EXACT SOLUTION OF THE GENERAL NONINTERSECTING STRING MODEL

We present a thorough analysis of the non-intersecting string (NIS) mo del and its exact solution. This is an integrable q-states vertex mode l describing configurations of non-intersecting polygons on the lattic e. The exact eigenvalues of the transfer matrix are found by the analy tic Bethe ansatz. The Bethe ansatz equations thus found are shown to b e equivalent to those for a mixed spin model involving both 1/2 and in finite spin. This indicates that the NIS model provides a representati on of the quantum group SU(2)q (Absolute value of q not-equal) corresp onding to spins s = 1/2 and s = infinity The partition function and th e excitations in the thermodynamic limit are computed.