Weak bialgebras of fractions. (Q2438458)

In particular, the ring of fractions always exists if \(R\) is commutative. Generalizations in several directions are available in the literature. Hayashi has shown that the ring of fractions exists in the situation where \(R\) is a coquasitriangular bialgebra, and \(S\) consists of grouplike elements. Here the coquasitriangular property can be considered as a substitute for commutativity. In the present paper, the authors consider the case where \(R=H\) is a weak bialgebra. A multiplicative monoid \(G\subset H\) is called almost central if there exists a morphism of monoids \(\mathcal I\colon G\to\Aut(H)\) such that \(gx=\mathcal I_g(x)g\), for all \(g\in G\) and \(x\in H\) and \(\mathcal I_g(G)\subset G\), for all \(g\in G\). The main result is now the following: if \(G\subset H\) is an almost central multiplicative monoid consisting of grouplike elements, then the right ring of fractions \(H[G^{-1}]\) exists. Moreover, \(H[G^{-1}]\) is itself a weak bialgebra, and satisfies the universal property stated above in the category of weak bialgebras. The author generalizes the notion of Hopf closure to the case of weak bialgebras, and shows that it factorizes through the right ring of fractions \(H[G^{-1}]\). A list of illuminating examples is presented in the final section of the paper.