Finite-dimensional pointed Hopf algebras with alternating groups are trivial

Abstract

It is shown that Nichols algebras over alternating groups Am (m ≥ 5) are infinite dimensional. This proves that any complex finite dimensional pointed Hopf algebra with group of group-likes isomorphic to Am is isomorphic to the group algebra. In a similar fashion, it is shown that the Nichols algebras over the symmetric groups Sm are all infinite-dimensional, except maybe those related to the transpositions considered in Fomin and Kirillov (Progr Math 172:146-182, 1999), and the class of type (2, 3) in S5. We also show that any simple rack X arising from a symmetric group, with the exception of a small list, collapse, in the sense that the Nichols algebra B(X, q) is infinite dimensional, q an arbitrary cocycle. © 2010 Fondazione Annali di Matematica Pura ed Applicata and Springer-Verlag.