Two-sided ideals in q-deformed Heisenberg algebras

In this article, the structure of two-sided ideals in the q-deformed Heisenberg algebras defined by the q-deformed Heisenberg canonical commutation relation AB-qBA=I is investigated. We show that these algebras are simple if and only if q = 1. For q not equal 1, 0 we present an infinite descending chain of non-trivial two-sided ideals, thus deducing by explicit construction that the q-deformed Heisenberg algebras are not just non-simple but also non-artinian for q not equal 1, 0. We establish a connection between the quotients of the q-deformed Heisenberg algebras by these ideals and the quotients of the quantum plane. We also present a number of reordering formulae in q-deformed Heisenberg algebras, investigate properties of deformed commutator mappings, show their fundamental importance for investigation of ideals in q-deformed Heisenberg algebras, and demonstrate how to apply these results to the investigation of faithfulness of representations of q-deformed Heisenberg algebras. (c) 2005 Elsevier GrnbH. All rights reserved.