Subgroups of finite index in an additive group of a ring (Q1599733)

Let \(R\) be an associative ring with a unit, \(R^*\) the multiplicative group of \(R\), \(G\) a subgroup of the additive group of \(R\), \(G^*=R^*\cap G\), and \(G^{*-1}=\{g^{-1}:g\in G^*\}\). We say that \(R\) is a \(G^*\cdot G^{*-1}\)-ring, if \(R^*=G^*\cdot G^{*-1}\), whenever \(G\) is of finite index in \(R\). It is known that the class of these rings includes infinite division rings [see Proposition 2.14 of \textit{V. Bergelson, D. B. Shapiro}, Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 116, No. 4, 885-896 (1992; Zbl 0784.12002)], and it is not difficult to see that this does not apply to any finite field. The paper under review shows that the class of \(G^*\cdot G^{*-1}\)-rings contains every semisimple ring without nontrivial finite homomorphic images, as well as the quotient ring of any \(G^*\cdot G^{*-1}\)-ring by its Jacobson radical. Also, it proves that the direct ring product \(R_1\times R_2\) lies in this class if and only if \(R_1\) and \(R_2\) possess the same property.