Nichols Algebra
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In algebra, the Nichols algebra of a braided vector space (with the braiding often induced by a finite group) is a
braided Hopf algebra In mathematics, a braided Hopf algebra is a Hopf algebra in a braided monoidal category. The most common braided Hopf algebras are objects in a Yetter–Drinfeld category of a Hopf algebra ''H'', particularly the Nichols algebra of a braided vec ...
which is denoted by \mathfrak(V) and named after the mathematician Warren Nichols. It takes the role of quantum Borel part of a pointed Hopf algebra such as a
quantum groups In mathematics and theoretical physics, the term quantum group denotes one of a few different kinds of noncommutative algebras with additional structure. These include Drinfeld–Jimbo type quantum groups (which are quasitriangular Hopf algebra ...
and their well known finite-dimensional truncations. Nichols algebras can immediately be used to write down new such quantum groups by using the Radford biproduct. The classification of all such Nichols algebras and even all associated
quantum groups In mathematics and theoretical physics, the term quantum group denotes one of a few different kinds of noncommutative algebras with additional structure. These include Drinfeld–Jimbo type quantum groups (which are quasitriangular Hopf algebra ...
(see Application) has been progressing rapidly, although still much is open: The case of an abelian group was solved in 2005, but otherwise this phenomenon seems to be very rare, with a handful examples known and powerful negation criteria established (see below). See also this List of finite-dimensional Nichols algebras. The finite-dimensional theory is greatly governed by a theory of
root system In mathematics, a root system is a configuration of vectors in a Euclidean space satisfying certain geometrical properties. The concept is fundamental in the theory of Lie groups and Lie algebras, especially the classification and representatio ...
s and
Dynkin diagram In the Mathematics, mathematical field of Lie theory, a Dynkin diagram, named for Eugene Dynkin, is a type of Graph (discrete mathematics), graph with some edges doubled or tripled (drawn as a double or triple line). Dynkin diagrams arise in the ...
s, strikingly similar to those of
semisimple Lie algebra In mathematics, a Lie algebra is semisimple if it is a direct sum of simple Lie algebras. (A simple Lie algebra is a non-abelian Lie algebra without any non-zero proper ideals). Throughout the article, unless otherwise stated, a Lie algebra is ...
s. A comprehensive introduction is found in the lecture of Heckenberger.


Definition

Consider a Yetter–Drinfeld module ''V'' in the
Yetter–Drinfeld category In mathematics a Yetter–Drinfeld category is a special type of braided monoidal category. It consists of modules over a Hopf algebra which satisfy some additional axioms. Definition Let ''H'' be a Hopf algebra over a field ''k''. Let \Delt ...
^H_H\mathcal. This is especially a braided vectorspace, see
Braided monoidal category In mathematics, a ''commutativity constraint'' \gamma on a monoidal category ''\mathcal'' is a choice of isomorphism \gamma_ : A\otimes B \rightarrow B\otimes A for each pair of objects ''A'' and ''B'' which form a "natural family." In particu ...
. The
tensor algebra In mathematics, the tensor algebra of a vector space ''V'', denoted ''T''(''V'') or ''T''(''V''), is the algebra of tensors on ''V'' (of any rank) with multiplication being the tensor product. It is the free algebra on ''V'', in the sense of being ...
TV of a Yetter–Drinfeld module V\in ^H_H\mathcal is always a
Braided Hopf algebra In mathematics, a braided Hopf algebra is a Hopf algebra in a braided monoidal category. The most common braided Hopf algebras are objects in a Yetter–Drinfeld category of a Hopf algebra ''H'', particularly the Nichols algebra of a braided vec ...
. The coproduct \Delta and counit \epsilon of TV is defined in such a way that the elements of V are primitive, that is for all v\in V ::\Delta(v)=1\otimes v+v\otimes 1 ::\epsilon(v)=0 The Nichols algebra can be uniquely defined by several equivalent characterizations, some of which focus on the Hopf algebra structure and some are more combinatorial. Regardless, determining the Nichols algebra explicitly (even decide if it's finite-dimensional) can be very difficult and is open in several concrete instances (see below).


