Double construction for crossed Hopf coalgebras. (Q1879654)

If \(H\) is a finite-dimensional Hopf algebra, the Drinfeld double \(D(H)\) is a quasitriangular Hopf algebra. The author generalizes this double construction to \(T\)-coalgebras (short for crossed Hopf group coalgebras), a notion which arose in the study of invariants of 3-manifolds. A \(T\)-coalgebra \(H\) is given by a group \(\pi\), a family \(\{H_\alpha\mid\alpha\) in \(\pi\}\) of algebras over a field \(k\), comultiplications \(\Delta_{\alpha,\beta}\colon H_{\alpha\beta}\to H_\alpha\otimes H_\beta\), a counit \(\varepsilon\colon k\to H_1\), antipodes \(S_\alpha\colon H_\alpha\to H_{\alpha^{-1}}\) and isomorphisms \(H_\alpha\to H_{\beta\alpha\beta^{-1}}\) all satisfying some natural axioms. If \(\pi=1\), then \(H\) is an ordinary Hopf algebra. \(H\) is of finite type if each \(H_\alpha\) is finite-dimensional, and \(H\) is totally finite if \(\pi\) is finite and \(H\) is of finite type. For a general \(T\)-coalgebra \(H\), the double \(D(H)\) is defined as a \(T\)-coalgebra abstractly by a univeral condition, but an explicit description is obtained, and it is shown that \(D(H)\) is quasitriangular, i.e., there is a family of invertible \(R_{\alpha,\beta}\) in \(H_\alpha\otimes H_\beta\) satisfying \(R\)-matrix type conditions. If \(H\) is of finite type, an inner dual of \(H\) is defined, and it is a \(T\)-coalgebra. In general, \(D(H)\) is of finite type if and only if \(H\) is totally finite, and in this case, \(D(H)\) is also totally finite. Notions of semisimplicity, modularity and ribbon elements are extended to \(T\)-coalgebras, and some results from ordinary Hopf algebra theory are extended to \(T\)-coalgebras. For example, if \(H\) is a semisimple \(T\)-coalgebra over a field of characteristic zero, then \(D(H)\) is semisimple if and only if \(H\) is totally finite, and in this case, \(D(H)\) is also modular. A final section generalizes the Reshetikhin-Turaev ribbon construction for quasitriangular Hopf algebras [\textit{N. Yu. Reshetikhin} and \textit{V. G. Turaev}, Commun. Math. Phys. 127, No. 1, 1-26 (1990; Zbl 0768.57003)].