Free subalgebras of quotient rings of Ore extensions. (Q1932511)

Let \(D\) be a division algebra. If \(D\) is locally PI, then it cannot contain a (noncommutative) free subalgebra; however in all known examples, when \(D\) is not locally PI, it does contain a free subalgebra. It was thus conjectured (independently by Makar-Limanov and Stafford) that a division algebra which is not locally PI must contain a free subalgebra. For a recent review paper on free objects in division algebras see \textit{J. Z. Gonçalves} and \textit{M. Shirvani}, [Commun. Algebra 40, No. 5, 1704-1723 (2012; Zbl 1259.16017)]. The authors prove the conjecture for the quotient division algebra of an iterated Ore extension of a PI domain which is affine over an uncountable field \(k\) (Theorem 1.3), also covering with extra assumptions algebras over countable fields. It suffices to show that the quotient division algebras \(K(x;\sigma)\) and \(K(\sigma;\delta)\) satisfy the conjecture, where \(K/k\) is a field extension, \(\sigma\) is a \(k\)-automorphism and \(\delta\) a \(k\)-derivation. For \(K(x;\sigma)\), the main result is as follows. When \(k\) is uncountable, there is a free subalgebra if and only if \(K(x;\sigma)\) is not locally PI, if and only if \(\sigma\) has infinite orbits. The non-obvious part here is to construct a free subalgebra from an infinite orbit, and this is done via the following interesting criterion (Theorem 2.3): if \(\text{Ker}(1-\sigma)+\text{Im}(1-\sigma)\neq K\) and, in characteristic \(p\), \(K^\sigma=K^{\sigma^p}\), then \(K(x;\sigma)\) has a free subalgebra whose generators are explicitly given. The three conditions are equivalent over a countable field as well, assuming that \(K/k\) is infinitely generated, or that \(\sigma\) is induced by a regular \(k\)-automorphism of some quasiprojective \(k\)-variety whose function field is \(K\). This statement requires techniques from algebraic geometry. As for \(K(x;\delta)\), this algebra has a free subalgebra if and only if it is not locally PI, for every \(k\). To see this, one may assume \(k\) is the field of constants of \(\delta\), and the authors show the following: in characteristic zero \(K(x;\delta)\) has a free subalgebra if and only if \(\delta\neq 0\), and in positive characteristic, if and only if \(k(a,\delta(a),\delta^2(a),\dots)\) is infinitely generated for some \(a\in K\).