Every central simple algebra is Brauer equivalent to a Hopf Schur algebra. (Q384314)

Let \(k\) be a field. A Schur algebra is a central simple algebra that is a quotient of a finite group algebra. The Schur subgroup \(\text{S}(k)\) of the Brauer group \(\text{Br}(k)\) is the subgroup consisting of classes of central simple algebras represented by a Schur algebra. In most cases, the Schur subgroup is much smaller than the Brauer group. The projective Schur subgroup \(\text{PS}(k)\) of the Brauer group was introduced by \textit{P. Nelis} and \textit{F. Van Oystaeyen} [J. Algebra 137, No. 2, 501-518 (1991; Zbl 0735.13003)] consists of classes represented by quotients of finite twisted group algebras. This invariant is bigger than the Schur group, and it was conjectured that it covers the whole Brauer group, but a counterexample was given by Aljadeff and Son. The Hopf Schur group \(\text{HS}(k)\) consisting of classes represented by quotients of finite dimensional Hopf algebras was introduced by \textit{E. Aljadeff} et al., [J. Algebra 319, No. 12, 5165-5177 (2008; Zbl 1148.16021)], and it was conjectured that \(\text{HS}(k)=\text{Br}(k)\). It is shown in the present paper that this conjecture holds true, otherwise stated, every central simple algebra is Brauer equivalent to a quotient of a finite dimensional Hopf algebra. It is also shown that the Hopf algebra can be chosen to be semisimple if the characteristic of \(k\) is 0.