Group Hopf algebra

In mathematics, the group Hopf algebra of a given group is a certain construct related to the symmetries of group actions. Deformations of group Hopf algebras are foundational in the theory of quantum groups.

Definition

Let G be a group and k a field. The group Hopf algebra of G over k, denoted kG (or k[G]), is as a set (and a vector space) the free vector space on G over k. As an algebra, its product is defined by linear extension of the group composition in G, with multiplicative unit the identity in G; this product is also known as convolution.

Note that while the group algebra of a finite group can be identified with the space of functions on the group, for an infinite group these are different. The group algebra, consisting of finite sums, corresponds to functions on the group that vanish for cofinitely many points; topologically (using the discrete topology), these correspond to functions with compact support.

However, the group algebra ${\displaystyle k[G]}$ and the space of functions ${\displaystyle k^{G}:=\operatorname {Hom} (G,k)}$ are dual: given an element of the group algebra ${\displaystyle x=\sum _{g\in G}a_{g}g}$ and a function on the group ${\displaystyle f\colon G\to k,}$ these pair to give an element of k via ${\displaystyle (x,f)=\sum _{g\in G}a_{g}f(g),}$ which is a well-defined sum because it is finite.

Hopf algebra structure

We give kG the structure of a cocommutative Hopf algebra by defining the coproduct, counit, and antipode to be the linear extensions of the following maps defined on G:[1]

${\displaystyle \Delta (x)=x\otimes x;}$

${\displaystyle \epsilon (x)=1_{k};}$

${\displaystyle S(x)=x^{-1}.}$

The required Hopf algebra compatibility axioms are easily checked. Notice that ${\displaystyle {\mathcal {G}}(kG)}$, the set of group-like elements of kG (i.e. elements ${\displaystyle a\in kG}$ such that ${\displaystyle \Delta (a)=a\otimes a}$ and ${\displaystyle \epsilon (a)=1}$), is precisely G.

Symmetries of group actions

Let G be a group and X a topological space. Any action ${\displaystyle \alpha \colon G\times X\to X}$ of G on X gives a homomorphism ${\displaystyle \phi _{\alpha }\colon G\to \mathrm {Aut} (F(X))}$, where F(X) is an appropriate algebra of k-valued functions, such as the Gelfand-Naimark algebra ${\displaystyle C_{0}(X)}$ of continuous functions vanishing at infinity. The homomorphism ${\displaystyle \phi _{\alpha }}$ is defined by ${\displaystyle \phi _{\alpha }(g)=\alpha _{g}^{*}}$, with the adjoint ${\displaystyle \alpha _{g}^{*}}$ defined by

${\displaystyle \alpha _{g}^{*}(f)x=f(\alpha (g,x))}$

for ${\displaystyle g\in G,f\in F(X)}$, and ${\displaystyle x\in X}$.

This may be described by a linear mapping

${\displaystyle \lambda \colon kG\otimes F(X)\to F(X)}$

${\displaystyle \lambda ((c_{1}g_{1}+c_{2}g_{2}+\cdots )\otimes f)(x)=c_{1}f(g_{1}\cdot x)+c_{2}f(g_{2}\cdot x)+\cdots }$

where ${\displaystyle c_{1},c_{2},\ldots \in k}$, ${\displaystyle g_{1},g_{2},\ldots }$ are the elements of G, and ${\displaystyle g_{i}\cdot x:=\alpha (g_{i},x)}$, which has the property that group-like elements in ${\displaystyle kG}$ give rise to automorphisms of F(X).

${\displaystyle \lambda }$ endows F(X) with an important extra structure, described below.

Hopf module algebras and the Hopf smash product

Let H be a Hopf algebra. A (left) Hopf H-module algebra A is an algebra which is a (left) module over the algebra H such that ${\displaystyle h\cdot 1_{A}=\epsilon (h)1_{A}}$ and

${\displaystyle h\cdot (ab)=(h_{(1)}\cdot a)(h_{(2)}\cdot b)}$

whenever ${\displaystyle a,b\in A}$, ${\displaystyle h\in H}$ and ${\displaystyle \Delta (h)=h_{(1)}\otimes h_{(2)}}$ in sumless Sweedler notation. When ${\displaystyle \lambda }$ has been defined as in the previous section, this turns F(X) into a left Hopf kG-module algebra, which allows the following construction.

Let H be a Hopf algebra and A a left Hopf H-module algebra. The smash product algebra ${\displaystyle A\mathop {\#} H}$ is the vector space ${\displaystyle A\otimes H}$ with the product

${\displaystyle (a\otimes h)(b\otimes k):=a(h_{(1)}\cdot b)\otimes h_{(2)}k}$,

and we write ${\displaystyle a\mathop {\#} h}$ for ${\displaystyle a\otimes h}$ in this context.[2]

In our case, ${\displaystyle A=F(X)}$ and ${\displaystyle H=kG}$, and we have

${\displaystyle (a\mathop {\#} g_{1})(b\mathop {\#} g_{2})=a(g_{1}\cdot b)\mathop {\#} g_{1}g_{2}}$.

In this case the smash product algebra ${\displaystyle A\mathop {\#} kG}$ is also denoted by ${\displaystyle A\mathop {\#} G}$.

The cyclic homology of Hopf smash products has been computed.[3] However, there the smash product is called a crossed product and denoted ${\displaystyle A\rtimes H}$- not to be confused with the crossed product derived from ${\displaystyle C^{*}}$-dynamical systems.[4]

References

1. Montgomery, Susan (1993). Hopf algebras and their actions on rings. Expanded version of ten lectures given at the CBMS Conference on Hopf algebras and their actions on rings, which took place at DePaul University in Chicago, USA, August 10-14, 1992. Regional Conference Series in Mathematics. 82. Providence, RI: American Mathematical Society. p. 8. ISBN 978-0-8218-0738-5. Zbl 0793.16029.
2. Dăscălescu, Sorin; Raianu, Şerban; Van Oystaeyen, Freddy (1998). "Smash (co)products from adjunctions". In Caenepeel, Stefaan; Verschoren, A. (eds.). Rings, Hopf algebras, and Brauer groups. Proceedings of the fourth week on algebra and algebraic geometry, SAGA-4, Antwerp and Brussels, Belgium, September 12–17, 1996. Lect. Notes Pure Appl. Math. 197. New York, NY: Marcel Dekker. pp. 103–110. ISBN 0824701534. MR 1615813. Zbl 0905.16017.
3. Akbarpour, Reza; Khalkhali, Masoud (2003). "Hopf algebra equivariant cyclic homology and cyclic homology of crossed product algebras". Journal für die reine und angewandte Mathematik. 2003 (559): 137–152. arXiv:math/0011248. doi:10.1515/crll.2003.046. MR 1989648.
4. Gracia-Bondia, J. et al. Elements of Noncommutative Geometry. Birkhäuser: Boston, 2001. ISBN 0-8176-4124-6.