 Solution

The root-of-unity specialization requires $q\ne 1$: we take $q$ to be a primitive cube root of unity. The displayed presentation contains $(q-q^{-1}{)}^{-1}$, so substituting $q=1$ literally is undefined. Its classical $U({\mathfrak{sl}}_2)$ limit instead has simple finite-dimensional modules of arbitrarily large dimension. This is why the primitive-root qualification matters.

First consider simple modules occurring in the quantum plane. Here $[3]=0$, $K^3=1$, andwith the analogous formula $F^3=0$. Thus the action factors through the finite-dimensional quotient with $E^3=F^3=0$, $K^3=1$, spanned by $F^i{K}^j{E}^l$ with $0\le i,j,l<3$. Any simple module over this quotient is finite-dimensional, since it is generated by one vector. In a nonzero simple submodule choose a $K$ eigenvector $v$ in $\ker E$. This is possible because $E$ is nilpotent and its kernel is $K$-invariant. Then the highest-weight string for quantum sl2 shows thatis invariant under $E,K$, and $F^{3}v=0$ makes it $F$-invariant. Simplicity gives $W=V$, proving $\dim V\le 3$.

The same bound holds even for arbitrary finite-dimensional simple modules over the unrestricted quantum enveloping algebra of sl2. Indeed $E^3,F^3,K^3$ are central: the string commutation identity has a factor $[3]=0$, and the $K$ commutation factors satisfy $q^6=1$. By Schur lemma, they act as scalars $\alpha ,\beta ,\kappa$, with $\kappa \ne 0$. The elementis also central. For example $[E,FE]=(K-K^{-1})E/(q-q^{-1})$, while $[E,\varphi (K)]=[\varphi (q^{-2}K)-\varphi (K)]E=-(K-K^{-1})E/(q-q^{-1})$; the $F$ commutator cancels in the same way. Let $\Omega$ act as $\gamma$.

If $\alpha =0$, choose the highest vector $v$ as above. Its three-vector $F$ string is invariant, now using $F^{3}v=\beta v$, so again its dimension is at most three. If $\alpha \ne 0$, choose a $K$ eigenvector $v$. The space $W=⟨v,Ev,E^{2}v⟩$ is stable under $E,K$ because $E^3=\alpha$, and it is stable under $F$ becauseIt therefore equals the simple module and has dimension at most three.

Over $\mathbb{C}$ this also excludes infinite-dimensional simple modules of the unrestricted algebra. It is a finite module over the central finitely generated commutative algebra over a field $Z_0=\mathbb{C}[E^3,F^3,K^3,K^{-3}]$, using the same 27 ordered spanning elements. A simple module $M$, generated by one vector, is consequently finite over $Z_0$. Choose a maximal ideal $\mathfrak{m}$ in its support. Nakayama lemma makes $M/\mathfrak{m}M\ne 0$; since $\mathfrak{m}M$ is a submodule, simplicity gives $\mathfrak{m}M=0$. The Hilbert Nullstellensatz gives $Z_0/\mathfrak{m}=\mathbb{C}$, so $M$ is finite-dimensional and the preceding argument applies. Thus the usual complex, primitive-root interpretation yields