Definition I: Combinatorical formula

Let V be a braided vector space, this means there is an action of the braid group \mathbb_n on V^ for any n\in\mathbb, where the transposition (i,i+1) acts as id\otimes\cdots \otimes \tau\otimes id\cdots id. Clearly there is a homomorphism to the symmetric group \pi:\mathbb_n\to\mathbb_n but neither does this admit a section, nor does the action on V^ in general factorize over this. Consider nevertheless a set-theoretic section s:\mathbb_n\to \mathbb_n sending transposition to transposition and arbitrary elements via any reduced expression. This is not a group homomorphism, but
Matsumoto's theorem (group theory) In group theory, Matsumoto's theorem, proved by , gives conditions for two reduced words of a Coxeter group to represent the same element. Statement If two reduced words represent the same element of a Coxeter group, then Matsumoto's theorem stat ...
tells us that the action of any s(\sigma) on V^ is well-defined independently of the choice of a reduced expression. Finally the Nichols algebra is then ::\mathfrak_n:=\sum_ s(\sigma):\;\; V^\to V^\qquad \text ::\mathfrak(V):= \bigoplus_ V^/Ker(\mathfrak_n) This definition was later (but independently) given by Woronowicz. It has the disadvantage of being rarely useful in algebraic proofs but it represents an intuition in its own right and it has the didactical advantage of being very explicit and independent of the notation of a Hopf algebra.


Definition II: Prescribed primitives

The Nichols algebra \mathfrak(V) is the unique Hopf algebra in the braided category ^H_H\mathcal generated by the given V\in ^H_H\mathcal, such that V\subset \mathfrak(V) are the only primitive elements. This is the original definition due to Nichols and it makes very transparent the role of the Nichols algebra as a fundamental notion in the classification of Hopf algebras.


Definition III: Universal quotient

Let V\in ^H_H\mathcal. There exists a largest
ideal Ideal may refer to: Philosophy * Ideal (ethics), values that one actively pursues as goals * Platonic ideal, a philosophical idea of trueness of form, associated with Plato Mathematics * Ideal (ring theory), special subsets of a ring considere ...
\mathfrak\subset TV with the following properties: :: \mathfrak\subset \bigoplus _^\infty T^nV, :: \Delta (\mathfrak)\subset \mathfrak\otimes TV+TV\otimes \mathfrak (this is automatic) The Nichols algebra is :: \mathfrak(V):= TV/\mathfrak


Definition IV: Nondegenerate Pairing

The unique Hopf pairing V\otimes TV^*\to k factorizes to a nondegenerate Hopf pairing between \mathfrak(V)\otimes \mathfrak(V^*)\to k and this fact characterizes the Nichols algebra uniquely. This theoretically very helpful characterization is due to Lusztig.


Definition V: Skew derivatives

This is a somewhat explicit form of the previous definition: Chosen a homogeneous basis v_i\in V (i.e. coaction/graduation v_i\mapsto g_i\otimes v_i) one may define skew derivations \partial_i, using the universal property of the tensor algebra: ::\partial_i(1)=0 \quad \partial_i(v_j)=\delta_ ::\partial_i(ab)=a\partial_i(b)+\partial_i(a)(g_i.b) Then the Nichols algebra \mathfrak(V) is the quotient of TV by the largest homogeneous ideal which contains no constants and is invariant under all derivations \partial_i. Roughly spoken, one may look in TV for elements in the kernel of all skew-derivations and divide these out; then look again for all elements that are now in the kernel of all skew-derivatives and divide them out as well etc.


Examples

We give examples of finite-dimensional Nichols algebras. Over characteristic ''p'', this effect already may appear in the non-braided situation, namely the truncated universal envelopings of p-restricted Lie algebras. In characteristic zero and with a braiding coming from an abelian group, this seems to be a similarly frequent occurrence (however more involved, see Classification). For ''G'' nonabelian on the other side, only very few examples are known so far, and powerful negation criteria exclude many groups at all (see Classification).


