A dichotomy result for prime algebras of Gelfand-Kirillov dimension two

Let $k$ be an uncountable field. We show that a finitely generated prime Goldie $k$-algebra of quadratic growth is either primitive or satisfies a polynomial identity, answering a question of Small in the affirmative.Comment: 10 page

Noetherian algebras over algebraically closed fields

Let $k$ be an uncountable algebraically closed field and let $A$ be a countably generated left Noetherian $k$-algebra. Then we show that $A \otimes_k K$ is left Noetherian for any field extension $K$ of $k$. We conclude that all subfields of the quotient division algebra of a countably generated left Noetherian domain over $k$ are finitely generated extensions of $k$. We give examples which show that $A\otimes_k K$ need not remain left Noetherian if the hypotheses are weakened.Comment: 10 page

F-sets and finite automata

The classical notion of a k-automatic subset of the natural numbers is here extended to that of an F-automatic subset of an arbitrary finitely generated abelian group $\Gamma$ equipped with an arbitrary endomorphism F. This is applied to the isotrivial positive characteristic Mordell-Lang context where F is the Frobenius action on a commutative algebraic group G over a finite field, and $\Gamma$ is a finitely generated F-invariant subgroup of G. It is shown that the F-subsets of $\Gamma$ introduced by the second author and Scanlon are F-automatic. It follows that when G is semiabelian and X is a closed subvariety then X intersect $\Gamma$ is F-automatic. Derksen's notion of a k-normal subset of the natural numbers is also here extended to the above abstract setting, and it is shown that F-subsets are F-normal. In particular, the X intersect $\Gamma$ appearing in the Mordell-Lang problem are F-normal. This generalises Derksen's Skolem-Mahler-Lech theorem to the Mordell-Lang context.Comment: The final section is revised following an error discovered by Christopher Hawthorne; it is no longer claimed that an F-normal subset has a finite symmetric difference with an F-subset. The main theorems of the paper remain unchange

A problem around Mahler functions

Let $K$ be a field of characteristic zero and $k$ and $l$ be two multiplicatively independent positive integers. We prove the following result that was conjectured by Loxton and van der Poorten during the Eighties: a power series $F(z)\in K[[z]]$ satisfies both a $k$- and a $l$-Mahler type functional equation if and only if it is a rational function.Comment: 52 page