Wreath products and P.I. algebras (Q1057347)

Let R be an algebra over a field F of characteristic 0 and let G be a group of automorphisms and antiautomorphisms of R. G-polynomial identities can be defined in a natural way. Let \(G\sim S_ n\) be the wreath product of G with the symmetric group \(S_ n\). In the paper under review the authors show how the representation theory of \(G\sim S_ n\) can be applied to the study of the G-identities of R. This is done in a way which generalizes the ordinary case in which the representation theory of \(S_ n\) is applied to P.I. algebras. The group algebra \(F[G\sim S_ n]\) is identified with the space of the multilinear G- polynomials of degree n. In this way, the investigation of the G- identities of R is reduced to the study of one-sided ideals in \(F[G\sim S_ n].\) In the Appendix a detailed and explicit information about \(Z_ 2\sim S_ n\) representations is given. This is essential for the identities of the important class of rings with involution. Finally, the authors deduce some results about the *-cocharacters of the \(k\times k\) matrices \(F_ k\), where \(A^*\) is the transpose of \(A\in F_ k\).