Quantum groups of dimension \(pq^2\) (Q1376047)

The main theme of the paper under review is the connection between a finite-dimensional Hopf algebra and its group-like elements. A long time ago I. Kaplansky has conjectured that every Hopf algebra of prime dimension \(p\) is isomorphic to the group algebra of a cyclic group of order \(p\) which recently was proved by \textit{Y. Zhu} [Int. Math. Res. Not. 1994, No. 1, 53-59 (1994; Zbl 0822.16036)]. More generally, A. Masuoka has completely characterized semisimple Hopf algebras of dimensions \(2p\), \(p^2\), and \(p^3\) via their group-like elements. The author constructs two families of self-dual non-commutative semisimple Hopf algebras of dimension \(pq^2\), where \(p\) and \(q\) are (different) prime numbers satisfying \(p=1\pmod q\) and investigates their properties. In both cases the author shows that there are \(p-1\) simple subcoalgebras of dimension \(q^2\) (and \(q^2\) one-dimensional subcoalgebras where the latter correspond exactly to the subcoalgebras generated by the \(q^2\) group-like elements). Moreover, he gives a complete description of the sub-Hopf algebras and of the group of Hopf algebra automorphisms. As an algebra the members of both families are isomorphic to the group algebra of the semidirect product of a group of order \(q^2\) acting on a cyclic group of order \(p\). In the first family the group of order \(q^2\) is cyclic and in the second family it is a direct product of two cyclic groups (of order \(q\)). This choice has a strong influence on the quasi-triangular structure. Namely, the members of the first family are quasi-triangular if and only if \(q=2\), whereas the members of the second family are always (quasi-)triangular but minimal quasi-triangular if and only if \(q=2\) (and never minimal triangular). Along the way, the author also studies various properties of finite-dimensional quasi-triangular Hopf algebras. As an example, he proves for an odd-dimensional triangular Hopf algebra \(A\) that \(A\) and its dual are unimodular if and only if \(A\) and its dual are semisimple. One starting point of the investigations in this paper was the question whether every finite-dimensional triangular Hopf algebra over a field of characteristic zero is pointed. Of course, the second family introduced above shows that this is not true in general, but the author conjectures that every finite-dimensional minimal triangular Hopf algebra over a field of characteristic zero is pointed. Related to this and the construction of the two families as biproducts, he also shows that every finite-dimensional minimal triangular Hopf algebra over a field of characteristic zero which is generated by its group-like and its skew-primitive elements is a biproduct.