Center of the universal Askey--Wilson algebra at roots of unity

Abstract: Inspired by a profound observation on the Racah--Wigner coefficients of $U_q(\mathfrak{sl}_2)$, the Askey--Wilson algebras were introduced in the early 1990s. A universal analog $\triangle_q$ of the Askey--Wilson algebras was recently studied. For $q$ not a root of unity, it is known that $Z(\triangle_q)$ is isomorphic to the polynomial ring of four variables. A presentation for $Z(\triangle_q)$ at $q$ a root of unity is displayed in this paper. As an application, a presentation for the center of the double affine Hecke algebra of type $(C_1^\vee,C_1)$ at roots of unity is obtained.