Let λbe a partition of a positive integer n. Let C be a symmetric rigid tensor category over a field k of characteristic 0 or char(k)>n, and let V be an object of C. In our main result (Theorem 4.3) we introduce a finite set of integers F(λ) and prove that if the Schur functor \mathbb{S}_λ V of V is semisimple and the dimension of V is not in F(λ), then V is semisimple. Moreover, we prove that for each d in F(λ) there exist a symmetric rigid tensor category C over k and a non-semisimple object V in C of dimension d such that \mathbb{S}_λ V is semisimple (which shows that our result is the best possible). In particular, Theorem 4.3 extends two theorems of Serre for C=Rep(G), G is a group, and \mathbb{S}_λ V is \wedge^n V or Sym^n V, and proves a conjecture of Serre (\cite{s1}).
We exhibit a correspondence between subcategories of modules over an algebra and sub-bimodules of the dual of that algebra. We then prove that the semisimplicity of certain such categories is equivalent to the existence of a Peter-Weyl decomposition of the corresponding sub-bimodule. Finally, we use this technique to establish the semisimplicity of certain finite-dimensional representations of the quantum double of sl_2 for generic q.
Let $k$ be a field, and $H$ a Hopf algebra with bijective antipode. If $H$ is commutative, noetherian, semisimple and cosemisimple, then the category ${}_{H}{\mathcal {YD}}^H$ of Yetter-Drinfeld modules is semisimple. We also prove a similar statement for the category of Long dimodules, without the assumption that $H$ is commutative.
We study Karoubian tensor categories which interpolate representation categories of families of so-called easy quantum groups in the same sense in which Deligne's interpolation categories $\mathrm{\underline{Rep}}(S_t)$ interpolate the representation categories of the symmetric groups. As such categories can be described using a graphical calculus of partitions, we call them interpolating partition categories. They include $\mathrm{\underline{Rep}}(S_t)$ as a special case and can generally be viewed as subcategories of the latter. Focusing on semisimplicity and descriptions of the indecomposab…
Vladimir Turaev discovered in the early years of quantum topology that the notion of modular category was an appropriate structure for building 3-dimensional Topological Quantum Field Theories (TQFTs for short) containing invariants of links in 3-manifolds such as Witten-Reshetikhin-Turaev ones. In recent years, generalized notions of modular categories, which relax the semisimplicity requirement, have been successfully used to extend Turaev's construction to various non-semisimple settings. We report on these recent developments in the domain, showing the richness of Vladimir's lineage.
Let $V\subseteq A$ be a conformal inclusion of vertex operator algebras and let $\mathcal{C}$ be a category of grading-restricted generalized $V$-modules that admits the vertex algebraic braided tensor category structure of Huang-Lepowsky-Zhang. We give conditions under which $\mathcal{C}$ inherits semisimplicity from the category of grading-restricted generalized $A$-modules in $\mathcal{C}$, and vice versa. The most important condition is that $A$ be a rigid $V$-module in $\mathcal{C}$ with non-zero categorical dimension, that is, we assume the index of $V$ as a subalgebra of $A$ is finite a…
Free products of semisimple tesnor categories are constructed with the help of polygonal presentation. The semisimplicity criterion is obtained for the Bisch-Jones' planar algebras as a byproduct.
We show that there is a braided tensor category structure on the category of $C_1$-cofinite modules for the (universal or simple) Virasoro vertex operator algebras of arbitrary central charge. In the generic case of central charge $c=13-6(t+t^{-1})$, with $t \notin \mathbb{Q}$, we prove semisimplicity, rigidity and non-degeneracy and also compute the fusion rules of this tensor category.
Fusion categories are fundamental objects in quantum algebra, but their definition is narrow in some respects. By definition a fusion category must be k-linear for some field k, and every simple object V is strongly simple, meaning that (V) = k. We prove that linearity follows automatically from semisimplicity: Every connected, finite, semisimple, rigid, monoidal category \C is k-linear and finite-dimensional for some field k. Barring inseparable extensions, such a category becomes a multifusion category after passing to an algebraic extension of k. The proof depends on a result in Galois theo…
By a theorem of Majid, every monoidal category with a neutral quasi-monoidal functor to finitely-generated and projective $\Bbbk$-modules gives rise to a coquasi-bialgebra. We prove that if the category is also rigid, then the associated coquasi-bialgebra admits a preantipode, providing in this way an analogue for coquasi-bialgebras of Ulbrich's reconstruction theorem for Hopf algebras. When $\Bbbk$ is field, this allows us to characterize coquasi-Hopf algebras as well in terms of rigidity of finite-dimensional corepresentations.
