Free pairs of symmetric elements in normal subgroups of division rings (Q2295382)

Let \(D\) be a division ring, \(D ^{\ast }\) its multiplicative group, \(k\) a central subfield of \(D\) of characteristic ch\((k) \neq 2\), and \(^{\ast }\) a \(k\)-involution of \(D\) (i.e., a \(k\)-linear operator on \(D\) that is an anti-automorphism of order \(2\) as well). An element \(u \in D\) is called symmetric if \(u ^{\ast } = u\). By a free symmetric pair, we mean a pair \((u, v)\) of symmetric elements of \(D\), which generates a noncyclic free subgroup of \(D ^{\ast }\). The research presented in the paper under review has been inspired by Lichtman's conjecture that the multiplicative group \(\Delta ^{\ast }\) of a noncommutative division ring \(\Delta \) necessarily has a noncyclic free subgroup. Specifically, by his theorem stating that if \(N\) is a normal subgroup of \(\Delta ^{\ast }\), which contains a subgroup \(G\) that is both nilpotent-by finite and nonabelian, then \(N\) possesses a noncyclic free subgroup (see [\textit{A. I. Lichtman}, Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 71, 174--178 (1978; Zbl 0394.16014)]). The main result states that if \(N\) is a normal subgroup of \(D ^{\ast }\) that contains a nonabelian \(\ast \)-stable subgroup \(G\) that is either torsion-free polycyclic-by-finite but not abelian-by-finite, or is finite of odd order, then \(N\) contains a free symmetric pair. As noted by the authors, they exclude the case in which \(G\) is abelian-by-finite, since then the subalgebra \(kG\) is finite-dimensional over its centre, which could be an algebraic number field, and the behavior of subgroups invariant under an involution seems to be unknown in this context. Also, they explain the exclusion of the case where \(G\) is a finite group of even order; as demonstrated by an example, \(N\) need not contain free symmetric pairs. The proof of the main theorem is based on a criterion for the existence of proto-specializations \(\nabla \to \overline \nabla \), for some division rings. The criterion has been provided by the first-named author [J. Group Theory 18, No. 5, 829--843 (2015; Zbl 1335.16023)], and it allows, for example, to lift free groups from a division ring finite-dimensional over its centre, to the group of units of a subring of the ring of fractions of a skew polynomial ring. To carry out the proof, the authors also consider when nonabelian torsion-free polycyclic-by-finite groups, that are not abelian-by-finite, have some special subgroups invariant under a given involution. Thirdly, they show the existence of free symmetric pairs in certain division rings finite-dimensional over their centres. As emphasized by the authors, they extend a theorem of Bergman on invariant ideals in commutative group algebras (see Theorem~1 of [\textit{G. M. Bergman}, Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 157, 459--470 (1971; Zbl 0197.17102)], and use it at one point of the proof of the main result. Being new and interesting in its own right, this generalization is presented in an Appendix and can be read independently of the remainder of the paper.