance is broken by the operator insertion, we find that the form factors are eigenstates of the integrable spin-chain transfer matrix built from the monodromy matrix that yields the Yangian generators. Constructing them via the method of R operators allows to introduce deformations that preserve the integrable structure. We finally show that the integrable properties extend to minimal tree-level form factors of generic composite operators as well as certain leading singularities of their n-point loop-level form factors., Comment: 44 pages, several figures; v2: References added, typos corrected, formulations clarified, 46 pages; v3: Conventions clarified, matches published version

We diagonalize Q-operators for rational homogeneous sl(2)-invariant Heisenberg spin chains using the algebraic Bethe ansatz. After deriving the fundamental commutation relations relevant for this case from the Yang-Baxter equation we demonstrate that the Q-operators act diagonally on the Bethe vectors if the Bethe equations are satisfied. In this way we provide a direct proof that the eigenvalues of the Q-operators studied here are given by Baxter's Q-functions., Comment: 20 pages; v2: typo fixed

Inspired by the integrable structures appearing in weakly coupled planar N=4 super Yang-Mills theory, we study Q-operators and Yangian invariants of rational integrable spin chains. We review the quantum inverse scattering method along with the Yang-Baxter equation which is the key relation in this systematic approach to study integrable models. Our main interest concerns rational integrable spin chains and lattice models. We recall the relation among them and how they can be solved using Bethe ansatz methods incorporating so-called Q-functions. In order to remind the reader how the Yangian emerges in this context, an overview of its so-called RTT-realization is provided. The main part is based on the author's original publications. Firstly, we construct Q-operators whose eigenvalues yield the Q-functions for rational homogeneous spin chains. The Q-operators are introduced as traces over certain monodromies of R-operators. Our construction allows us to derive the hierarchy of commuting Q-operators and the functional relations among them. We study how the nearest-neighbor Hamiltonian and in principle also higher local charges can be extracted from the Q-operators directly. Secondly, we formulate the Yangian invariance condition, also studied in relation to scattering amplitudes of N=4 super Yang-Mills theory, in the RTT-realization. We find that Yangian invariants can be interpreted as special eigenvectors of certain inhomogeneous spin chains. This allows us to apply the algebraic Bethe ansatz and derive the corresponding Bethe equations that are relevant to construct the invariants. We examine the connection between the Yangian invariant spin chain eigenstates whose components can be understood as partition functions of certain 2d lattice models and tree-level scattering amplitudes of the four-dimensional gauge theory. Finally, we conclude and discuss some future directions., Comment: 212 pages, PhD thesis based on the author's publications arXiv:1010.3699, arXiv:1012.6021, arXiv:1112.3600, arXiv:1207.4513 and arXiv:1312.1693

We propose that Baxter's Z-invariant six-vertex model at the rational gl(2) point on a planar but in general not rectangular lattice provides a way to study Yangian invariants. These are identified with eigenfunctions of certain monodromies of an auxiliary inhomogeneous spin chain. As a consequence they are special solutions to the eigenvalue problem of the associated transfer matrix. Excitingly, this allows to construct them using Bethe ansatz techniques. Conceptually, our construction generalizes to general (super) Lie algebras and general representations. Here we present the explicit form of sample invariants for totally symmetric, finite-dimensional representations of gl(n) in terms of oscillator algebras. In particular, we discuss invariants of three- and four-site monodromies that can be understood respectively as intertwiners of the bootstrap and Yang-Baxter equation. We state a set of functional relations significant for these representations of the Yangian and discuss their solutions in terms of Bethe roots. They arrange themselves into exact strings in the complex plane. In addition, it is shown that the sample invariants can be expressed analogously to Grassmannian integrals. This aspect is closely related to a recent on-shell formulation of scattering amplitudes in planar N=4 super Yang-Mills theory., Comment: 56 pages, 14 figures; v2: appendix B added, references updated and typos fixed; v3: published version

We discuss how the shift operator and the Hamiltonian enter the hierarchy of Baxter Q-operators in the example of gl(n) homogeneous spin-chains. Building on the construction that was recently carried out by the authors and their collaborators, we find that a reduced set of Q-operators can be used to obtain local charges. The mechanism relies on projection properties of the corresponding R-operators on a highest/lowest weight state of the quantum space. It is intimately related to the ordering of the oscillators in the auxiliary space. Furthermore, we introduce a diagrammatic language that makes these properties manifest and the results transparent. Our approach circumvents the paradigm of constructing the transfer matrix with equal representations in quantum and auxiliary space and underlines the strength of the Q-operator construction., Comment: 24 pages, several figures; v2: references added and typos fixed; v3: accepted in J. Stat. Mech

We continue our systematic construction of Baxter Q-operators for spin chains, which is based on certain degenerate solutions of the Yang-Baxter equation. Here we generalize our approach from the fundamental representation of gl(n) to generic finite-dimensional representations in quantum space. The results equally apply to non-compact representations of highest or lowest weight type. We furthermore fill an apparent gap in the literature, and provide the nearest-neighbor Hamiltonians of the spin chains in question for all cases where the gl(n) representations are described by rectangular Young diagrams, as well as for their infinite-dimensional generalizations. They take the form of digamma functions depending on operator-valued shifted weights., Comment: 26 pages, 1 figure

We generalize our recent explicit construction of the full hierarchy of Baxter Q-operators of compact spin chains with su(n) symmetry to the supersymmetric case su(n|m). The method is based on novel degenerate solutions of the graded Yang-Baxter equation, leading to an amalgam of bosonic and fermionic oscillator algebras. Our approach is fully algebraic, and leads to the exact solution of the associated compact spin chains while avoiding Bethe ansatz techniques. It furthermore elucidates the algebraic and combinatorial structures underlying the system of nested Bethe equations. Finally, our construction naturally reproduces the representation, due to Z. Tsuboi, of the hierarchy of Baxter Q-operators in terms of hypercubic Hasse diagrams., Comment: 24 pages, 4 figures; v2: references added

We develop a new approach to Baxter Q-operators by relating them to the theory of Yangians, which are the simplest examples for quantum groups. Here we open up a new chapter in this theory and study certain degenerate solutions of the Yang-Baxter equation connected with harmonic oscillator algebras. These infinite-state solutions of the Yang-Baxter equation serve as elementary, "partonic" building blocks for other solutions via the standard fusion procedure. As a first example of the method we consider sl(n) compact spin chains and derive the full hierarchy of operatorial functional equations for all related commuting transfer matrices and Q-operators. This leads to a systematic and transparent solution of these chains, where the nested Bethe equations are derived in an entirely algebraic fashion, without any reference to the traditional Bethe ansatz techniques., Comment: 27 pages, 5 figures; v2: typos fixed, references updated and added