1-dimensional examples

As a first example, consider the 1-dimensional Yetter–Drinfeld module V_\pm=kx over the
Group Hopf algebra In mathematics, the group Hopf algebra of a given group (mathematics), group is a certain construct related to the symmetries of Group action (mathematics), group actions. Deformations of group Hopf algebras are foundational in the theory of quantu ...
''H'' = ''k'' ''Z/2Zwith the
Cyclic group In group theory, a branch of abstract algebra in pure mathematics, a cyclic group or monogenous group is a group, denoted C''n'', that is generated by a single element. That is, it is a set of invertible elements with a single associative bina ...
multiplicatively denoted (as usual in algebra) and generated by some ''g''. * Take as ''H''-coaction (resp. Z/2Z-graduation) on V_\pm: x\mapsto g\otimes x * Take as ''H''-action (resp. Z/2Z-action) on V_\pm: g\otimes x\mapsto \pm x * Thus the braiding is x\otimes x\rightarrow \pm x\otimes x Then, depending on the sign choice, the Nichols algebras are: ::\mathfrak(V_+)=k qquad \mathfrak(V_-)=k (x^2) Note that the first is as expected (the non-braided case), while the second has been truncated to the point that it's finite-dimensional! Similarly, ''Vq'' over a higher cyclic group with ''g'' acting by some ''q'' in ''k'' has Nichols algebra \mathfrak(V_q)=k (x^n) if ''q'' ≠ 1 is a primitive ''n''-th root of unity, and \mathfrak(V_q)=k /math> otherwise. ''(from a physical perspective, the ''V''+ corresponds to a boson, while ''V'' represents a fermion restricted by
Pauli exclusion principle In quantum mechanics, the Pauli exclusion principle states that two or more identical particles with half-integer spins (i.e. fermions) cannot occupy the same quantum state within a quantum system simultaneously. This principle was formulat ...
; an analogy that repeats when considering braided commutators, being (anti)commutators in these cases, see also Supersymmetry as a quantum group and discussion)''


Higher-rank examples over ''G'' abelian: braided commutators

The next examples show the interaction of two basis elements: Consider the two-dimensional Yetter–Drinfeld module ''V''0,1 = ''kx'' ⊕ ''ky'' over the
group Hopf algebra In mathematics, the group Hopf algebra of a given group (mathematics), group is a certain construct related to the symmetries of Group action (mathematics), group actions. Deformations of group Hopf algebras are foundational in the theory of quantu ...
''H'' = ''k'' ''Z/2Z × Z/2Zwith the
Klein four group In mathematics, the Klein four-group is a group with four elements, in which each element is self-inverse (composing it with itself produces the identity) and in which composing any two of the three non-identity elements produces the third one. ...
multiplicatively denoted and generated by some ''g,h''. * Take as ''H''-coaction/graduation on ''V''0,1: x\mapsto g\otimes x and x\mapsto g\otimes x * Take as ''H''-action (resp. Z/2Z-action) on ''V''0,1: ** g\otimes x\mapsto -x ** g\otimes y\mapsto +y ** h\otimes y\mapsto -y ** h\otimes x\mapsto \pm x with ''"+"'' for ''V''0 (symmetric) and ''"–"'' for ''V''1 (asymmetric) * Thus the braiding is ** x\otimes x\rightarrow -x\otimes x ** y\otimes y\rightarrow -y\otimes y ** x\otimes y\rightarrow y\otimes x ** y\otimes x\rightarrow \pm x\otimes y Then, depending on the sign choice, the Nichols algebras are of dimension 4 and 8 (they appear in the classification under q_q_=\pm 1): ::\mathfrak(V_0)=k ,y(x^2,y^2,xy+yx), ::\mathfrak(V_1)=k (x^2,y^2,xyxy+yxyx) There one can see the striking resemblance to
Semisimple Lie algebra In mathematics, a Lie algebra is semisimple if it is a direct sum of simple Lie algebras. (A simple Lie algebra is a non-abelian Lie algebra without any non-zero proper ideals). Throughout the article, unless otherwise stated, a Lie algebra is ...
s: In the first case, the braided commutator 'x'', ''y''(here: anticommutator) is zero, while in the second, the root string is longer 'x'', [''x'', ''y'' = 0. Hence these two belong to
Dynkin diagram In the Mathematics, mathematical field of Lie theory, a Dynkin diagram, named for Eugene Dynkin, is a type of Graph (discrete mathematics), graph with some edges doubled or tripled (drawn as a double or triple line). Dynkin diagrams arise in the ...
s A_1\cup A_1 and A2. One also constructs examples with even longer root strings ''V''2, ''V''3 corresponding to
Dynkin diagram In the Mathematics, mathematical field of Lie theory, a Dynkin diagram, named for Eugene Dynkin, is a type of Graph (discrete mathematics), graph with some edges doubled or tripled (drawn as a double or triple line). Dynkin diagrams arise in the ...
s B2, G2 (but as well no higher ones).


