A Class of Bicovariant Differential Calculi on Hopf Algebras

We introduce a large class of bicovariant differential calculi on any quantum group $A$, associated to $Ad$-invariant elements. For example, the deformed trace element on $SL_q(2)$ recovers Woronowicz' $4D_\pm$ calculus. More generally, we obtain a sequence of differential calculi on each quantum group $A(R)$, based on the theory of the corresponding braided groups $B(R)$. Here $R$ is any regular solution of the QYBE.