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Grothendieck rings of near-Tambara–Yamagami fusion categories

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Abstract

We determine the Grothendieck rings of fusion categories over C\mathcal{C} containing a nonpointed Tambara–Yamagami fusion subcategory and exactly one further simple object. The subcategory necessarily has rank five, its invertible objects form the Klein four-group, and the coefficient κκ of the additional simple object in its tensor square belongs to {0,2,7}\{0,2,7\}. Each of these three based rings is categorifiable. For κ=0κ=0, every category belongs, up to tensor equivalence, to the rank-one odd-component extension list of Choi–Lu–Sun. For κ=2κ=2 we construct an explicit unitary group-theoretical realization, and for κ=7κ=7 a realization is Rep(PSU(3,2))\rm{Rep}(\rm{PSU}(3,2)).

Introduction

The classification of fusion categories is a structural problem at the meeting point of representation theory, quantum topology, conformal field theory, subfactor theory, and the mathematical theory of anyons. The Grothendieck ring makes the fusion rules discrete and computable, but it does not determine an associator: the pentagon equations impose additional, highly restrictive constraints. Consequently, a fusion ring may satisfy every evident numerical condition and still admit no categorification. Exact analyses of small and structured families are therefore valuable both for the classification program and for producing reliable algebraic models for topological and physical constructions.

Tambara–Yamagami categories are canonical nonpointed examples in which all but one simple object are invertible and the remaining object has Frobenius–Perron dimension ∣G∣\sqrt{|G|} [43]. They are explicit enough for detailed calculations, while already displaying irrational dimensions, nontrivial associativity, and arithmetic constraints. Near-integral fusion categories, formed by adjoining one simple object to a proper maximal-rank fusion subcategory [28], provide a natural next layer of complexity. The near-Tambara–Yamagami case is especially well suited to a complete study: the Tambara–Yamagami subcategory supplies strong symmetry, whereas the extra simple object creates a sharp test of categorifiability.

Following [28], we write C=C(D,κ)\mathcal C=\mathcal C(\mathcal D,\kappa) for such a near-Tambara–Yamagami category, where D\mathcal D is nonpointed. We denote by GG the group of invertible objects of D\mathcal D, by tt its unique noninvertible simple object, and by ρ\rho the unique simple object of C∖D\mathcal C\setminus\mathcal D. The fusion rules are

∣G∣=n2,FPdim⁡(t)=n,ρ⊗ρ≅⨁g∈Gg⊕nt⊕κρ,|G|=n^2,\qquad \operatorname{FPdim}(t)=n,\qquad \rho\otimes \rho\cong \bigoplus_{g\in G}g\oplus n t\oplus\kappa \rho,

so that, for d=FPdim⁡(ρ)d=\operatorname{FPdim}(\rho),

d2=κd+2n2.d^2=\kappa d+2n^2.

Our first result reduces the numerical possibilities to rank six. The following table records the candidates produced by the formal-codegree and indicator arguments; the irrational candidate κ=8\kappa=8 is ruled out later by Theorem 3.24.

Theorem 1.1. Let C=C(D,κ)\mathcal C=\mathcal C(\mathcal D,\kappa) be a near-Tambara–Yamagami fusion category over C\mathbb C, with D\mathcal D nonpointed. The numerical analysis gives n=2,G≅C2×C2,rank⁡(C)=6,n=2,\qquad G\cong C_2\times C_2,\qquad \operatorname{rank}(\mathcal C)=6, and the following candidate values: κdFPdim⁡(C)0221684+2648+16624247872\begin{array}{c|c|c} \kappa&d&\operatorname{FPdim}(\mathcal C)\\\hline 0&2\sqrt2&16\\ 8&4+2\sqrt6&48+16\sqrt6\\ 2&4&24\\ 7&8&72 \end{array} The first two rows arise in the irrational case and the last two in the integral case. The candidate κ=8\kappa=8 is impossible by Theorem 3.24.

The irrational analysis is carried out in § 3. Formal codegrees first force n=2n=2 and κ\kappa to be a multiple of eight. For positive multiples of eight, a Galois reflection on the Drinfeld center, together with two Frobenius–Schur indicator traces, produces simultaneous constraints on sums of roots of unity. A quadratic trace bound leaves only κ=8\kappa=8 after the zero parameter has been separated. The subsequent cyclotomic moment argument excludes that remaining candidate. The zero-parameter categories are covered by the rank-one odd-component extension list of Choi–Lu–Sun [24].

§ 4 treats the integral case independently. An integral parametrization gives two branches. The first branch leads to a Tannakian subcategory and a finite group with a normal subgroup whose nonidentity elements are conjugate; the second leads to a sharply doubly transitive group. The first branch uses the braided Tambara–Yamagami restriction and elementary arithmetic; the second uses the order bound on GG. Both force n=2n=2, leaving κ=7\kappa=7 and κ=2\kappa=2, respectively.

