Height-one prime ideals in semigroup algebras satisfying a polynomial identity (Q1604380)

Let \(K\) be a field and \(S\) be a submonoid of a torsion-free Abelian-by-finite group. The main purpose of this paper is to describe the height-one prime ideals of the semigroup algebra \(K[S]\). In particular it is shown that if \(P\) is a prime ideal of \(K[S]\) which meets \(S\), then \(K[S\cap P]\) is a prime ideal in \(K[S]\) while if \(Q\) is a prime ideal of \(S\), then \(K[Q]\) is a prime ideal in \(K[S]\). From this it follows that the height-one prime ideals of \(K[S]\) which meet \(S\) are of the form \(K[Q]\), where \(Q\) is a minimal prime ideal of \(S\). As an application, it is shown that if \(K[S]\) is a unique factorization ring (UFR) in the sense of \textit{A. W. Chatters}, \textit{M. P. Gilchrist} and \textit{D. Wilson} [Proc. Edinb. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 35, No. 2, 255-269 (1992; Zbl 0762.16014)], then \(K[G]\) is also a UFR, where \(G\) is the group of quotients of \(S\). Conversely, if every prime ideal of \(S\) contains a prime element and \(K[S]\) is a UFR such that every height-one prime ideal is generated by a semi-invariant, then \(K[S]\) is a UFR. (A nonzero element \(r\in K[G]\) is called semi-invariant if there is a homomorphism \(\lambda\) from \(G\) to the group of units of \(K\) such that \(grg^{-1}=\lambda(g)r\) for all \(g\in G\).) The paper finishes with examples of binomial monoids whose semigroup algebras are PI Noetherian UFRs (see also \textit{E. Jespers} and \textit{J. Okniński} [J. Algebra 202, No. 1, 250-275 (1998; Zbl 0910.20038)]).