Universal enveloping of Lie algebras, Quantum groups

Nichols algebras are probably best known for being the Borel part of the quantum groups and their generalizations. More precisely let :: V:=x_1\mathbb\oplus x_2\mathbb\oplus\cdots \oplus x_n\mathbb be the diagonal Yetter-Drinfel'd module over an abelian group \Lambda=\mathbb^n=\langle K_1,\ldots,K_n\rangle with braiding :: x_i\otimes x_j\mapsto q_ x_j\otimes x_i\qquad q_:=q^ where (\alpha_i,\alpha_j) is the Killing form of a semisimple (finite-dimensional) Lie algebra \mathfrak, then the Nichols algebra is the positive part of Lusztig's small quantum group :: \mathfrak(V)=u_q(\mathfrak)^+


Includes Super-Lie algebras

There are more diagonal Nichols algebras than Lie algebras in Heckenbergers list, and the root system theory is systematic, but more complicated (see below). In particular is contains also the classification of Super-Lie-Algebras (example below) as well as certain Lie algebras and Super-Lie-Algebras that only appear in a specific finite characteristic. Thus Nichols algebra theory and root system theory provides a unified framework for these concepts.


Nondiagonal braidings, Nonabelian groups

Only a handful of finite-dimensional Nichols algebras over ''k'' = C are known so far. It is known that in this case each irreducible Yetter–Drinfeld module \mathcal_^\chi corresponds to Conjugacy class of the group (together with an irreducible representation of the Centralizer and normalizer, centralizer of ''g''). An arbitrary Yetter–Drinfeld module is a direct sum of such \mathcal_^\chi, the number of summands is called rank; each summand corresponds to anode in the
Dynkin diagram In the Mathematics, mathematical field of Lie theory, a Dynkin diagram, named for Eugene Dynkin, is a type of Graph (discrete mathematics), graph with some edges doubled or tripled (drawn as a double or triple line). Dynkin diagrams arise in the ...
''(see below)''. Note that for the abelian groups as above, the irreducible summands are 1-dimensional, hence rank and dimension coincide. Particular examples include the Nichols algebra associated to the conjugacy class(es) of reflections in a Coxeter group, they are related to the Fomin Kirilov algebras. It is known these Nichols algebras are finite dimensional for \mathbb_3,\mathbb_4,\mathbb_5,\mathbb_4 but already the case \mathbb_6 is open since 2000. Another class of examples can be constructed from abelian case by a folding through diagram automorphisms. See here for a list List of finite-dimensional Nichols algebras to the extent of our knowledge.


Root system

A very remarkable feature is that for every Nichols algebra (under sufficient finiteness conditions) there exists a generalized root system with a set of roots \Phi, which controls the Nichols algebra. This has been discovered in for diagonal Nichols algebras in terms of the bicharacter q_ and in for general semisimple Nichols algebras. In contrast to ordinary crystallographic root systems known from Lie algebras, the same generalized root system \Phi may possess several be different Weyl chambers, corresponding to non-equivalent choices of sets of positive roots \Phi=\Phi^+\cup -\Phi^+ and simple positive roots \alpha_1,\ldots \alpha_n , having different Cartan matrices and different Dynkin diagrams. The different Weyl chambers correspond in fact to different non-isomorphic Nichols algebras which are called Weyl-equivalent. Quantum groups are very special with respect to the fact that here all Borel parts are isomorphic; nevertheless even in this case Lusztig's reflection operator T_s is again ''not'' a Hopf algebra isomorphism!


