Stably just infinite rings. (Q2474287)

Let \(K\) be a field. An infinite-dimensional \(K\)-algebra \(A\) is just infinite if \(A/I\) is a finite-dimensional \(K\)-algebra for every nonzero ideal \(I\) in \(A\). The authors study just infinite algebras which remain so upon extension of scalars by arbitrary field extensions. Such rings are called stably just infinite. Their first result says that if \(K\) is an algebraically closed field and \(A\) is a non-PI right Noetherian just infinite \(K\)-algebra, then \(A\) is stably just infinite. Their next result shows that if \(K\) is an uncountable algebraically closed field and \(A\) is a countably generated just infinite \(K\)-algebra, then \(A\) is stably just infinite. They also give several counterexamples showing that all the assumptions of their theorems are essential. Another interesting result in the paper is that if \(K\) is an algebraically closed field and \(A\) is a non-PI just infinite algebra with \(Z(A)=K\), where \(Z(A)\) denotes the centre of \(A\), then \(A\) is stably just infinite if and only if \(A\) is centrally closed, i.e. the center of the Martindale ring of quotients equals \(Z(A)\). This allows the authors to prove interesting results on extended centers of just infinite algebras. They also give a complete description of stable just infinite PI algebras (Theorem 5.5).