The numerical result does not by itself classify associators. We therefore state the categorical conclusions separately. The parameter 77 is realized by Rep⁡(PSU⁡(3,2))\operatorname{Rep}(\operatorname{PSU}(3,2)). For κ=2\kappa=2, § 4.2 constructs an explicit unitary group-theoretical fusion category with the fusion ring R2R_2.

For κ∈Z≥0\kappa\in\mathbb Z_{\geq0}, let RκR_\kappa be the based ring with basis G∪{t,ρ}G\cup\{t,\rho\}, where G=C2×C2G=C_2\times C_2, group multiplication on GG, and

gt=tg=t,gρ=ρg=ρ(g∈G),t2=∑g∈Gg,tρ=ρt=2ρ,ρ2=∑g∈Gg+2t+κρ.\begin{equation} \begin{gathered} gt=tg=t,\qquad g\rho=\rho g=\rho\quad(g\in G),\qquad t^2=\sum_{g\in G}g,\\ t\rho=\rho t=2\rho,\qquad \rho^2=\sum_{g\in G}g+2t+\kappa\rho. \end{gathered} \tag*{(1.1)} \end{equation}

The following theorem classifies the categorifiable based rings in the family and records the available categorical conclusions.

Theorem 1.2. Let C\mathcal C be a fusion category over C\mathbb C containing a nonpointed Tambara–Yamagami fusion subcategory D\mathcal D and exactly one simple object outside D\mathcal D. Then rank⁡(D)=5,G≅C2×C2,K0(C)≅Rκfor κ∈{0,2,7}.\operatorname{rank}(\mathcal D)=5,\qquad G\cong C_2\times C_2,\qquad K_0(\mathcal C)\cong R_\kappa\quad\text{for }\kappa\in\{0,2,7\}. Each of these three based rings is categorifiable. More precisely:

  1. For κ=0\kappa=0, every such category is tensor equivalent to an entry in the eight-solution list of rank-one odd-component extensions of Rep⁡(H8)\operatorname{Rep}(H_8) in [24 Section 7 and Appendix C]; see Theorem 3.13 for the precise scope of this assertion.

  2. For κ=2\kappa=2, Theorem 4.12 provides an explicit unitary group-theoretical categorification.

  3. For κ=7\kappa=7, Rep⁡(PSU⁡(3,2))\operatorname{Rep}(\operatorname{PSU}(3,2)) is a categorification, as in Example 2.1.

The dimensions are κFPdim⁡(t)FPdim⁡(ρ)FPdim⁡(C)0222162242472872.\begin{array}{c|c|c|c} \kappa&\operatorname{FPdim}(t)&\operatorname{FPdim}(\rho)&\operatorname{FPdim}(\mathcal C)\\\hline 0&2&2\sqrt2&16\\ 2&2&4&24\\ 7&2&8&72. \end{array} For κ=2,7\kappa=2,7, the assertion concerns based-ring isomorphism and existence, not classification of all realizations up to tensor equivalence.

Preliminaries

Pseudo-unitary fusion categories

Throughout, let C\mathcal C be a fusion category over the field of complex numbers C\mathbb{C}. We choose representatives

Irr⁡(C)={X1=1,X2,…,Xn}\operatorname{Irr}(\mathcal C)=\{X_1=\mathbf 1,X_2,\ldots,X_n\}

for the isomorphism classes of simple objects, with 1\mathbf 1 denoting the tensor unit. They form the canonical Z\mathbb Z-basis of the Grothendieck ring K0(C)K_0(\mathcal C), and all structure constants relative to this basis are nonnegative integers.

For simple objects X,YX,Y, write the tensor-product decomposition in the form

X⊗Y≅⨁Z∈Irr⁡(C)NXYZZ.X\otimes Y\cong \bigoplus_{Z\in\operatorname{Irr}(\mathcal C)}N_{XY}^{Z} Z.

The nonnegative integer NXYZN_{XY}^{Z} is the fusion coefficient, namely the multiplicity of ZZ in X⊗YX\otimes Y. The multiplicity of C\mathcal C is the maximum of these integers as X,Y,ZX,Y,Z range over Irr⁡(C)\operatorname{Irr}(\mathcal C). Rigidity yields the Frobenius reciprocity relations

NXYZ=NZ Y∗X=NX∗ ZY=NY∗ X∗Z∗,X,Y,Z∈Irr⁡(C).N_{XY}^{Z} =N_{Z\,Y^*}^{X} =N_{X^*\,Z}^{Y} =N_{Y^*\,X^*}^{Z^*}, \qquad X,Y,Z\in\operatorname{Irr}(\mathcal C).

For each X∈Irr⁡(C)X\in\operatorname{Irr}(\mathcal C), let NXN_X be the fusion matrix whose entries are given by

(NX)Y Z=NXYZ,Y,Z∈Irr⁡(C).(N_X)_{Y}^{\,Z}=N_{XY}^{Z}, \qquad Y,Z\in\operatorname{Irr}(\mathcal C).

