Aperiodic rings, necklace rings, and Witt vectors (Q2641305)

Let \({\mathcal A}\) be the class of rings A with the property that the additive group of A is torsion-free. In [ibid. 50, 95-125 (1983; Zbl 0545.05009)] \textit{N. Metropolis} and \textit{G. C. Rota} show that the cyclotomic identity provides a linkage between the necklace ring and the ring of Witt vectors. In the present paper this linkage is generalized to the case rings of Witt vectors over A for any \(A\in {\mathcal A}\). They are shown to be isomorphic to a suitably defined subring of the necklace ring of the rationalization \(A\otimes Q\) of A, alternatively to a subring of the aperiodic ring of A. A major part of this paper is concerned with a development of the properties and relationships involving the aperiodic ring, which parallels the treatment of the necklace ring given in the paper cited above. In addition a species proof (in the sense of Joyal) of the cyclotomic identity is given, thereby establishing the `naturality' of the identity.