On the catenarity of virtually nilpotent mod-\(p\) Iwasawa algebras (Q2200045)

Let \(p\) be a prime, \(k\) be a commutative pseudocompact ring (e.g., \(\mathbb{Z}_p\) or \(\mathbb{F}_p\)). Let \(G\) be a compact \(p\)-adic Lie group. The completed group algebra is defined to be \[ kG:=\varprojlim_{N\unlhd G}\, k[G/N], \] where the inverse limit ranges over all open normal subgroups \(N\) of \(G\), and \(k[G/N]\) denotes the ordinary group algebra of the (finite) group \(G/N\) over \(k\). This ring is closely related continuous \(k\)-representations of \(G\) (which has the profinite topology). When \(k=\mathbb{F}_p, \mathbb{Z}_p\) or related rings, this is often called the Iwasawa algebra of \(G\). \textit{K. Ardakov} and \textit{K. A. Brown} [Doc. Math. Extra Vol., 7--33 (2007; Zbl 1125.16011)] proposed a number of questions regarding the two-sided ideal structure of mod-\(p\) Iwasawa algebra \(kG\). Several of these have now been answered or partially answered, but most of them remain open. One key task is to improve our understanding of the prime ideal structure of the mod-\(p\) Iwasawa algebra \(kG\), which would have profound consequences for the representation theory of compact \(p\)-adic Lie groups, see [\textit{K. Ardakov} and \textit{S. Wadsley}, Ann. Math. (2) 178, No. 2, 453--557 (2013; Zbl 1273.22014); Represent. Theory 20, 128--138 (2016; Zbl 1397.22013)]. Recall that a ring \(R\) is said to be catenary if any two maximal chains of prime ideals with common endpoints have the same length, i.e., whenever \[ P =P_1\lneq P_2 \lneq \cdots \lneq P_r=P^\prime, \] \[ P=Q_1\lneq Q_2 \lneq \cdots \lneq Q_s=P^\prime. \] are two chains of prime ideals of \(R\) which can not be refined further, we have that \(r=s\). The author of this article under review is to take important steps towards understanding the prime ideals of \(kG\). More precisely, Let \(p>2\) be a prime, \(k\) a finite field of characteristic \(p\), and \(G\) a nilpotent-by-finite compact \(p\)-adic analytic group. It is shown that \(kG\) is a catenary ring. The principal technique the author adopt was developed by \textit{K. Ardakov} [Invent. Math. 190, No. 2, 439--503 (2012; Zbl 1263.16026)].