Zariski cancellation problem for non-domain noncommutative algebras (Q2312837)

There are several formulations for what is now generally referred to as the Zariski Cancellation Problem. Let \(\Bbbk\) denote a field, then one can ask the following questions: \begin{itemize} \item[(1)] Given finitely generated fields \(L,L'\) over \(\Bbbk\), does an isomorphism \(L(x) \cong L'(x)\) of simple transcendental extensions of \(L,L'\), respectively, imply \(L \cong L'\)? \item[(2)] Given a \(\Bbbk\)-variety \(V\), does an isomorphism \(V \times \mathbb{A}^1 \cong W \times \mathbb{A}^1\) for a \(\Bbbk\)-variety \(W\) imply \(V \cong W\)? \item[(3)] Given a \(\Bbbk\)-algebra \(A\), does an isomorphism \(A[x] \cong B[x]\) for \(B\) a \(\Bbbk\)-algebra imply \(A \cong B\)? \end{itemize} When a \(\Bbbk\)-algebra \(A\) satisfies (3) for \textit{any} \(\Bbbk\)-algebra \(B\), we say \(A\) is \textit{cancellative}. In [Sel. Math., New Ser. 23, No. 3, 1709--1737 (2017; Zbl 1380.16024)], \textit{J. Bell} and \textit{J. J. Zhang} studied the cancellation property for non-commutative algebras. A key tool therein is the Makar-Limanov invariant, which is defined as the intersection of all locally nilpotent derivations of a given algebra. In the present work, the authors extend this study with applications to algebras that are not necessarily domains. Many cancellation properties are derived from properties of the center of an algebra and the intersection of the Makar-Limanov invariant with the center. In particular, the authors show that the path algebra of a finite quiver is cancellative. It is shown that if \(A\) is a strongly Hopfian \(\Bbbk\)-algebra and the center of \(A\) is \(\Bbbk\), then \(A\) is cancellative. Moreover, if \(\Bbbk\) is algebraically closed and \(A\) is a prime affine \(\Bbbk\)-algebra of Gelfand-Kirillov dimension one, then \(A\) is cancellative.