We show that the equivalence between several possible characterizations of Frobenius algebras, and of symmetric Frobenius algebras, carries over from the category of vector spaces to more general monoidal categories. For Frobenius algebras, the appropriate setting is the one of rigid monoidal categories, and for symmetric Frobenius algebras it is the one of sovereign monoidal categories. We also discuss some properties of Nakayama automorphisms.
We develop the general theory for the construction of Extended Topological Quantum Field Theories (ETQFTs) associated with the Costantino-Geer-Patureau quantum invariants of closed 3-manifolds. In order to do so, we introduce relative modular categories, a class of ribbon categories which are modeled on representations of unrolled quantum groups, and which can be thought of as a non-semisimple analogue to modular categories. Our approach exploits a 2-categorical version of the universal construction introduced by Blanchet, Habegger, Masbaum, and Vogel. The 1+1+1-EQFTs thus obtained are realize…
In this informal expository note, we present a universal, formulaic construction of the free product of rigid $C^*$-2-categories. This construction allows for a straightforward, purely categorical formulation of the free composition of subfactors and planar algebras considered by Bisch and Jones. As an application, we explain the results of Tarrago and Wahl on free wreath products of compact quantum groups in this categorical language.
Given a countably generated rigid C^*-tensor category C, we construct a planar algebra P whose category of projections Pro is equivalent to C. From P, we use methods of Guionnet-Jones-Shlyakhtenko-Walker to construct a rigid C^*-tensor category Bim whose objects are bifinite bimodules over an interpolated free group factor, and we show Bim is equivalent to Pro. We use these constructions to show C is equivalent to a category of bifinite bimodules over L(F_infty).
We present explicit mathematical structures that allow for the reconstruction of the field content of a full local conformal field theory from its boundary fields. Our framework is the one of modular tensor categories, without requiring semisimplicity, and thus covers in particular finite rigid logarithmic conformal field theories. We assume that the boundary data are described by a pivotal module category over the modular tensor category, which ensures that the algebras of boundary fields are Frobenius algebras. Bulk fields and, more generally, defect fields inserted on defect lines, are give…
We give a pedagogical survey of those aspects of the abstract representation theory of quantum groups which are related to the Tannaka-Krein reconstruction problem. We show that every concrete semisimple tensor *-category with conjugates is equivalent to the category of finite dimensional non-degenerate *-representations of a discrete algebraic quantum group. Working in the self-dual framework of algebraic quantum groups, we then relate this to earlier results of S. L. Woronowicz and S. Yamagami. We establish the relation between braidings and R-matrices in this context. Our approach emphasize…
We show that a left-rigid monoidal C^*-category with irreducible monoidal unit is also a sovereign and spherical category. Defining a Frobenius-Schur type indicator we obtain selection rules for the fusion coefficients of irreducible objects. As a main result we prove S_4-invariance of 6j-symbols in such a category.
We study good (i.e., semisimple) reductions of semisimple rigid tensor categories modulo primes. A prime p is called good for a semisimple rigid tensor category C if such a reduction exists (otherwise, it is called bad). It is clear that a good prime must be relatively prime to the Müger squared norm |V|^2 of any simple object V of C. We show, using the Ito-Michler theorem in finite group theory, that for group-theoretical fusion categories, the converse is true. While the converse is false for general fusion categories, we obtain results about good and bad primes for many known fusion categor…
We formulate and study Howe-Moore type properties in the setting of quantum groups and in the setting of rigid $C^{\ast}$-tensor categories. We say that a rigid $C^{\ast}$-tensor category $\mathcal{C}$ has the Howe-Moore property if every completely positive multiplier on $\mathcal{C}$ has a limit at infinity. We prove that the representation categories of $q$-deformations of connected compact simple Lie groups with trivial center satisfy the Howe-Moore property. As an immediate consequence, we deduce the Howe-Moore property for Temperley-Lieb-Jones standard invariants with principal graph $A_…
We define annular algebras for rigid $C^{*}$-tensor categories, providing a unified framework for both Ocneanu's tube algebra and Jones' affine annular category of a planar algebra. We study the representation theory of annular algebras, and show that all sufficiently large (full) annular algebras for a category are isomorphic after tensoring with the algebra of matrix units with countable index set, hence have equivalent representation theories. Annular algebras admit a universal $C^{*}$-algebra closure analogous to the universal $C^{*}$-algebra for groups. These algebras have interesting cor…
In this article, we define operator algebras internal to a rigid C*-tensor category $\mathcal{C}$. A C*/W*-algebra object in $\mathcal{C}$ is an algebra object $\mathbf{A}$ in $\operatorname{ind}$-$\mathcal{C}$ whose category of free modules ${\sf FreeMod}_{\mathcal{C}}(\mathbf{A})$ is a $\mathcal{C}$-module C*/W*-category respectively. When $\mathcal{C}={\sf Hilb_{f.d.}}$, the category of finite dimensional Hilbert spaces, we recover the usual notions of operator algebras. We generalize basic representation theoretic results, such as the Gelfand-Naimark and von Neumann bicommutant theorems, a…
We give a review of some recent developments in the theory of tensor categories. The topics include realizability of fusion rings, Ocneanu rigidity, module categories, weak Hopf algebras, Morita theory for tensor categories, lifting theory, categorical dimensions, Frobenius- Perron dimensions, classification of tensor categories.
