The \(q\)-division ring and its fixed rings. (Q2253043)

A quantum plane \(k_q[x,y]\) over a field \(k\) is an associative algebra with a unit element generated by two elements \(x,y\) subject to the defining relation \(xy-qyx=1\), where \(q\) is a nonzero element of \(k\). This algebra has a division ring of fractions \(D\) which is embedded into the skew power series algebra \(k_q(y)((x))\). In 1999 P. M. Cohn and the reviewer raised some problems about the structure of automorphisms of \(D\). In the main result of the paper the author solves these problems. More precisely the following theorem is proved. Let the characteristic of \(k\) be equal to zero and \(q\) is not a root of 1. Then there exists an element \(z\in k_q(y)((x))\setminus D\) such that \(zDz\subsetneq D\). Moreover there exists \(z\) with this property such that \(z^2\in D\). Also there exists \(z\) with this property such that \(z^n\notin D\) for all positive integers \(n\). So conjugation of \(k_q(y)((x))\) by \(z\) induces an endomorphism of \(D\) which is not an automorphism.