Units in orders and integral semigroup rings. (Q1400190)

Let \(\Gamma\) be a \(\mathbb{Z}\)-order in a finite dimensional \(\mathbb{Q}\)-algebra. The authors investigate the structure of the FC-center \(\Delta(\Gamma)\), which is finitely generated and characterize when \(\Delta(\Gamma)\) is central. This continues the investigations of \textit{V. Bovdi} [Publ. Math. 57, No. 1-2, 231-239 (2000; Zbl 0969.16012)] and \textit{M. A. Dokuchaev, S. O. Juriaans, C. Polcino Milies} and \textit{M. L. Sobral Singer} [Proc. Edinb. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 44, No. 1, 201-213 (2001; Zbl 0981.16028)]. Further, the authors show that the second center of \(U(\Gamma)\) is a subgroup of \(\Delta(\Gamma)\), which extends earlier results obtained by \textit{S. R. Arora} and \textit{I. B. S. Passi} [Commun. Algebra 21, No. 10, 3673-3683 (1993; Zbl 0788.16024)]. Applications are given to the unit group of the integral semigroup ring \(\mathbb{Z} S\). It follows that often \(U(\mathbb{Z} S)\) has central height 2 and the second hypercenter coincides with the FC-center.