Artin-Hasse exponentials of derivations (Q2581384)

It is well-known that for a nilpotent derivation \(D\) of a (not necessarily associative) algebra \(A\) over a field of characteristic zero the finite sum \(\exp (D)=\sum_{r=0}^\infty D^r/r!\) is an automorphism of \(A\). Over ground fields of prime characteristic \(p\) only the first \(p\) terms of \(\exp(D)\) make sense but even if \(D^p=0\), then the truncated exponential \(E(D)=\sum_{r=0}^{p-1} D^r/r!\) is not always an automorphism of \(A\). Nevertheless, as any algebra automorphism the truncated exponential \(E(D)\) of a derivation \(D\) of \(A\) satisfying \(D^p=0\) can be employed to obtain a new grading of \(A\) from a given one. The paper under review elaborates on this observation by showing that Artin-Hasse exponentials of nilpotent graded derivations of (not necessarily associative) graded algebras over fields of prime characteristic can be used to produce new cyclic gradings from a given one. The author also discusses the connection of grading switching via Artin-Hasse exponentials and toral switching for restricted Lie algebras. Contrary to toral switching, Artin-Hasse exponentials can be employed to obtain gradings over cyclic \(p\)-groups of order larger than \(p\). As an application the author constructs certain cyclic gradings of Zassenhaus Lie algebras for \(p>3\). Moreover, \textit{M. Avitabile} and the author [J. Algebra 293, No.~1, 34--64 (2005; Zbl 1132.17009)] have used the Artin-Hasse exponential of a nilpotent graded derivation to produce certain cyclic gradings of Block Lie algebras.