Definition of Weyl groupoid and generalized roots system

Let I=\ where n is the rank, with formal basis \alpha_1,\ldots \alpha_n . We first discuss generalized Cartan graphs as in: * A generalized Cartan matrix c_,\;\;i,j\in I is an integral matrix such that ** c_=2,\quad c_<0 ** c_=0\Rightarrow c_=0 * A Cartan graph is a set of such Cartan matrices c^a_,\;\forall a\in A parametrized by a set of objects/chambers A, together with (object change) morphism r_i:A\to A such that ** r_i^2=id ** c^a_=c^_ * Define maps ::s_i^a:\mathbb^I\to \mathbb^I ::s_i^a:\;\alpha_j\mapsto \alpha_j-c_^a \alpha_i (note that Lie algebra literature has also the transpose convention for c_, e.g. in Humphrey's book) * The Weyl groupoid is the category with objects A and morphisms Hom(a,b) formally the groups generated by the s_i^a:a\to r_i(a) * The set of real roots \Phi_a^+ is the set \\subseteq \mathbb^I * Define m_^a= , \Phi ^a \cap (\mathbb_0 \alpha_i + \mathbb_0 \alpha_j), , * Then a root system \Phi of type (c_^a)_ is a set ** \Phi^a=\Phi^a_+\cup - \Phi^a_+ with \Phi^a_+=\Phi^a\cap \mathbb_0^I ** \Phi^a\cap \mathbb\alpha_i=\ ** s_i^a(\Phi^a) = \Phi^ ** For i\neq j with m_ finite (r_i r_j)^(a)=a


Equivalence to Crystallographic Hyperplane Arrangements

In it was shown that Weyl groupoids are in 1:1 correspondence to crystallographic hyperplane arrangements. These are a set of hyperplanes in \mathbb^n through the origin and choices of normal vectors such that for every simplicial chamber bounded by n hyperplanes with normal vectors \alpha_1^\perp,\ldots \alpha_n^\perp all other chosen normal vector \alpha^\perp can be expressed as ''integral'' linear combination of the \alpha_i^\perp. In the set of all finite crystallographic hyperplane arrangements (and hence finite Weyl groupoids or finite generalized root systems) have been classified. Apart from the reflection arrangements A_n,B_n,C_n,D_n,E_6,E_7,E_8,F_4,G_2 there is one more infinite family and altogether 74 exceptionswith rank up to 8.


Example of rank 3 (also a super Lie algebra)

The smallest crystallographic hyperplane arrangement, Weyl groupoid, generalized root system, which is not of ordinary Lie type, is as follows. It appears for a diagonal Nichols algebra, even a super Lie algebra. The hyperplane arrangement can be constructed from a
cuboctahedron A cuboctahedron is a polyhedron with 8 triangular faces and 6 square faces. A cuboctahedron has 12 identical vertices, with 2 triangles and 2 squares meeting at each, and 24 identical edges, each separating a triangle from a square. As such, it ...
(a platonic solid): It has 7 roots (4 resp. 3 hyperplanes, in the pictures bounding equilateral triangle resp. diagonals in squares, in the super Lie algebra odd resp. even roots). It visibly has 2 different types of Weyl chambers (equilateral triangles resp. right triangles) with different Cartan matrices in which the roots in terms of simple roots are as follows: ::\Phi^a_+=\ ::In the picture the white chamber, e.g with basis \alpha_1,\alpha_2,\alpha_3. Clearly, the Dynkin diagram of this type of chamber a\in A is a simply-laced triangle, Reflection on \alpha_2 brings us to the second type of chamber ::\Phi^_+=\ ::In the picture the gray chamber, e.g with basis \alpha_1',\alpha_2',\alpha_3'=\alpha_,-\alpha_2,\alpha_. The Dynkin diagram of this type of chamber a'\in A is just A_2 (but one more root). This root system is the smallest member of an infinite series. The pictures are from, where the example is also discussed thoroughly.


Classification (Details)


Over abelian groups

The Nichols algebras of finite dimension over abelian groups in ''k'' = C were classified by Istvan Heckenberger in the years 2004–2005 by classifying arithmetic
root system In mathematics, a root system is a configuration of vectors in a Euclidean space satisfying certain geometrical properties. The concept is fundamental in the theory of Lie groups and Lie algebras, especially the classification and representatio ...
s and generalized
Dynkin diagram In the Mathematics, mathematical field of Lie theory, a Dynkin diagram, named for Eugene Dynkin, is a type of Graph (discrete mathematics), graph with some edges doubled or tripled (drawn as a double or triple line). Dynkin diagrams arise in the ...
s; where already Kharchenko had proven them to possess a Poincaré–Birkhoff–Witt basis of iterated (braided) commutators. The only information one requires is the braiding matrix, which is diagonal in this setting (see examples above) ::x_i\otimes x_j \mapsto q_x_j\otimes x_i While mostly only the classical ''Cartan-cases'' appear, there are several exotic diagrams possible for small primes, such as a triangle In these cases the Weyl reflections of one diagram may not land in the "same" diagram, but a so-called Weyl equivalent. This is also the exact reason, that these exotic cases possess a Weyl-
groupoid In mathematics, especially in category theory and homotopy theory, a groupoid (less often Brandt groupoid or virtual group) generalises the notion of group in several equivalent ways. A groupoid can be seen as a: *'' Group'' with a partial func ...
instead of a usual group. The generators and relations of a Nichols algebra are ''not'' readily available from the root system. Rather, one has to perform tedious work with the Lynond words. This has been completely done in


