Representations of some Hopf algebras associated to the symmetric group \(S_n\). (Q735227)

Let \(k\) be an algebraically closed field of characteristic \(0\). Frobenius-Schur indicators for semisimple Hopf algebras, generalizing those of finite groups, were introduced by the second named author and \textit{V. Linchenko} [in Algebr. Represent. Theory 3, No. 4, 347-355 (2000; Zbl 0971.16018)], where they also established a Frobenius-Schur theorem; in particular, the indicators can only take the values \(0\), \(1\) or \(-1\) on each simple module. In this paper the authors study the Frobenius-Schur indicators of simple modules over a class of semisimple Hopf algebras obtained as bismash products (or split Abelian extensions) \(k^G\#kF\) arising from an exact factorization of a group \(L=GF\) into its subgroups \(F\) and \(G\). In the case where \(L=S_n\) is the symmetric group on \(n\) symbols, \(G=C_n\) is the cyclic group of order \(n\) and \(F=S_{n-1}\), it is shown that the corresponding Hopf algebra \(H_n\) is totally orthogonal, that is, every simple module has Frobenius-Schur indicator equal to \(1\). On the other hand, it is also shown that the dual Hopf algebra \(J_n=H_n^*\) has simple modules with indicators \(0\) and \(1\). In the case where \(n=p\) is a prime number, the precise description of which simple modules have indicators \(0\) and \(1\) is given. The class of Hopf algebras studied in this paper includes, in particular, the Drinfel'd doubles \(D(G)\) of a finite group \(G\); in this case, it was shown by \textit{R. Guralnick} and the second named author [in Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 361, No. 7, 3611-3632 (2009; Zbl 1193.16026)] that \(D(G)\) is always totally orthogonal for all finite real reflection groups \(G\).