Algebraic deformations arising from orbifolds with discrete torsion. (Q1420629)

Let \(R\) be a commutative ring with the group of units \(R^\times\), let \(G\) be a finite group defining an action on \(R\), and \(\alpha\colon G\times G\to R^\times\) be a 2-cocycle. The authors describe the Hochschild cohomology \(HH^*\), deformations and the behavior of the center of the crossed product ring \(A=R\#_\alpha G\) under deformations when \(R=\mathbb{C}[x,y,z]\) and \(G\) is Abelian. In the particular case \(G=\mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z}\times\mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z}\) they compute all nontrivial groups \(HH^i(A)\), \(i=0,\dots,3\), a universal deformation formula \(F\), which provides a formal deformation \(A_F\) of \(A\) in the sense of \textit{A. Giaquinto} and \textit{J. J. Zhang} [J. Pure Appl. Algebra 128, No. 2, 133-151 (1998; Zbl 0938.17015)], and the center of the algebra \(A_F\). The authors underline that their results are closely related with earlier calculations of chiral numbers for orbifolds with discrete torsion by \textit{C. Vafa} and \textit{E. Witten} [J. Geom. Phys. 15, No. 3, 189-214 (1995; Zbl 0816.53053)].