Iterated skew polynomial rings and quantum groups (Q1312869)

The purpose of this paper is to study a class of rings \(R\) constructed in the following way. Let \(A\) be a commutative integral domain, \(\alpha\) an automorphism of \(A\), and \(u\) an element of \(A\). Extend \(\alpha\) to the skew polynomial ring \(S := A[y; \alpha]\) by setting \(\alpha(y) = y\). One easily checks that there is a unique \(\alpha^{-1}\)-derivation \(\delta\) of \(S\) such that \(\delta(A) = 0\), \(\delta(y) = u - \alpha(u)\). Then \(R\) is the skew polynomial ring \(S[X; \alpha^{-1},\delta]\). The prototypical example of such a ring (motivating the results of this paper) is the enveloping algebra of \(\text{sl} (2, \mathbb{C})\); other examples include its quantum analogue \(U_ q(\text{sl} (2, \mathbb{C}))\) and certain other algebras similar to these studied by Smith. In this paper the simple finite-dimensional modules and primitive ideals of such a ring are studied. Complete classifications are obtained in the case where \(A\) is a finitely generated algebra over an algebraically closed field \(k\). This hypothesis is satisfied in the examples that have appeared so far in the literature.