Representation theory of towers of recollement: theory, notes, and examples. (Q852678)

Diagram algebras, such as Temperley-Lieb algebras or Brauer algebras typically occur in families forming `towers' \(A_1\subset A_2\subset\cdots\subset A_n\subset\cdots\) with \(A_{n-2}\simeq e_nA_ne_n\) for some idempotent \(e_n\). In the semisimple case, following Jones' work on his knot polynomial and his `basic construction' such towers have been studied intensively, and applied to knot theory and \(C^*\)-algebras. Here, the authors consider the more (but not most) general case of the algebras being quasi-hereditary. An axiomatic framework is provided that yields, for instance, criteria for semisimplicity. The results then are applied to a new class of diagram algebras, called contour algebras, which simultaneously generalize Temperley-Lieb algebras, their cyclotomic versions, and blob algebras.