Groupoid-cograded weak multiplier Hopf (∗-)algebras

Let [Formula: see text] be a groupoid and assume that [Formula: see text] is a family of algebras with identity. First, we introduce the notion of a weak Hopf (groupoid)[Formula: see text]-coalgebra by that if, for each pair [Formula: see text], there is given a unital homomorphism [Formula: see text] satisfying certain properties, generalizing the notion of Hopf group-coalgebras as introduced by Turaev from groups to groupoids and Hopf algebra structures to weak Hopf algebra structures. Then one considers now the direct sum [Formula: see text] of these algebras. It is an algebra, without identity, except when [Formula: see text] is a finite groupoid, but the product is non-degenerate. The maps [Formula: see text] can be used to define a coproduct [Formula: see text] on [Formula: see text] and the conditions imposed on these maps give that [Formula: see text] is a weak multiplier Hopf algebra. It is [Formula: see text]-cograded as explained in this paper. We study these so-called groupoid-cograded weak multiplier Hopf algebras. They are, as explained above, more general than the weak Hopf group-coalgebras (introduced by Van Daele and Wang), generalizing the Turaev’s Hopf group-coalgebras. Moreover, our point of view makes it possible to use results and techniques from the theory of weak multiplier Hopf algebras in the study of weak Hopf groupoid-coalgebras (and generalizations).