Combinatorial algebras and multivalued involutive groups (Q1357903)

The main result of the paper says that the category of multivalued involutive groups is equivalent to the category of combinatorial algebras. For a group \(G\) and a finite subgroup \(H\) of the group of automorphisms of \(G\) one defines the product of two elements \(g,h\) of \(G\) as the multiset of all elements in the \(A\) orbit of \(gh\) (i.e., elements counted with multiplicity). Thus we obtain an operation that maps \(G \times G\) to the set of \(n\)-element, \(n = |A|\), multisets of elements of \(G\). This gives an example of a multivalued group. In particular, it satisfies suitably chosen axioms of existence of identity and inverse element and associativity. If there is an involution on a multivalued group that fulfills some axioms assuring compatibility with the structure of the multivalued group then the multivalued group is called involutive. The authors demonstrate that if one defines the product of two elements of an \(n\)-valued group as one \(n\)th of the sum of the elements of their group product then one can define on the complex linear span of the group elements the structure of a combinatorial algebra. This concept---with slightly stronger axioms---appears in the context of association schemes [see \textit{E. Bannai} and \textit{T. Ito}, Algebraic Combinatorics. I: Association schemes (1984; Zbl 0555.05019)]. Roughly speaking it is an algebra given combinatorially by a set of structure constants. This map from multivalued groups to combinatorial algebras is shown to induce an equivalence of categories. Finally, relations to Schur rings and other algebraic structures are discussed.