Rational central simple algebras (Q1817278)

Throughout, all central simple algebras are finite-dimensional over their centres, which in turn are finitely generated field extensions of a ground field \(k\), itself algebraically closed. By a torus of rank \(d\) the authors understand the algebraic group \(T=(k^*)^d\). A torus action on a \(k\)-algebra \(R\) is a group homomorphism \(\varphi:T\to\Aut_{(k)}(R)\). The effect of \(\varphi(t)\) on \(a\in R\) will be written \(t(a)\) or \(ta\). A nonzero element \(a\in R\) is called homogeneous if \(t(a)=\chi(t)a\) for all \(t\in T\), where \(\chi\) is a character of \(T\). If every element of \(R\) can be written as a sum of homogeneous elements, the \(T\)-action is called rational. A division algebra has no non-trivial rational torus actions [see \textit{N. Vonessen}, Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 335, No. 1, 425-442 (1993; Zbl 0789.16025)], and the authors are concerned with actions having the following weaker property: A torus action on a central simple algebra \(A\) is called algebraic if every element of \(A\) can be written as \(bc^{-1}\), where \(b\) is a sum of homogeneous elements and \(c\neq 0\) is a sum of central homogeneous elements. A torus action on a central simple algebra \(A\) is shown to be algebraic if and only if \(A\) contains a \(T\)-stable prime \(k\)-subalgebra \(R\) such that \(T\) acts rationally on \(R\) and every element of \(A\) has the form \(bc^{-1}\) where \(b\in R\) and \(c\) is a non-zero element of the centre of \(R\). Let \(A\) be a central simple algebra, finite-dimensional over its centre \(K\). Denote the matrix size of \(A\) by \(n\) and put \(\text{tr.deg.}(K/k)=d\). If \(A\) admits a faithful algebraic action of a torus of dimension \(d+n-1\), then it is called toroidally rational or \(t\)-rational (over \(k\)). \(A\) is called stably \(t\)-rational if it becomes \(t\)-rational after adjoining a finite number of central indeterminates. These definitions form an analogue to the commutative case, where a field is \(t\)-rational precisely if it is a purely transcendental extension of the ground field [see \textit{M. Demazure}, Ann. Sci. Éc. Norm. Supér., IV. Sér. 3, 507-588 (1971; Zbl 0223.14009)]. For example, a tensor product of symbol algebras is \(t\)-rational. The authors' main result is that conversely (i) every \(t\)-rational division algebra is isomorphic to a tensor product of symbol algebras; further, (ii) a central simple algebra is \(t\)-rational if and only if it is a total matrix algebra over a \(t\)-rational division algebra. The proof of (i) proceeds by finding an alternating form on an appropriately defined free abelian group and is similar to Tignol's description of tensor products of symbol algebras by means of armatures. [\textit{J.-P. Tignol}, Lect. Notes Math. 917, 126-145 (1982; Zbl 0485.16012)]. The proof of (ii) uses non-commutative generalisations of Demazure's description of toroidal actions (cf. M. Demazure l.c.). These results are applied to universal division algebras \(D_{m,n}(F)\), defined as the \(F\)-algebra generated by \(m\) generic \(n\times n\)-matrices. The authors prove (i) if \(D_{m,n}\) is stably \(t\)-rational then \(n\) is squarefree and not divisible by the characteristic of the ground field, (ii) for a square-free integer \(n\), if \(D_{m,p}\) is stably \(t\)-rational for each prime divisor \(p\) of \(n\), then \(D_{m,n}\) is stably \(t\)-rational. They also show that the primary components of a \(t\)-rational division algebra are again \(t\)-rational. Further they obtain the following analogue of the Bergman-Isaacs theorem [\textit{G. M. Bergman} and \textit{I. M. Isaacs}, Proc. Lond. Math. Soc., III. Ser. 27, 69-87 (1973; Zbl 0234.16005)]. If a torus \(T\) acts algebraically on a central simple algebra \(A\), then the fixed ring \(A^T\) is semisimple Artinian. A final remark concerns unirationality. A division algebra of degree \(n\) is called \(t\)-unirational if it is contained in a \(t\)-rational division algebra of degree \(n\). For example \(D_{m,n}\) is \(t\)-unirational for all \(m,n\geq 2\), provided that \(\text{char }k\nmid n\); for \(n=2\) it is actually \(t\)-rational.