A discrete approach to topological quantum field theories (Q687737)

A rather general scheme for constructing three-dimensional Euclidean topological quantum field theories is described. A basic construction uses \(6j\)-symbols defined for a finite semisimple tensor category of representations of some bialgebra. The examples of the algebra of functions over a finite group, and the group algebra of a finite group, and the quantum deformation of the enveloping algebra of a simple Lie algebra are discussed. An explicit connection with the Dijkgraaf-Witten model is established.