Quantization of Lie bialgebras revisited (Q739825)

A Lie bialgebra \(L\) is a Lie algebra and a Lie coalgebra whose Lie comultiplication satisfies a derivation condition. The quantization problem for \(L\) is to give a bialgebra structure on \((U(L))[x]\) so that its symmetrized coproduct recovers the Lie comultiplication on \(L\) when \(x\) is set equal to zero. This problem was first solved by \textit{P. Etingof} and \textit{D. Kazhdan} [Sel. Math., New Ser. 2, No. 1, 1--41 (1996; Zbl 0863.17008); ibid. 4, No. 2, 213--231, 233--269 (1998; Zbl 0915.17009)]. They quantized the Drinfeld double of \(L\) using a monoidal structure on the forgetful functor from the corresponding Drinfeld category and then defining the quantization of \(L\) as as a certain Hopf subalgebra of the Hopf algebra quantizing the double. Another solution was given by \textit{B. Enriquez} [Adv. Math. 197, No. 2, 430--479 (2005; Zbl 1127.17013)] combining the approach of Etingof and Kazhdan with cohomological methods. Still another solution was given by \textit{D. Tamarkin} [Geom. Funct. Anal. 17, No. 2, 537--604 (2007; Zbl 1163.17024)] based on formality of the little disks operad. The paper under review presents another solution based on the construction of a Hopf algebra from a cocommutative coalgebra \(M\) in a braided monoidal category \(D\) and a braided comonoidal functor \(F\) from \(D\) to another braided monoidal category \(C\). Note that \(F(M)\) is cocommutative, but \(F(M \otimes M)\) may not be cocommutative. Then, under certain invertibiliy conditions, the coalgebra \(F(M \otimes M)\) will be a Hopf algebra. The solution involves defining a simplicial coalgebra \((E_n)(M)=M^{(n+1)}\) in \(D\), namely the cobar construction of the coalgebra M, and imitating the recovery of a group from its nerve. This method avoids the quantization of the double. The author claims that it is significantly simpler than the previous solutions, although it still needs Drinfeld associators. It can also be used to quantize infinitesimally braided Lie bialgebras to braided Hopf algebras.