New large-rank Nichols algebras over nonabelian groups with commutator subgroup \(\mathbb Z_2\). (Q406584)

Let \(M\) be a Yetter-Drinfeld module (complex base field) over a group \(H\). \(M\) is semisimple, its rank being the number of simple summands. The Nichols algebra \(\mathcal B(M)\) is the quotient of the tensor algebra \(T(M)\) by the largest homogeneous ideal of rank at least two which is invariant under certain skew-derivations of \(T(M)\). Nichols algebras have been extensively studied in recent years by N. Andruskiewitsch, H.-J. Schneider and many others in the case that \(H\) is abelian. \textit{I. Heckenberger} classified all finite-dimensional Nichols algebras for \(H\) abelian [Adv. Math. 220, No. 1, 59-124 (2009; Zbl 1176.17011)]. For \(H\) nonabelian, work has been done for ranks 1 and 2, but no examples of higher rank over nonabelian \(H\) had been constructed. In the article under review, the author constructs finite-dimensional indecomposable Nichols algebras of arbitrary rank over nonabelian groups \(G\) that are stem-extensions of an abelian \(H\). They all have commutator subgroup \(\mathbb Z_2\). The construction involves a \(G\)-Yetter-Drinfeld module \(M'\) coming from \(M\) by the action of certain twisted symmetries of \(M\). \(M'\) is called the covering Yetter-Drinfeld module of \(M\). This is a special case of a new notion of covering Hopf algebra in the author's Ph.D. thesis [Orbifoldizing Hopf- and Nichols-algebras. Dissertation, Munich (2012; Zbl 1306.16030)]. His construction partially answers a question of \textit{S. Montgomery} [Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 123, No. 8, 2343-2351 (1995; Zbl 0836.16024); see Section 4]. He gives faithful examples over several nonabelian groups of order 16 and 32. These are the first known examples of finite-dimensional Nichols algebras of rank bigger than 2 over nonabelian groups.