In this article, we construct a 2-shaded rigid ${\rm C}^*$ multitensor category with canonical unitary dual functor directly from a standard $λ$-lattice. We use the notions of traceless Markov towers and lattices to define the notion of module and bimodule over standard $λ$-lattice(s), and we explicitly construct the associated module category and bimodule category over the corresponding 2-shaded rigid ${\rm C}^*$ multitensor category. As an example, we compute the modules and bimodules for Temperley-Lieb-Jones standard $λ$-lattices in terms of traceless Markov towers and lattices. Translating…
Using the tensor category theory developed by Lepowsky, Zhang and the second author, we construct a braided tensor category structure with a twist on a semisimple category of modules for an affine Lie algebra at an admissible level. We conjecture that this braided tensor category is rigid and thus is a ribbon category. We also give conjectures on the modularity of this category and on the equivalence with a suitable quantum group tensor category. In the special case that the affine Lie algebra is $\widehat{\mathfrak{sl}}_2$, we prove the rigidity and modularity conjectures.
We study the question of dualizability in higher Morita categories of locally presentable tensor categories and braided tensor categories. Our main results are that the 3-category of rigid tensor categories with enough compact projectives is 2-dualizable, that the 4-category of rigid braided tensor categories with enough compact projectives is 3-dualizable, and that (in characteristic zero) the 4-category of braided fusion categories is 4-dualizable. Via the cobordism hypothesis, this produces respectively 2, 3 and 4-dimensional framed local topological field theories. In particular, we produc…
We construct an equivalence between the 2-categories VMonCat of rigid V-monoidal categories for a braided monoidal category V and VModTens of oplax braided functors from V into the Drinfeld centers of ordinary rigid monoidal categories. The 1-cells in each are the respective lax monoidal functors, and the 2-cells are the respective monoidal natural transformations. Our proof also gives an equivalence in the case that we consider only strong monoidal 1-cells on both sides. The 2-categories VMonCat and VModTens have G-graded analogues. We also get an equivalence of 2-categories between G-extensi…
We compute the $L^2$-Betti numbers of the free $C^*$-tensor categories, which are the representation categories of the universal unitary quantum groups $A_u(F)$. We show that the $L^2$-Betti numbers of the dual of a compact quantum group $G$ are equal to the $L^2$-Betti numbers of the representation category $Rep(G)$ and thus, in particular, invariant under monoidal equivalence. As an application, we obtain several new computations of $L^2$-Betti numbers for discrete quantum groups, including the quantum permutation groups and the free wreath product groups. Finally, we obtain upper bounds for…
Let G be a classical compact Lie group and G_μthe associated compact matrix quantum group deformed by a positive parameter μ(or a nonzero and real μin the type A case). It is well known that the category Rep(G_μ) of unitary f.d. representations of G_μis a braided tensor C*-category. We show that any braided tensor *-functor from Rep(G_μ) to another braided tensor C*-category with irreducible tensor unit is full if |μ|\neq 1. In particular, the functor of restriction to the representation category of a proper compact quantum subgroup, cannot be made into a braided functor. Our result also shows…
Davydov-Yetter cohomology classifies infinitesimal deformations of tensor categories and of tensor functors. Our first result is that Davydov-Yetter cohomology for finite tensor categories is equivalent to the cohomology of a comonad arising from the central Hopf monad. This has several applications: First, we obtain a short and conceptual proof of Ocneanu rigidity. Second, it allows to use standard methods from comonad cohomology theory to compute Davydov-Yetter cohomology for a family of non-semisimple finite-dimensional Hopf algebras generalizing Sweedler's four dimensional Hopf algebra.
