Free symmetric and unitary pairs in the field of fractions of torsion-free nilpotent group algebras (Q2188384)

In [\textit{A. Lichtman}, Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 63, 15--16 (1977; Zbl 0352.20026)] the following interesting conjecture was raised: \textit{Conjecture}. The multiplicative group of a noncommutative division ring contains a free noncyclic subgroup. The paper under review is devoted to the study of this problem. Frequently, division rings come accompanied by involutions. One instance is the case of division rings of fractions of group algebras which are Ore domains. To be more precise, by an involution on a group \(G\) one understands an anti-automorphism of \(G\) of order \(2\). If \(k\) is a field, \(a\) \(k\)-involution on a \(k\)-algebra \(R\) is a \(4k\)-linear map \(*\) satisfying the equalities \((xy)^* = y^*x^*\) and \((x^*)^* = x\) for all \(x, y \in R\). Thus, if \(G\) is a group and \(k\) is a field, the \(k\)-linear extension of an involution on \(G\) to the group algebra \(k[G]\) is a \(k\)-involution. Suppose that \(k[G]4\) is embedded in a division ring \(D\) generated (as a division ring) by \(k[G]\). There is at most one involution on \(D\) which is the extension of the involution on \(k[G]\). When this is the case, we say that the \(k\)-involution on \(D\) is induced by the involution of \(G\). For example, if \(k[G]\) is an Ore domain with division ring of fractions \(D\), there always exists a \(k\)-involution on \(D\) induced by the involution of \(G\). Furthermore, three important results are proved as follows: Theorem 1.3. Let \(k[G]\) be the group algebra of a nonabelian torsion-free nilpotent group \(G\) over a field \(k\) of characteristic different from \(2\) and let \(D\) be the division ring of fractions of \(k[G]\). Let \(*\) be a \(k\)-involution on \(D\) which is induced by an involution of \(G\). Then \(D\) contains both free symmetric and free unitary pairs with respect to \(*\). Theorem 1.4. Let \(D\) be a division ring with center \(k\) of characteristic different from \(2\), with a \(k\)-involution \(*\). Let \(N\) be a normal subgroup of \(D^\bullet\) and assume that \(N\) contains a torsion-free nilpotent-by-finite subgroup \(G\) which is not abelian-by-finite. If both \(G\) and \(N\) are invariant under \(*\), then \(N\) contains a free symmetric pair with respect to \(*\). Given a field \(k\), a residually torsion-free nilpotent group \(G\) and a total ordering \(<\) on \(G\) such that \((G, <)\) is an ordered group, \(k(G)\) denote the subdivision ring of the Malcev-Neumann series ring \(k((G, <))\), generated by the group algebra \(k[G]\). Theorem 1.6. Let \(k\) be a field of characteristic different from \(2\) and let \(G\) be a nonabelian residually torsion-free nilpotent group with an involution \(*\). Then \(k(G)\) contains a free symmetric pair with respect to the \(k\)-involution induced by \(*\).