Jones index and fixed rings of simple algebras (Q1320138)

Let \(S \subset R\) be rings with the same identity. The (left) Jones index of \(S\) in \(R\) is \[ [R : S]_J = \lim_{n \to \infty} \sup[\mu_S(_SR^{\otimes n})]^{1/n}, \] where \(_SR^{\otimes n} = R \otimes_S \dots \otimes_S R\) is a left \(S\)-module, \(\mu_S(M)\) is the minimal number of generators of a left \(S\)-module \(M\). In section 1 of this paper the author proves some general facts about the index for semisimple pairs of algebras, stability of the index under extensions, and multiplicativity properties of the index. In section 2 she specializes to the case where \(R\) and \(S\) are finite-dimensional separable \(k\)-algebras over a field \(k\). She relates the index to the dimension of the centralizer in \(R\) of \(S\) (as a \(k\)-algebra). As a result she is able to generalize a fixed ring result of Jacobson (1956). Thus in section 2.2 she specializes to the case where \(R\) is a simple finite-dimensional \(k\)-algebra and \(S\) is the fixed ring of some group of automorphisms acting on \(R\).