Weak Multiplier Hopf Algebras. The main theory

A weak multiplier Hopf algebra is a pair (A,\Delta) of a non-degenerate idempotent algebra A and a coproduct $\Delta$ on A. The coproduct is a coassociative homomorphism from A to the multiplier algebra M(A\otimes A) with some natural extra properties (like the existence of a counit). Further we impose extra but natural conditions on the ranges and the kernels of the canonical maps T_1 and T_2 defined from A\otimes A to M(A\otimes A) by T_1(a\otimes b)=\Delta(a)(1\otimes b) and T_2(a\ot b)=(a\otimes 1)\Delta(b). The first condition is about the ranges of these maps. It is assumed that there exists an idempotent element E\in M(A\otimes A) such that \Delta(A)(1\ot A)=E(A\ot A) and (A\otimes 1)\Delta(A)=(A\otimes A)E. The second condition determines the behavior of the coproduct on the legs of E. We require (\Delta\otimes \iota)(E)=(\iota\otimes\Delta)(E)=(1\otimes E)(E\ot 1)=(E\otimes 1)(1\otimes E) where $\iota$ is the identity map and where $\Delta\otimes \iota$ and $\iota\otimes\Delta$ are extensions to the multipier algebra M(A\otimes A). Finally, the last condition determines the kernels of the canonical maps T_1 and T_2 in terms of this idempotent E by a very specific relation. From these conditions we develop the theory. In particular, we construct a unique antipode satisfying the expected properties and various other data. Special attention is given to the regular case (that is when the antipode is bijective) and the case of a *-algebra (where regularity is automatic). Weak Hopf algebras are special cases of such weak multiplier Hopf algebras. Conversely, if the underlying algebra of a (regular) weak multiplier Hopf algebra has an identity, it is a weak Hopf algebra. Also any groupoid, finite or not, yields two weak multiplier Hopf algebras in duality.