Involutions in a compact ring (Q1824677)

An element x of a ring R with identity is called an involution if \(x^ 2=1\). The aim of the paper is to describe those compact rings with identity which have a finite number of involutions. Below R denotes a ring with identity having a finite set \(\Delta\) of involutions. The paper contains the following results: 1) \(| \Delta | =1\) or \(| \Delta |\) is even. 2) If R is compact then \(| \Delta | =1\) if and only if char R\(=2\) and R has no nonzero algebraic nilpotent. 3) It is given a characterization of compact rings R for which \(| \Delta | =2\). 4) If R is compact and char \(R\neq 2\), \(| \Delta | =6\) then the subgroup of units of R generated by \(\Delta\) is isomorphic to the dihedral group \(D_ 4\).