16 research outputs found
Group actions on central simple algebras: a geometric approach
We study actions of linear algebraic groups on central simple algebras using
algebro-geometric techniques. Suppose an algebraic group G acts on a central
simple algebra A of degree n. We are interested in questions of the following
type: (a) Do the G-fixed elements form a central simple subalgebra of A of
degree n? (b) Does A have a G-invariant maximal subfield? (c) Does A have a
splitting field with a G-action, extending the G-action on the center of A?
Somewhat surprisingly, we find that under mild assumptions on A and the
actions, one can answer these questions by using techniques from birational
invariant theory (i.e., the study of group actions on algebraic varieties, up
to equivariant birational isomorphisms). In fact, group actions on central
simple algebras turn out to be related to some of the central problems in
birational invariant theory, such as the existence of sections, stabilizers in
general position, affine models, etc. In this paper we explain these
connections and explore them to give partial answers to questions (a)-(c).Comment: 33 pages. Final version, to appear in Journal of Algebra. Includes a
short new section on Brauer-Severi varietie
An Embedding Property of Universal Division Algebras
AbstractLet A be a central simple algebra of degree n and let k be a subfield of its center. We show that A contains a copy of the universal division algebra Dm, n(k) generated by m generic n × n matrices if and only if trdegkA ≥ trdegkDm, n(k) = (m − 1)n2 + 1. Moreover, if in addition the center of A is finitely and separately generated over k then "almost all" division subalgebras of A generated by m elements are isomorphic to Dm, n(k). In the last section we give an application of our main result to the question of embedding free groups in division algebras
Tame group actions on central simple algebras
We study actions of linear algebraic groups on finite-dimensional central
simple algebras. We describe the fixed algebra for a broad class of such
actions.Comment: 19 pages, LaTeX; slightly revised; final version will appear in
Journal of Algebr
Polynomial identity rings as rings of functions
We generalize the usual relationship between irreducible Zariski closed
subsets of the affine space, their defining ideals, coordinate rings, and
function fields, to a non-commutative setting, where "varieties" carry a
PGL_n-action, regular and rational "functions" on them are matrix-valued,
"coordinate rings" are prime polynomial identity algebras, and "function
fields" are central simple algebras of degree n. In particular, a prime
polynomial identity algebra of degree n is finitely generated if and only if it
arises as the "coordinate ring" of a "variety" in this setting. For n = 1 our
definitions and results reduce to those of classical affine algebraic geometry.Comment: 24 pages. This is the final version of the article, to appear in J.
Algebra. Several proofs have been streamlined, and a new section on
Brauer-Severi varieties has been adde