Its Perron–Frobenius eigenvalue is positive and is, by definition, the Frobenius–Perron dimension of XX, denoted by FPdim⁡(X)\operatorname{FPdim}(X). The Frobenius–Perron theorem, together with [33 Theorem 8.6], shows that these numbers extend uniquely to a ring homomorphism FPdim⁡:K0(C)⟶R\operatorname{FPdim}:K_0(\mathcal C)\longrightarrow\mathbb R. The Frobenius–Perron dimension of C\mathcal C is

FPdim⁡(C)=∑X∈Irr⁡(C)FPdim⁡(X)2.\operatorname{FPdim}(\mathcal C) =\sum_{X\in\operatorname{Irr}(\mathcal C)}\operatorname{FPdim}(X)^2.

A pivotal structure on C\mathcal C is a monoidal natural isomorphism i:Id⁡C⟹(−)∗∗i:\operatorname{Id}_{\mathcal C}\Longrightarrow(-)^{**}, where (−)∗(-)^* denotes the duality functor. Its pivotal trace defines dim⁡(X)\dim(X). The intrinsic global dimension is

dim⁡(C)=∑X∈Irr⁡(C)dim⁡(X)dim⁡(X∗)\dim(\mathcal C)=\sum_{X\in\operatorname{Irr}(\mathcal C)}\dim(X)\dim(X^*)

by [33 Proposition 2.9]. A pivotal structure is spherical when dim⁡(X)=dim⁡(X∗)\dim(X)=\dim(X^*) for every simple XX; only then may this formula be written as ∑Xdim⁡(X)2\sum_X\dim(X)^2. A fusion category is pseudo-unitary if its intrinsic global dimension equals its Frobenius–Perron dimension. It then has a unique spherical structure with dim⁡(X)=FPdim⁡(X)>0\dim(X)=\operatorname{FPdim}(X)>0 for every simple XX [33 Proposition 8.23]. We use this positive spherical structure whenever working with a pseudo-unitary category. Unitarity is a stronger property and will be established separately where it is needed.

The Drinfeld center

We will also use the Drinfeld center Z(C)\mathcal Z(\mathcal C) of a fusion category C\mathcal C. Its objects are pairs (Z,cZ,−)(Z,c_{Z,-}), where ZZ is an object of C\mathcal C and cZ,X:Z⊗X→X⊗Zc_{Z,X}:Z\otimes X\to X\otimes Z is a half-braiding, natural in X∈CX\in\mathcal C and satisfying the usual compatibility with tensor products. The center is a braided fusion category; in the standard spherical situation it is modular.

A principal tool that we will use is induction-restriction to the Drinfeld center. There is a forgetful functor F:Z(C)→CF:\mathcal Z(\mathcal C)\to\mathcal C, which sends (Z,cZ,−)(Z,c_{Z,-}) to its underlying object ZZ. This functor has a right adjoint I:C→Z(C)I:\mathcal C\to\mathcal Z(\mathcal C), usually called the induction functor. Thus, for every X∈CX\in\mathcal C and Y∈Z(C)Y\in\mathcal Z(\mathcal C), there is a natural isomorphism Hom⁡Z(C)(Y,I(X))≅Hom⁡C(F(Y),X)\operatorname{Hom}_{\mathcal Z(\mathcal C)}(Y,I(X)) \cong \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathcal C}(F(Y),X).

The underlying object of an induced object admits the standard description [33 Proposition 5.4]:

F(I(X))≅⨁V∈Irr⁡(C)V⊗X⊗V∗.\begin{equation} F(I(X))\cong \bigoplus_{V\in\operatorname{Irr}(\mathcal C)}V\otimes X\otimes V^*. \tag*{(2.1)} \end{equation}

Because the forgetful functor preserves Frobenius–Perron dimensions, this formula gives

FPdim⁡(I(X))=FPdim⁡(X) FPdim⁡(C).\begin{equation} \begin{aligned} \operatorname{FPdim}(I(X))=\operatorname{FPdim}(X)\,\operatorname{FPdim}(\mathcal C). \end{aligned} \tag*{(2.2)} \end{equation}

Throughout, we write [A,B]=dim⁡CHom⁡(A,B)[A,B]=\dim_{\mathbb C}\operatorname{Hom}(A,B) for A,BA,B in a fusion category C\mathcal C. Thus [A,B][A,B] is exactly the multiplicity of BB in AA when BB is simple. Further, if we denote [I(X),Z][I(X),Z] by mX(Z)m_X(Z), we get

[Y,I(X)]=[F(Y),X],[I(X),I(Y)]=∑ZmX(Z)mY(Z).\begin{equation} \begin{split} [Y,I(X)]&=[F(Y),X],\\ [I(X),I(Y)]&=\sum_Zm_X(Z)m_Y(Z). \end{split} \tag*{(2.3)} \end{equation}

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