Bicrossproducts of multiplier Hopf algebras

TL;DR

This paper extends Majid's bicrossproduct construction to regular multiplier Hopf algebras, establishing duality, compatibility conditions, and demonstrating that bicrossproducts of algebraic quantum groups remain within the same class.

Contribution

It generalizes the bicrossproduct construction to multiplier Hopf algebras, explores duality, and connects the theory to algebraic quantum groups and group factorizations.

Findings

Bicrossproduct of algebraic quantum groups is again an algebraic quantum group.

Duality between bicrossproducts of multiplier Hopf algebras is established.

Compatibility conditions ensure proper coproduct structure.

Abstract

In this paper, we generalize Majid's bicrossproduct construction. We start with a pair (A,B) of two regular multiplier Hopf algebras. We assume that B is a right A-module algebra and that A is a left B-comodule coalgebra. We recall and discuss the two notions in the first sections of the paper. The right action of A on B gives rise to the smash product A # B. The left coaction of B on A gives a possible coproduct on A # B. We will discuss in detail the necessary compatibility conditions between the action and the coaction for this to be a proper coproduct on A # B. The result is again a regular multiplier Hopf algebra. Majid's construction is obtained when we have Hopf algebras. We also look at the dual case, constructed from a pair (C,D) of regular multiplier Hopf algebras where now C is a left D-module algebra while D is a right C-comodule coalgebra. We will show that indeed, these two constructions are dual to each other in the sense that a natural pairing of A with C and of B with D will yield a duality between A # B and the smash product C # D. We show that the bicrossproduct of algebraic quantum groups is again an algebraic quantum group (i.e. a regular multiplier Hopf algebra with integrals). The *-algebra case will also be considered. Some special cases will be treated and they will be related with other constructions available in the literature. Finally, the basic example, coming from a (not necessarily finite) group G with two subgroups H and K such that G=KH and the intersection of H and K is trivial will be used throughout the paper for motivation and illustration of the different notions and results. The cases where either H or K is a normal subgroup will get special attention.