On centers of bimodule categories and induction-restriction functors

TL;DR

This paper explores a categorical analogue of Lusztig's induction and restriction functors within multifusion categories, analyzing their decomposition and relation to character tables, especially under spherical structures and bimodule traces.

Contribution

It introduces a categorical framework for induction-restriction functors in multifusion categories and relates their properties to character tables and crossed S-matrices.

Findings

Decomposition of simple objects relates to Grothendieck ring character tables.

In spherical cases, crossed S-matrices connect to the functors' behavior.

Center categories form invertible module categories over the Drinfeld center.

Abstract

In this paper we study a toy categorical version of Lusztig's induction and restriction functors for character sheaves, but in the abstract setting of multifusion categories. Let $\mathscr{C}$ be an indecomposable multifusion category and let $\mathscr{M}$ be an invertible $\mathscr{C}$-bimodule category. Then the center $\mathscr{Z}_{\mathscr{C}}(\mathscr{M})$ of $\mathscr{M}$ with respect to $\mathscr{C}$ is an invertible module category over the Drinfeld center $\mathscr{Z}(\mathscr{C})$ which is a braided fusion category. Let $\zeta_{\mathscr{M}}:\mathscr{Z}_{\mathscr{C}}(\mathscr{M})\longrightarrow\mathscr{M}$ denote the forgetful functor and let $\chi_{\mathscr{M}}:\mathscr{M}\longrightarrow\mathscr{Z}_{\mathscr{C}}(\mathscr{M})$ be its right adjoint functor. These functors can be considered as toy analogues of the restriction and induction functors used by Lusztig to define character sheaves on (possibly disconnected) reductive groups. In this paper we look at the relationship between the decomposition of the images of the simple objects under the above functors and the character tables of certain Grothendieck rings. In case $\mathscr{C}$ is equipped with a spherical structure and $\mathscr{M}$ is equipped with a $\mathscr{C}$-bimodule trace, we relate this to the notion of the crossed S-matrix associated with the $\mathscr{Z}(\mathscr{C})$-module category $\mathscr{Z}_{\mathscr{C}}(\mathscr{M})$.