Fusion algebras with negative structure constants

Abstract

We introduce fusion algebras with not necessarily positive structure constants and without identity element. We prove that they are semisimple when tensored with $\mathbb{C}$ and that their characters satisfy orthogonality relations. Then we define the proper notion of subrings and factor rings for such algebras. For certain algebras $R$ we prove the existence of a ring $R'$ with nonnegative structure constants such that $R$ is a factor ring of $R'$. We give some examples of interesting factor rings of the representation ring of the quantum double of a finite group. Then, we investigate the algebras associated to Hadamard matrices. For an $n\times n$-matrix the corresponding algebra is a factor ring of a subalgebra of $\mathbb{Z}[{(\mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z})}^{n-2}]$.