In this note we prove two main results. 1. In a rigid braided finite tensor category over C (not necessarily semisimple), some power of the Casimir element and some even power of the braiding is unipotent. 2. In a (semisimple) modular category, the twists are roots of unity dividing the algebraic integer D^{5/2}, where D is the global dimension of the category (the sum of squares of dimensions of simple objects). Both results generalize Vafa's theorem, saying that in a modular category twists are roots of unity, and square of the braiding has finite order. We also discuss the notion of the qua…
We show that the rigid C*-tensor categories of finite dimensional type 1 unitary representations of the quantum groups $U_{q}(\mathfrak{g}_{2})$ corresponding to the exceptional Lie group $G_2$ for positive $q\ne 1$ have property (T).
Completely positive and completely bounded mutlipliers on rigid $C^{\ast}$-tensor categories were introduced by Popa and Vaes. Using these notions, we define and study the Fourier-Stieltjes algebra, the Fourier algebra and the algebra of completely bounded multipliers of a rigid $C^{\ast}$-tensor category. The rich structure that these algebras have in the setting of locally compact groups is still present in the setting of rigid $C^{\ast}$-tensor categories. We also prove that Leptin's characterization of amenability still holds in this setting, and we collect some natural observations on pro…
We show that, with some technical conditions, an abelian category can be embedded into the category of bimodules over a ring. The case of semisimple rigid monoidal categories is studied in more detail.
Let V be a simple vertex operator algebra satisfying the following conditions: (i) The homogeneous subspaces of V of weights less than 0 are 0, the homogeneous subspace of V of weight 0 is spanned by the vacuum and V' is isomorphic to V as a V-module. Every weak V-module gradable by nonnegative integers is completely reducible. (iii) V is C_2-cofinite. (In the presence of Condition (i), Conditions (ii) and (iii) are equivalent to a single condition, namely, that every weak V-module is completely reducible.) Using the results obtained by the author in the formulation and proof of the general ve…
We classify semisimple rigid monoidal categories with two isomorphism classes of simple objects over the field of complex numbers. In the appendix written by P.Etingof it is proved that the number of semisimple Hopf algebras with a given finite number of irreducible representations is finite.
We develop a representation theory for $λ$-lattices, arising as standard invariants of subfactors, and for rigid C*-tensor categories, including a definition of their universal C*-algebra. We use this to give a systematic account of approximation and rigidity properties for subfactors and tensor categories, like (weak) amenability, the Haagerup property and property (T). We determine all unitary representations of the Temperley-Lieb-Jones $λ$-lattices and prove that they have the Haagerup property and the complete metric approximation property. We also present the first subfactors with propert…
We propose the notion of a supercategory as an alternative approach to supermathematics. We show that this setting is rich to carry out many of the basic constructions of supermathematics. We also prove generalizations of a number of results in equivariant cohomology, including the Chern-Weil theorem for an arbitrary rigid Lie algebra object. For a quadratic Lie algebra object we obtain a proof of the Duflo isomorphism along the lines of Alekseev-Meinrenken, thereby generalizing their result to Lie superalgebras.
Kazhdan and Wenzl classified all rigid tensor categories with fusion ring isomorphic to the fusion ring of the group $SU(d)$. In this paper we consider the C$^*$-analogue of this problem. Given a rigid C$^*$-tensor category $\mathcal{C}$ with fusion ring isomorphic to the fusion ring of the group $SU(d)$, we can extract a constant $q$ from $\mathcal{C}$ such that there exists a $*$-representation of the Hecke algebra $H_n(q)$ into $\mathcal{C}$. The categorical trace on $\mathcal{C}$ induces a Markov trace on $H_n(q)$. Using this Markov trace and a representation of $H_n(q)$ in $\textrm{Rep}\,…
A pointed fusion category is a rigid tensor category with finitely many isomorphism classes of simple objects which moreover are invertible. Two tensor categories $C$ and $D$ are weakly Morita equivalent if there exists an indecomposable right module category $M$ over $C$ such that $Fun_C(M,M)$ and $D$ are tensor equivalent. We use the Lyndon-Hochschild-Serre spectral sequence associated to abelian group extensions to give necessary and sufficient conditions in terms of cohomology classes for two pointed fusion categories to be weakly Morita equivalent. This result may permit to classify the e…
Category theoretic aspects of non-rational conformal field theories are discussed. We consider the case that the category C of chiral sectors is a finite tensor category, i.e. a rigid monoidal category whose class of objects has certain finiteness properties. Besides the simple objects, the indecomposable projective objects of C are of particular interest. The fusion rules of C can be block-diagonalized. A conjectural connection between the block-diagonalization and modular transformations of characters of modules over vertex algebras is exemplified with the case of the (1,p) minimal models.
