On the exponent of finite-dimensional Hopf algebras (Q1574705)

Let \(H\) be a Hopf algebra over a field \(k\) with invertible antipode \(S\). The exponent of \(H\) is defined to be the smallest positive integer \(n\), (or \(\infty\) if no such \(n\) exists) such that \[ m_n\circ(I\otimes S^{-2}\otimes\cdots\otimes S^{-2n+2})\circ\delta_n =u\varepsilon, \] where \(m_n\) is the multiplication on \(H^{\otimes n}\) to \(H\), \(\delta_n\) is the comultiplication of \(H\) to \(H^{\otimes n}\), and \(u\) and \(\varepsilon\) are the unit and counit, respectively. The Taft algebras over \(\mathbb{C}\) have infinite exponent. For the remainder of this review, \(H\) will be finite-dimensional with Drinfeld double \(D(H)\). The authors give four equivalent definitions for \(\exp H\), two of which are the order of the Drinfeld element \(u\) of \(D(H)\) and the order of \(R_{21}R\) for the \(R\)-matrix \(R\) of \(D(H)\). They show that \(\exp H\) is invariant under twisting and equals \(\exp(D(H))\). If \(H\) is semisimple and cosemisimple, then \(\exp H\) is finite and divides \((\dim H)^3\). If \(H\) is triangular semisimple and \(k\) has characteristic zero, then \(\exp H\) divides \(\dim H\). They also show that if \(u\) is semisimple or if \(k\) has positive characteristic, then \(\exp H\) is finite. They conclude with some open questions. It is still a conjecture that if \(H\) is semisimple and cosemisimple, then \(\exp H\) divides \(\dim H\).