Crossed products in weak contexts. (Q987491)

Let \(H\) be a Hopf algebra over a field, \(A\) an algebra with a weak Hopf action of \(H\) on \(A\), \(s\) a linear map of \(H\otimes H\) to \(A\). This data can be used to define a product on \(A\otimes H\), which, when associative, is called a (Hopf) crossed product. Necessary and sufficient conditions for this were found by \textit{R. J. Blattner, M. Cohen} and \textit{S. Montgomery} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 298, 671-711 (1986; Zbl 0619.16004)] and by \textit{Y. Doi} and \textit{M. Takeuchi} [Commun. Algebra 14, 801-817 (1986; Zbl 0589.16011)]. This was generalized by \textit{T. Brzeziński} by replacing \(A\) by a vector space \(V\) and appropriate maps [Commun. Algebra 25, No. 11, 3551-3575 (1997; Zbl 0887.16026)], which has turned out to be useful in various settings, e.g., in braided monoidal categories, but it is insufficient to generalize to \(H\) a weak Hopf algebra. In the paper under review, the authors introduce a general notion of crossed product that includes the ones mentioned above, and also can deal with weak Hopf algebras. This involves an algebra \(A\) and an object \(V\) in a strict monoidal category with equalizers and coequalizers. The crossed product thus obtained includes the one obtained by the authors earlier in connection with Galois theory and weak cleft extensions [J. Algebra 284, No. 2, 679-704 (2005; Zbl 1085.16027)]. They apply their theory to the context of weak Hopf algebras in a symmetric monoidal category with split idempotents, and thus develop a theory of crossed products for weak Hopf algebras.