A sequence to compute the Brauer group of certain quasi-triangular Hopf algebras. (Q695310)

The Brauer group of a field has gone through various generalizations ending with the Brauer group of a braided monoidal category by \textit{F. Van Oystaeyen} and \textit{Y. Zhang} [J. Algebra 202, No. 1, 96-128 (1998; Zbl 0909.18005)]. The authors of the paper under review study certain Hopf algebras in such a category, with applications to the category of left \(H\)-modules, for \(H\) a finite-dimensional quasi-triangular Hopf algebra. Their first results generalize a sequence of \textit{M. Beattie} [J. Algebra 43, 686-693 (1976; Zbl 0342.16010)]. Let \(\mathcal C\) be a closed braided monoidal category with equalizers and coequalizers, \(H\) a finite-dimensional commutative Hopf algebra in \(\mathcal C\). Assume the braiding is \(H\)-linear and symmetric for any \(H\)-Galois object and any \(X\) in \(\mathcal C\). Then there is a split exact sequence \(1\to\mathrm{Br}(\mathcal C)\rightleftharpoons\mathrm{BM}(\mathcal C:H)\to\text{Gal}(\mathcal C:H)\to 1\), \(\mathrm{BM}(\mathcal C:H)\) the Brauer group of \(H\)-module algebras, \(\text{Gal}(\mathcal C:H)\) the group of \(H\)-Galois objects. Moreover, \(\mathrm{BM}(\mathcal C:H)\) is isomorphic to the direct product of \(\mathrm{Br}(\mathcal C)\) and \(\text{Gal}(\mathcal C:H)\). Dropping the symmetry condition, there is a split exact sequence \(1\to\mathrm{Br}(\mathcal C)\rightleftharpoons\mathrm{BM}_{inn}(\mathcal C:H)\to H^2(\mathcal C:H,I)\to 1\), where \(\mathrm{BM}_{inn}(\mathcal C:H)\) is the subgroup of \(\mathrm{BM}(\mathcal C:H)\) of \(H\)-Azumaya algebras with inner action, and \(H^2(\mathcal C:H,I)\) is the second Sweedler cohomology group of \(H\) with values in the unit object \(I\). Moreover, \(\mathrm{BM}_{inn}(\mathcal C:H)\) is isomorphic to the direct product of \(\mathrm{Br}(\mathcal C)\) and \(H^2(\mathcal C:H,I)\). Now let \((H,R)\) be a finite-dimensional quasi-tringular Hopf algebra over a field \(K\), \(\mathcal C\) the braided monoidal category of left \(H\)-modules. Let \(B\) in \(\mathcal C\) be a finite-dimensional commutative Hopf algebra, \(B\times H\) the Radford biproduct Hopf algebra. Let \(R'=(i\otimes i)(R)\), \(i\) the canonical inclusion of \(H\) into \(B\times H\). \(R'\) will be a quasi-triangular structure for \(B\times H\) if (and only if) the braiding in \(\mathcal C\) is \(B\)-linear. The category of left \(B\times H\)-modules is isomorphic (as braided monoidal category) to the category of left \(B\)-modules in \(\mathcal C\). Assume all this, and that the braiding from \(R\) is symmetric for any \(B\)-Galois object in \(\mathcal C\) and any \(X\) in \(\mathcal C\). Then the Brauer group \(\mathrm{BM}(K,B\times H,R')\) of left \(B\times H\)-modules (braiding coming from \(R'\)) is isomorphic to the direct product of \(\mathrm{BM}(K,H,R)\) and \(\text{Gal} (\mathcal C:B)\). One also has that the direct product of \(\mathrm{BM}(K,H,R)\) and \(H^2(\mathcal C:B,K)\) is a subgroup of \(\mathrm{BM}(\mathcal C,B\times H,R')\) (for this, the symmetry condition on the braiding is not needed). The authors state that this underlies the Brauer group computations for the four-dimensional Sweedler Hopf algebra, as well as the Radford Hopf algebra and the Nichols Hopf algebra.