Weighted colimits of 2-representations and star algebras (Q6115834)

For an algebraically closed field \(k\), a category is called finitary when it is a category of finitely generated, projective modules over a finite-dimensional \(k\)-algebra. The 2-category of finitary categories, \(k\)-linear functors, and natural transformations is denoted by \(\mathfrak{A}^f_k\). A bicategory \(\mathscr{A}\) is finitary when its homcategories are in \(\mathfrak{A}^f_k\). A birepresentation of \(\mathscr{A}\) is a locally \(k\)-linear pseudofunctor \(\mathscr{A}\to \mathfrak{A}^f_k\). \textit{J. Zimmermann} [Commun. Algebra 47, No. 3, 1222--1237 (2019; Zbl 1409.18007)] studied a bicategory \(\mathscr{B}_n\) constructed from the star graph on \(n+1\) vertices. Its birepresentations have been studied by embedding \(\mathscr{B}_n\) into a more rigid bicategory. The innovation of the present paper is to stay closer to \(\mathscr{B}_n\) and to explain and use standard bicategorical techniques such as weighted colimits (as found in the early part of the reviewer's paper [Cah. Topologie Géom. Différ. Catégoriques 21, 111--159 (1980; Zbl 0436.18005)]). \{As a historical and terminological note, the term ``weighted limit'' was coined by the reviewer in [Rend. Semin. Mat. Fis. Milano 51, 217--233 (1981; Zbl 0538.18005)] to help relate to a seminar audience which included physicists, statisticians and engineers. Earlier publications used ``indexed limit'' as begun in [\textit{R. Street}, J. Pure Appl. Algebra 8, 149--181 (1976; Zbl 0335.18005)].\} The main result is a bijection between equivalence classes of simple transitive birepresentations of \(\mathscr{B}_n\) and partitions of a set of cardinality \(n\). A conjecture of Zimmermann is thereby confirmed.