A method of construction of finite-dimensional triangular semisimple Hopf algebras (Q1297509)

A new method of constructing finite-dimensional semisimple triangular Hopf algebras over the complex numbers is presented here. In particular, it is shown that there exist many minimal Hopf algebras which are non-trivial, i.e., which are not group rings. A twist \(\overline J\) of the group ring \(\mathbb{C}[G]\) is constructed for certain solvable non-Abelian groups by iterating twists \(J_i\) of their Abelian subgroups and setting \(\overline J=J_n\cdots J_1\), and the resulting ``twist hierarchy'' gives non-trivial semisimple triangular Hopf algebras. These twists are shown to be minimal when the hierarchy is symplectic, and the resulting Hopf algebra is described in terms of its universal \(R\)-matrix. Open questions appear at the end of the paper, including whether \(\overline J\) is always invertible, whether \(\overline J\) is minimal when the \(J_i\) are, and if \(G\) must be solvable for \(\mathbb{C}[G]^J\) to be minimal triangular.