An Engel condition with skew derivations. (Q1034724)

The authors extend [\textit{C. Lanski}, Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 118, No. 3, 731-734 (1993; Zbl 0821.16037)] from derivations to skew derivations. Let \(R\) be a prime ring and \(L\) a noncommutative Lie ideal of \(R\). For \(x,y\in R\) set \([x,y]_1=[x,y]=xy-yx\) and when \(n>1\) let \([x,y]_n=[[x,y]_{n-1},y]\). Given \(\sigma\in\Aut(R)\), any additive \(d\colon R\to R\) satisfying \(d(xy)=\sigma(x)y+d(x)y\) for all \(x,y\in R\) is a \(\sigma\)-derivation, or skew derivation, of \(R\). The main result in this paper assumes that for a fixed \(k\geq 1\) and some nonzero skew derivation of \(R\), \([d(x),x]_k=0\) all \(x\in L\). The conclusion is that \(\text{char\,}R=2\) and \(R\) embeds in \(M_2(F)\) for a field \(F\). This result also generalizes the main result for automorphisms in [\textit{J. Mayne}, Can. Math. Bull. 35, No. 4, 510-514 (1992; Zbl 0784.16023)] where \(\sigma\) replaces the \(d\) above and \(k=3\): the skew derivation here is \(\sigma-I_R\), so \((\sigma-I_R)(x)=\sigma(x)\).