Harish-Chandra modules for quantum symmetric pairs

Let $U$ denote the quantized enveloping algebra associated to a semisimple Lie algebra. This paper studies Harish-Chandra modules for the recently constructed quantum symmetric pairs $U$,$B$ in the maximally split case. Finite-dimensional $U$-modules are shown to be Harish-Chandra as well as the $B$-unitary socle of an arbitrary module. A classification of finite-dimensional spherical modules analogous to the classical case is obtained. A one-to-one correspondence between a large class of natural finite-dimensional simple $B$-modules and their classical counterparts is established up to the action of almost $B$-invariant elements.