A sequence to compute the Brauer group of certain quasi-triangular Hopf algebras

A deeper understanding of recent computations of the Brauer group of Hopf algebras is attained by explaining why a direct product decomposition for this group holds and describing the non-interpreted factor occurring in it. For a Hopf algebra $B$ in a braided monoidal category $C$, and under certain assumptions on the braiding (fulfilled if $C$ is symmetric), we construct a sequence for the Brauer group $BM(C;B)$ of $B$-module algebras, generalizing Beatties one. It allows one to prove that $BM(C;B) cong Br(C) times Gal(C;B),$ where $Br(C)$ is the Brauer group of $C$ and $Gal(C;B)$ the group of $B$-Galois objects. We also show that $BM(C;B)$ contains a subgroup isomorphic to $Br(C) times Hc(C;B,I),$ where $Hc(C;B,I)$ is the second Sweedler cohomology group of $B$ with values in the unit object $I$ of $C$. These results are applied to the Brauer group of a quasi-triangular Hopf algebra that is a Radford biproduct $B times H$, where $H$ is a usual Hopf algebra over a field $K$, the Hopf subalgebra generated by the quasi-triangular structure $R$ is contained in $H$ and $B$ is a Hopf algebra in the category ${}_HM$ of left $H$-modules. The Hopf algebras whose Brauer group was recently computed fit this framework. We finally show that $BM(K,H,R) times Hc({}_HM;B,K)$ is a subgroup of the Brauer group $BM(K,B times H,R),$ confirming the suspicion that a certain cohomology group of $B times H$ (second lazy cohomology group was conjectured) embeds into $BM(K,B times H,R).$ New examples of Brauer groups of quasi-triangular Hopf algebras are computed using this sequence.