Negative criteria: abelian subracks

Especially for irreducible ''V'' there are no submodules; however one may use the more abstract notion of ''subrack'' only reflecting the braiding of two contained elements. In several papers, Nicolas Andruskiewitsch ''et al.'' gave negative criteria excluding groups at all from possessing (indecomposable) Nichols algebras. Their techniques can be roughly summarized ''(more details!)'': :: This ansatz puts sometimes strong conditions especially on the braiding of any ''g''-graded element ''x'' with itself (e.g. the first example above shows ''q'' ≠ 1). Note that because ''g'' is central in the centralizer, it acts on the irreducible representation by a scalar as a consequence of the Schur lemma; hence this selfbraiding resp. 1-dim sub-Yetter-Drinfeld module / braided vectorspace / 1-dim subrack is diagonal ::x\otimes x\;\stackrel\;q(x\otimes x)\;\;\Longleftrightarrow\;\; g.x=qx It is usually used to excludes ''g'' e.g. of being of odd order and/or χ of high dimension: * If ''g'' is real (i.e. conjugated to its inverse) then ''q'' = –1 (especially ''g'' has to be of even order) * If ''g'' is quasi-real (i.e. conjugated to some ''j''-th power) then **either ''q'' = –1 as above **or g^=g and the representation χ is one-dimensional with ''q'' = ζ3 a primitive 3rd root of unity (especially the order of ''g'' is divisible by 3) * If contrary ''g'' is an
involution Involution may refer to: * Involute, a construction in the differential geometry of curves * '' Agricultural Involution: The Processes of Ecological Change in Indonesia'', a 1963 study of intensification of production through increased labour inpu ...
and some centralizing ''h'' = ''tgt'' then the
eigenvalue In linear algebra, an eigenvector () or characteristic vector of a linear transformation is a nonzero vector that changes at most by a scalar factor when that linear transformation is applied to it. The corresponding eigenvalue, often denoted ...
s of the ''h'' (viewed as matrix) acting on \mathcal_^\chi is strongly restricted.


Root systems over nonabelian groups

The existence of a root system also in the nonabelian case implies rather immediately the following very strong implications: Immediate consequences are implied for ''rank 2'' Nichols algebras \mathfrak\left(\mathcal_\oplus\mathcal_\right) which ''g, h'' discommuting; then: * The braided commutators 'x'', ''y''of elements x\in\mathcal_\; y\in\mathcal_ are not all zero. * The space of braided commutators ad_\mathcal_= mathcal_,\mathcal_/math> form an irreducible sub-Yetter–Drinfeld module \mathcal_ (i.e. the root is unique as in the Lie algebra case) * They're "close to commuting"'' \;(gh)^2=(hg)^2 This implies roughly, that finite-dimensional Nichols algebras over nonabelian groups have to be (if at all) of very low rank or the group has to be close-to-abelian.


Negative criteria: nonabelian subracks (type D)

As the abelian subracks use the structural classification of Heckenberger for Nichols algebras over abelian groups (see above) one can also consider nonabelian subracks. If such a subrack decomposes into several pieces (because now less element are present to conjugate), then the above results on root systems apply. A specific case where this is highly successful is type D, i.e. for r,s\in ; * ''r'', ''s'' not conjugate in the generated subgroup \langle r,s\rangle\; * (rs)^2\neq(sr)^2\; in this case the Nichols algebra of the subrack is infinite-dimensional and so is the entire Nichols algebra


