Matrix elements of vertex operators of the deformed W A _n -algebra and the Harish-Chandra solutions to Macdonald's difference equations

Abstract.

In this paper we prove that certain matrix elements of vertex operators of the deformed W A _n -algebra satisfy Macdonald's difference equations and form a natural (n + 1)!-dimensional space of solutions. These solutions are the analogues of the Harish-Chandra solutions of the radial parts of the Laplace-Casimir operators on noncompact Riemannian symmetric spaces G/K with prescribed asymptotic behavior. We obtain formulas for analytic continuation of our Harish-Chandra type solutions as a consequence of braiding properties (obtained earlier by Y. Asai, M. Jimbo, T. Miwa, and Y. Pugay) of certain vertex operators of the deformed W A _n -algebra.