An intrinsic approach to relative braid group symmetries on ı$\imath$quantum groups

Abstract We initiate a general approach to the relative braid group symmetries on (universal) quantum groups, arising from quantum symmetric pairs of arbitrary finite types, and their modules. Our approach is built on new intertwining properties of quasi ‐matrices which we develop and braid group symmetries on (Drinfeld double) quantum groups. Explicit formulas for these new symmetries on quantum groups are obtained. We establish a number of fundamental properties for these symmetries on quantum groups, strikingly parallel to their well‐known quantum group counterparts. We apply these symmetries to fully establish rank 1 factorizations of quasi ‐matrices, and this factorization property, in turn, helps to show that the new symmetries satisfy relative braid relations. As a consequence, conjectures of Kolb–Pellegrini and Dobson–Kolb are settled affirmatively. Finally, the above approach allows us to construct compatible relative braid group actions on modules over quantum groups for the first time.