Weak Hopf algebras. II: Representation theory, dimensions, and the Markov trace (Q5925798)

The paper continues the study of weak Hopf algebras started by the authors and \textit{F. Nill} in part I [J. Algebra 221, No. 2, 385-438 (1999; Zbl 0949.16037)]. The main issue in the paper under review is the structure of a weak \(C^*\)-Hopf algebra. The category of finite dimensional unitary representations of such an algebra \(A\) is a monoidal \(C^*\)-category with the trivial representation \(D_\varepsilon\) associated to the counit \(\varepsilon\) being the monoidal unit. This category has isomorphic left dual and right dual objects, leading to the notion of a dimension function. There exists a trace on \(A\) which is the Markov trace for both inclusions \(A^L\subseteq A\) and \(A^R\subseteq A\). Two numerical invariants are derived for any weak \(C^*\)-Hopf algebra with trivial hypercenter.