 Solution

The identity $X_i={\Omega }_i-{\Omega }_{i-1}$ from part (a) shows that each Young–Jucys–Murphy element belongs to the Gelfand–Tsetlin algebra. Conversely, $Z_r$ lies in the centralizer of $\mathbb{C}{S}_{r-1}$ in $\mathbb{C}{S}_r$. Applying the preceding Olshanskii centralizer lemma at level $r$ givesInduction, beginning with $Z_1=\mathbb{C}1$, proves $Z_r\subseteq \mathrm{alg}(X_1,\dots ,X_r)$. ThusHere every generated algebra is unital; $X_1=0$ causes no problem.

To deduce simple branching, use Maschke's theorem: complex representations of finite groups are semisimple modules. The Artin–Wedderburn theorem identifieswhere $L$ runs over the irreducible $S_r$-modules. Write their restrictions asBy Schur lemma, the centralizer in the displayed algebra iswith zero multiplicities omitted. Part (i) makes this algebra commutative, whereas a full matrix algebra of size at least two is noncommutative. Consequently every restriction multiplicity is $0$ or $1$. This proves multiplicity-free restriction at each step, with no use of the branching rule in the centralizer proof.