We generalise the fusion procedure for the $A_{ \n-1}^{ (1)}$ open spin chain ($\n>2$) and we show that the transfer matrix satisfies a crossing property. We use these results to solve the $A_{ \n-1}^{ (1)}$ open spin chain with $U_{ q} (SU(\n))$ symmetry by means of the analytical Bethe ansatz method. Our results coincide with the known ones obtained by means of the nested Bethe ansatz.
Categories: hep-th