Known groups not admitting finite-dimensional Nichols algebras

Both negation techniques above have been very fruitful to negate (indecomposable) finite-dimensional Nichols algebras: * for Alternating groups \mathbb_ * for
Symmetric group In abstract algebra, the symmetric group defined over any set is the group whose elements are all the bijections from the set to itself, and whose group operation is the composition of functions. In particular, the finite symmetric group ...
s \mathbb_ except a short list of examples * some
group of Lie type In mathematics, specifically in group theory, the phrase ''group of Lie type'' usually refers to finite groups that are closely related to the group of rational points of a reductive linear algebraic group with values in a finite field. The phra ...
''(sources, complete list?)'' * all
Sporadic group In mathematics, a sporadic group is one of the 26 exceptional groups found in the classification of finite simple groups. A simple group is a group ''G'' that does not have any normal subgroups except for the trivial group and ''G'' itself. The ...
s except a short list of possibilities (resp. conjugacy classes in ATLAS notation) that are all real or ''j'' = 3-quasireal: **...for the Fischer group Fi_\; the classes 22A,22B\; **...for the
baby monster group In the area of modern algebra known as group theory, the baby monster group ''B'' (or, more simply, the baby monster) is a sporadic simple group of order :   241313567211131719233147 : = 4154781481226426191177580544000000 : = 4,1 ...
''B'' the classes 16C,\;16D,\;32A,\;32B,\;32C,\;32D,\;34A,\;46A,\;46B\; **...for the
monster group In the area of abstract algebra known as group theory, the monster group M (also known as the Fischer–Griess monster, or the friendly giant) is the largest sporadic simple group, having order    24632059761121331719232931414759 ...
''M'' the classes 32A,\;32B,\;46A,\;46B,\;92A,\;92B,\;94A,\;94B\; Usually a large amount of conjugacy classes ae of type D ("not commutative enough"), while the others tend to possess sufficient abelian subracks and can be excluded by their consideration. Several cases have to be done by-hand. Note that the open cases tend to have very small centralizers (usually cyclic) and representations χ (usually the 1-dimensional sign representation). Significant exceptions are the conjugacy classes of order 16, 32 having as centralizers
p-group In mathematics, specifically group theory, given a prime number ''p'', a ''p''-group is a group in which the order of every element is a power of ''p''. That is, for each element ''g'' of a ''p''-group ''G'', there exists a nonnegative intege ...
s of order 2048 resp. 128 and currently no restrictions on χ.


Applications

The Nichols algebra appears as quantum Borel part in the classification of finite-dimensional pointed Hopf algebras (without small primes) by Nicolas Andruskiewitsch and Hans-Jürgen Schneider, especially
Quantum groups In mathematics and theoretical physics, the term quantum group denotes one of a few different kinds of noncommutative algebras with additional structure. These include Drinfeld–Jimbo type quantum groups (which are quasitriangular Hopf algebra ...
. For example, U_q(\mathfrak) and their well known truncations for ''q'' a root of unity decompose just like an ordinary
Semisimple Lie algebra In mathematics, a Lie algebra is semisimple if it is a direct sum of simple Lie algebras. (A simple Lie algebra is a non-abelian Lie algebra without any non-zero proper ideals). Throughout the article, unless otherwise stated, a Lie algebra is ...
into ''E''´s (Borel part), dual ''F''´s and ''K''´s (Cartan algebra): ::U_q(\mathfrak)\cong \left(\mathfrak(V)\otimes k mathbb^notimes\mathfrak(V^*)\right)^\sigma Here, as in the classical theory ''V'' is a vectorspace of dimension ''n'' (the rank of \mathfrak{g}) spanned by the ''E''´s, and σ (a so-called cocylce twist) creates the nontrivial linking between ''E''´s and ''F''´s. Note that in contrast to classical theory, more than two linked components may appear. See ''cit. loc.'' for an exotic example with 4 parts of type A3. The classification roughly reduces a given hypothetical example to a Radford biproduct of the (coradical-) group and the (connected-) part, which contains the Nichols algebra, by taking the corresponding "graded object" (killing all linkings). With the knowledge from the classification of finite-dimensional Nichols algebras above, the authors prove no additional elements to appear in the connected part (generation in degree 1), and finally describe all possible liftings as "dotted lines" in generalized Dynkin diagrams. Recently, this correspondence has been greatly extended to identify certain so-called coideal subalgebras to be in 1:1 correspondence to the
Weyl group In mathematics, in particular the theory of Lie algebras, the Weyl group (named after Hermann Weyl) of a root system Φ is a subgroup of the isometry group of that root system. Specifically, it is the subgroup which is generated by reflections ...
, which has been conjectured as "numerical coincidence" earlier and proven in certain cases by-hand.


References

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