Sets of lengths in maximal orders in central simple algebras

Let $\mathcal O$ be a holomorphy ring in a global field $K$, and $R$ a classical maximal $\mathcal O$-order in a central simple algebra over $K$. We study sets of lengths of factorizations of cancellative elements of $R$ into atoms (irreducibles). In a large majority of cases there exists a transfer homomorphism to a monoid of zero-sum sequences over a ray class group of $\mathcal O$, which implies that all the structural finiteness results for sets of lengths---valid for commutative Krull monoids with finite class group---hold also true for $R$. If $\mathcal O$ is the ring of algebraic integers of a number field $K$, we prove that in the remaining cases no such transfer homomorphism can exist and that several invariants dealing with sets of lengths are infinite.Comment: 40 pages; final version, with minor edits over previous on

On the Davenport constant and group algebras

For a finite abelian group $G$ and a splitting field $K$ of $G$, let $d(G, K)$ denote the largest integer $l \in \N$ for which there is a sequence $S = g_1 \cdot ... \cdot g_l$ over $G$ such that $(X^{g_1} - a_1) \cdot ... \cdot (X^{g_l} - a_l) \ne 0 \in K[G]$ for all $a_1, ..., a_l \in K^{\times}$. If $D(G)$ denotes the Davenport constant of $G$, then there is the straightforward inequality $D(G)-1 \le d (G, K)$. Equality holds for a variety of groups, and a standing conjecture of W. Gao et.al. states that equality holds for all groups. We offer further groups for which equality holds, but we also give the first examples of groups $G$ for which $D(G) -1 < d(G, K)$ holds. Thus we disprove the conjecture.Comment: 12 pages; fixed typos and clearer proof of Lemma 3.

Factorization theory: From commutative to noncommutative settings

We study the non-uniqueness of factorizations of non zero-divisors into atoms (irreducibles) in noncommutative rings. To do so, we extend concepts from the commutative theory of non-unique factorizations to a noncommutative setting. Several notions of factorizations as well as distances between them are introduced. In addition, arithmetical invariants characterizing the non-uniqueness of factorizations such as the catenary degree, the $\omega$-invariant, and the tame degree, are extended from commutative to noncommutative settings. We introduce the concept of a cancellative semigroup being permutably factorial, and characterize this property by means of corresponding catenary and tame degrees. Also, we give necessary and sufficient conditions for there to be a weak transfer homomorphism from a cancellative semigroup to its reduced abelianization. Applying the abstract machinery we develop, we determine various catenary degrees for classical maximal orders in central simple algebras over global fields by using a natural transfer homomorphism to a monoid of zero-sum sequences over a ray class group. We also determine catenary degrees and the permutable tame degree for the semigroup of non zero-divisors of the ring of $n \times n$ upper triangular matrices over a commutative domain using a weak transfer homomorphism to a commutative semigroup.Comment: 45 page

Cyclically presented modules, projective covers and factorizations

We investigate projective covers of cyclically presented modules, characterizing the rings over which every cyclically presented module has a projective cover as the rings $R$ that are Von Neumann regular modulo their Jacobson radical $J(R)$ and in which idempotents can be lifted modulo $J(R)$. Cyclically presented modules naturally appear in the study of factorizations of elements in non-necessarily commutative integral domains. One of the possible applications is to the modules $M_R$ whose endomorphism ring $E:=(M_R)$ is Von Neumann regular modulo $J(E)$ and in which idempotents lift modulo $J(E)$.Comment: 17 page