Degree estimate for subalgebras. (Q1938542)

Let \(A_n=K\langle x_1,\dots,x_n\rangle\) be a free associative algebra over a field \(K\) of arbitrary characteristic. The main result of the paper under review gives an estimate of the minimal degree of the elements of the subalgebra of \(A_n\) generated by two algebraically independent elements \(f\) and \(g\) under the natural conditions that the leading monomials of \(f\) and \(g\) are algebraically dependent and the degrees of \(f\) and \(g\) do not divide each other. The result is stated in terms of the degree of the commutator \([f,g]\). The paper is motivated by the estimates of the degree for \(K[x_1,\dots,x_k]\) obtained by \textit{I. P. Shestakov} and \textit{U. U. Umirbaev} [J. Am. Math. Soc. 17, No. 1, 181--196 (2004; Zbl 1044.17014); ibid. 17, No. 1, 197--227 (2004; Zbl 1056.14085)] over a field of characteristic 0 with techniques based on Poisson algebras. These estimates were essential in the description of the tame automorphisms of \(K[x,y,z]\) and the proof that the Nagata automorphism is wild. Later \textit{L. Makar-Limanov} and \textit{J.-T. Yu} [J. Eur. Math. Soc. (JEMS) 10, No. 2, 533--541 (2008; Zbl 1137.16029)] used the lemma on radicals for the Malcev-Neumann algebras of formal power series [\textit{G. M. Bergman}, Bull. Malays. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 1, 29--41 (1978; Zbl 0395.16002); ibid. 2, 41--42 (1979; Zbl 0409.16001)] to obtain a lower bound for the degree of the nonconstant elements in the subalgebra generated by two elements \(f,g\) in \(K[x_1,\dots,x_k]\) and \(K\langle x_1,\dots,x_k\rangle\), again in characteristic 0. Now the authors use the lemma of Bergman on the centralizers established in his papers cited above. The lemma states that if \(R\) is a commutative ring and \(S\) is an ordered semigroup, and \(a\) is an element of the Malcev-Neumann algebra \(R((S))\) with an invertible leading term \(a_uu\) (\(a_u\in R\), \(u\in S\)), then there exists an element \(f\) with leading term 1, such that the element \(c=f^{-1}af\) has support entirely in the centralizer of \(u\) in \(S\). The results of the present paper are essential for the important results on the automorphisms of \(K\langle x,y,z\rangle\) over an arbitrary field \(K\) obtained by \textit{A. Belov-Kanel} and \textit{J.-T. Yu} [Sel. Math., New Ser. 17, No. 4, 935--945 (2011; Zbl 1232.13005); ibid. 18, No. 4, 799--802 (2012; Zbl 1268.16025)].