We use the dual functional realization of loop algebras to study the prime irreducible objects in the Hernandez–Leclerc (HL) category for the quantum affine algebra associated with $\mathfrak {sl}_{n+1}$. When the HL category is realized as a monoidal categorification of a cluster algebra (Hernandez and Leclerc (2010, Duke Mathematical Journal 154, 265–341); Hernandez and Leclerc (2013, Symmetries, integrable systems and representations, 175–193)), these representations correspond precisely to the cluster variables and the frozen variables are minimal affinizations. For any height function, we determine the classical decomposition of these representations with respect to the Hopf subalgebra $\mathbf {U}_q(\mathfrak {sl}_{n+1})$ and describe the graded multiplicities of their graded limits in terms of lattice points of convex polytopes. Combined with Brito, Chari, and Moura (2018, Journal of the Institute of Mathematics of Jussieu 17, 75–105), we obtain the graded decomposition of stable prime Demazure modules in level two integrable highest weight representations of the corresponding affine Lie algebra.

We introduce the combinatorial notion of a q-factorization graph intended as a tool to study and express results related to the classification of prime simple modules for quantum affine algebras. These are directed graphs equipped with three decorations: a coloring and a weight map on vertices, and an exponent map on arrows (the exponent map can be seen as a weight map on arrows). Such graphs do not contain oriented cycles and, hence, the set of arrows induces a partial order on the set of vertices. In this first paper on the topic, beside setting the theoretical base of the concept, we establish several criteria for deciding whether or not a tensor product of two simple modules is a highest-$\ell $-weight module and use such criteria to prove, for type A, that a simple module whose q-factorization graph has a totally ordered vertex set is prime.

Let $U_q'({\mathfrak {g}})$ be a quantum affine algebra with an indeterminate $q$, and let $\mathscr {C}_{\mathfrak {g}}$ be the category of finite-dimensional integrable $U_q'({\mathfrak {g}})$-modules. We write $\mathscr {C}_{\mathfrak {g}}^0$ for the monoidal subcategory of $\mathscr {C}_{\mathfrak {g}}$ introduced by Hernandez and Leclerc. In this paper, we associate a simply laced finite-type root system to each quantum affine algebra $U_q'({\mathfrak {g}})$ in a natural way and show that the block decompositions of $\mathscr {C}_{\mathfrak {g}}$ and $\mathscr {C}_{\mathfrak {g}}^0$ are parameterized by the lattices associated with the root system. We first define a certain abelian group $\mathcal {W}$ (respectively $\mathcal {W} _0$) arising from simple modules of $\mathscr {C}_{\mathfrak {g}}$ (respectively $\mathscr {C}_{\mathfrak {g}}^0$) by using the invariant $\Lambda ^\infty$ introduced in previous work by the authors. The groups $\mathcal {W}$ and $\mathcal {W} _0$ have subsets $\Delta$ and $\Delta _0$ determined by the fundamental representations in $\mathscr {C}_{\mathfrak {g}}$ and $\mathscr {C}_{\mathfrak {g}}^0$, respectively. We prove that the pair $( \mathbb {R} \otimes _\mathbb {\mspace {1mu}Z\mspace {1mu}} \mathcal {W} _0, \Delta _0)$ is an irreducible simply laced root system of finite type and that the pair $( \mathbb {R} \otimes _\mathbb {\mspace {1mu}Z\mspace {1mu}} \mathcal {W} , \Delta )$ is isomorphic to the direct sum of infinite copies of $( \mathbb {R} \otimes _\mathbb {\mspace {1mu}Z\mspace {1mu}} \mathcal {W} _0, \Delta _0)$ as a root system.

We study the classical limit of a family of irreducible representations of the quantum affine algebra associated to $\mathfrak{sl}_{n+1}$. After a suitable twist, the limit is a module for $\mathfrak{sl}_{n+1}[t]$, i.e., for the maximal standard parabolic subalgebra of the affine Lie algebra. Our first result is about the family of prime representations introduced in Hernandez and Leclerc (Duke Math. J.154 (2010), 265–341; Symmetries, Integrable Systems and Representations, Springer Proceedings in Mathematics & Statitics, Volume 40, pp. 175–193 (2013)), in the context of a monoidal categorification of cluster algebras. We show that these representations specialize (after twisting) to $\mathfrak{sl}_{n+1}[t]$-stable prime Demazure modules in level-two integrable highest-weight representations of the classical affine Lie algebra. It was proved in Chari et al. (arXiv:1408.4090) that a stable Demazure module is isomorphic to the fusion product of stable prime Demazure modules. Our next result proves that such a fusion product is the limit of the tensor product of the corresponding irreducible prime representations of quantum affine $\mathfrak{sl}_{n+1}$.

We introduce and study a category of representations of the Borel algebra associated with a quantum loop algebra of non-twisted type. We construct fundamental representations for this category as a limit of the Kirillov–Reshetikhin modules over the quantum loop algebra and establish explicit formulas for their characters. We prove that general simple modules in this category are classified by n-tuples of rational functions in one variable which are regular and non-zero at the origin but may have a zero or a pole at infinity.

We give an interpretation of the energy function and classically restricted one-dimensional sums associated to tensor products of level-zero fundamental representations of quantum affine algebras in terms of Lakshmibai–Seshadri paths of level-zero shape.