On module categories over finite-dimensional Hopf algebras. (Q2382991)

Let \(K\) be an algebraically closed field and \(H\) a finite-dimensional Hopf \(K\)-algebra. We denote by \(H\)-Rep the category of \(K\)-linear finite-dimensional representations of \(H\). We view \(H\)-Rep as a finite tensor monoidal \(K\)-category in the sense of the notes by \textit{B. Bakalov} and \textit{A. Kirillov} jun. [Lectures on tensor categories and modular functors. Univ. Lect. Ser. 21. Providence, RI, AMS (2001; Zbl 0965.18002)] and the paper by \textit{V. Ostrik} [Transform. Groups 8, No. 2, 177-206 (2003; Zbl 1044.18004)]. The main aim of the paper is to describe the indecomposable exact module categories over the tensor monoidal \(K\)-category \(H\)-Rep in the sense of the papers [\textit{P. Etingof, V. Ostrik}, Mosc. Math. J. 4, No. 3, 627-654, 782-783 (2004; Zbl 1077.18005) and \textit{P. Etingof, D. Nikshych, V. Ostrik}, Ann. Math. (2) 162, No. 2, 581-642 (2005; Zbl 1125.16025)]. For covenience of the reader we recall some basic definitions that are used in the paper. Throughout we assume that all categories we are studying are \(K\)-categories. \(\bullet\) A monoidal category is a category \(\mathcal C\) provided with a ``tensor'' functor \(\otimes\colon\mathcal C\times\mathcal C\to\mathcal C\), a unit object \(\mathbf 1\in\mathcal C\), associativity contraints \(a\), left and right units contraints \(l\) and \(r\), all this subject to the pentagon and the triangle axioms. \(\bullet\) A tensor category is a rigid monoidal category \(\mathcal C\) that is Abelian and \(\otimes\colon\mathcal C\times\mathcal C\to\mathcal C\) is \(K\)-linear in each of the variables. \(\bullet\) A module category over a tensor category \(\mathcal C\) is an Abelian category \(\mathcal M\) provided with a bifunctor \(\otimes\colon\mathcal C\times\mathcal M\to\mathcal M\) that is exact and \(K\)-linear in each of the variables, satisfies natural associativity and has obvious unit isomorphisms. \(\bullet\) A finite tensor category is a tensor category \(\mathcal C\) such that the underlying Abelian category \(\mathcal C\) has the following properties: (1) the unit object \(\mathbf 1\) is simple, (2) the number of simple objects of \(\mathcal C\) is finite, up to isomorphism, (3) all simple objects of \(\mathcal C\) have a projective cover, (4) the Hom space \(\Hom_ {\mathcal C}(X,Y)\) is finite dimensional, for each pair of objects \(X\) and \(Y\) in \(\mathcal C\), (5) all objects of \(\mathcal C\) have finite length. \(\bullet\) A module category \(\mathcal M\) over a finite tensor category \(\mathcal C\) is defined to be exact if \(\mathcal M\) satisfies the conditions (2)-(5) and \(P\otimes M\) is a projective object of \(\mathcal M\), for any projective object \(P\) of \(\mathcal C\) and any object \(M\) of \(\mathcal M\). -- Observe that the category \(\mathcal C=H\)-Rep is a finite tensor \(K\)-category if \(H\) is a finite-dimensional Hopf \(K\)-algebra. Moreover, \(\mathcal C=H\)-Rep is a fusion \(K\)-category if and only if \(H\) is semisimple. One of the main results of the paper asserts that, given a finite-dimensional Hopf \(K\)-algebra \(H\), any indecomposable exact module category over the finite tensor \(K\)-category \(\mathcal C=H\)-Rep is equivalent to the category of finite-dimensional modules over a left comodule algebra. It is also shown that indecomposable exact module categories over the finite tensor \(K\)-category \(\mathcal C=H\)-Rep are classified, up to equivariant Morita equivalence, by left comodule coalgebras that are \(H\)-simple from the right and have trivial coinvariants. A correspondence between module categories over \(H\)-Rep and \(H^*\)-Rep is also described. The results give an alternative approach to the results of Etingof and Ostrik [op. cit.].