
weak Hopf algebras on unital algebras [11]; in the second case, there are the partial actions of
Hopf algebras on k-categories [2]; and there are partial actions of multiplier Hopf algebras on
nondegenerate nonunital algebras, which fall in the third case [9, 21].
In the present work we investigate partial actions of Hopf algebras on nonunital algebras
in the broadest sense possible, including the degenerate ones, but we also study in depth the
case of partial actions on algebras with local units. This approach was motivated by partial
Hopf actions on k-categories, which were in turn inspired by group actions and Hopf actions
on categories [13, 23].
We relate partial H-module nonunital algebras and nonunital algebras in the category of
partial representations of H(Theorem 22). Constructing the partial smash product A#H, we
relate its left modules with the (A, H)-modules, extending a result from [12]. We introduce
globalizations and we establish sufficient conditions for the existence and uniqueness of minimal
globalizations (Thm. 41 and Thm. 43). It is also proved that there is a strict Morita context
between A#Hand B#H, where Bis a globalization of the partial action of Hon A.
In [2] it was shown that every partial action on a k-category Cinduces a partial action on
the “matrix algebra” a(C), which is an algebra with local units. Conversely, given an algebra
Awith a system of local units S, one may construct a k-category CS(A), and we study partial
actions on Athat induce partial actions on this category. We prove that the category of the
left unital modules of Ais equivalent to the category of the left modules of the category CS(A).
Also, if Cis a k-category, we proved that the category of the left C-modules and the category
of the left unital a(C)-modules are equivalent.
We develop a theory of Morita equivalence of partial Hopf actions, extending the concept
and results of Morita equivalence of partial group actions presented in [1]. Following the
first results of Abadie, Dokuchaev, Exel and Sim´on, in [1], we define the concept of Morita
equivalence of partial H-actions, and with this we prove that every symmetric partial action
on an idempotent algebra is Morita equivalent to a partial action where the algebra has trivial
right (or left) annihilator (Thm. 86). In [1], the authors constructed a canonical globalization
for a regular partial group action and proved that whenever two regular partial G-actions are
Morita equivalent, the global actions of its canonical globalizations are also Morita equivalent;
we have obtained a similar result for partial H-actions (Thm. 87).
Finally, it also holds that if His a Hopf algebra and Ais a partial H-module algebra with a
system of local units S, then the categories of modules over the algebras A#Hand a(CS(A))#H,
and over the k-category CS(A)#H, are all equivalent (Corollaries 84 and 85).
Throughout this work, all the linear structures will be considered over a field k; for instance,
algebra means k-algebra. Unless otherwise stated, “module” stands for “left module” and
“partial action” stands for “left partial action”.
2. Partial Hopf Actions
The intent of the next three subsections is to relate the suggested definition of partial Hopf
actions on associative algebras with previous results found in the literature.
2.1. Partial Hopf Actions and the Smash Product. In [10], Caenepeel and Jansen intro-
duced the concept of a Hopf algebra Hacting partially on a unital algebra Aas a linear map
from H⊗Ato Awhich satisfies some necessary and sufficient conditions for the respective
smash product A#Hto be a unital, associative algebra.
Definition 1 ([10]).Let Hbe a Hopf algebra and Aan algebra with unit 1A. A linear map
·:H⊗A−→ A,h⊗a7→ h·ais called a partial action of Hon Aif, for all a, b ∈A,h, g ∈H,
(1) 1H·a=a;
(2) h·(ab) = P(h(1) ·a)(h(2) ·b);
(3) h·(g·a) = P(h(1) ·1A)(h(2)g·a),
2