Larson-Sweedler theorem and the role of grouplike elements in weak Hopf algebras. (Q1421784)

A weak bialgebra differs from a bialgebra by weakened conditions on the unit and counit. A weak Hopf algebra is a weak bialgebra with an antipode, whose defining properties are a weakening of those of the antipode of a Hopf algebra. The author studies finite-dimensional weak Hopf algebras over a field, obtaining three main results. The first is a generalization to weak bialgebras of a theorem of \textit{R. G. Larson} and \textit{M. E. Sweedler} [Am. J. Math. 91, 75-94 (1969; Zbl 0179.05803)] that a bialgebra \(H\) is a Hopf algebra if and only if it contains a non-zero left integral, i.e., an element \(x\) such that \(hx=\varepsilon(h)x\) for all \(h\), \(\varepsilon\) the counit of \(H\). In a Hopf algebra, one considers group-like elements. In a weak Hopf algebra, one must consider left (right) group-like elements, whose definitions are too complicated to give here. The second result characterizes invertible modules over a weak Hopf algebra via left (right) group-like elements in the dual weak Hopf algebra, and proves the semisimplicity of invertible modules. The third result generalizes to weak Hopf algebras the formula of \textit{D. E. Radford} [Am. J. Math. 9, 333-355 (1976; Zbl 0332.16007)] for the fourth-power of the antipode. The generalization involves left group-like elements in the weak Hopf algebra and in its dual. The order of the antipode is finite, but only up to an inner automorphism by a group-like element.