A nested sequence of projectors and corresponding braid matrices R⁁(θ). 1. Odd dimensions.

A basis of N2 projectors, each an N2×N2 matrix with constant elements, is implemented to construct a class of braid matrices R⁁(θ), θ being the spectral parameter. Only odd values of N are considered here. Our ansatz for the projectors Pα appearing in the spectral decomposition of R⁁(θ) leads to exponentials exp(mαθ) as the coefficient of Pα. The sums and differences of such exponentials on the diagonal and the antidiagonal, respectively, provide the (2N2-1) nonzero elements of R⁁(θ). One element at the center is normalized to unity. A class of supplementary constraints imposed by the braid equation leaves 1/2(N+3)(N-1) free parameters mα. The diagonalizer of R⁁(θ) is presented for all N. Transfer matrices t(θ) and L(θ) operators corresponding to our R⁁(θ) are studied. Our diagonalizer signals specific combinations of the components of the operators that lead to a quadratic algebra of N2 constant N×N matrices. The θ dependence factors out for such combinations. R⁁(θ) is developed in a power series in θ. The basic difference arising for even dimensions is made explicit. Some special features of our R⁁(θ) are discussed in a concluding section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]