Two-dimensional bialgebras and quantum groups: algebraic structures and tensor network realizations

Abstract We introduce a framework to define coalgebra and bialgebra structures on two-dimensional (2D) square lattices, extending the algebraic theory of Hopf algebras and quantum groups beyond the one-dimensional (1D) setting. Our construction is based on defining 2D coproducts through horizontal and vertical maps that satisfy compatibility and associativity conditions, enabling the consistent growth of vector spaces over lattice sites. We present several examples of 2D bialgebras, including group-like and Lie algebra-inspired constructions and a quasi-1D coproduct instance that is applicable to Taft-Hopf algebras and to quantum groups. The approach is further applied to the quantum group <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" overflow="scroll"> <mml:mrow> <mml:msub> <mml:mi>U</mml:mi> <mml:mi>q</mml:mi> </mml:msub> <mml:mo stretchy="false">[</mml:mo> <mml:mi>s</mml:mi> <mml:mi>u</mml:mi> <mml:mo stretchy="false">(</mml:mo> <mml:mn>2</mml:mn> <mml:mo stretchy="false">)</mml:mo> <mml:mo stretchy="false">]</mml:mo> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> , for which we construct 2D generalizations of its generators, analyze q -deformed singlet states, and derive a 2D R-matrix satisfying an intertwining relation in the semiclassical limit. Additionally, we show how tensor network states, particularly projected entangled pair states, naturally induce 2D coalgebra structures when supplemented with appropriate boundary conditions. Our results establish a local and algebraically consistent method to embed quantum group symmetries into higher-dimensional lattice systems, potentially connecting to the emerging theory of fusion 2-categories and categorical symmetries in quantum many-body physics.