Completed group algebras of abelian-by-procyclic groups (Q2324590)

Let \(p\) be a prime and \(\mathbb{Z}_p\) be the ring of \(p\)-adic integers. Let \(k\) be a finite field of characteristic \(p\), and let \(G\) be a compact \(p\)-adic Lie group. The completed group algebra, or mod-\(p\) Iwasawa algebra of \(G\) with respect to \(k\) is defined to be \[kG:=\varprojlim_{N\unlhd G}\, k[G/N].\] \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 the mod-\(p\) Iwasawa algebra \(kG\). Several of these have now been answered or partially answered, but most of them remain open. One main 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)]. The author of this article under review takes important steps towards providing an answer to relevant questions. Precisely speaking, let \(G\) be a \(p\)-valuable, abelian-by-procyclic group (that is, a group is isomorphic to \(\mathbb{Z}_p^d\rtimes \mathbb{Z}_p\) for a positive integer \(d\)). Then every faithful prime ideal of the mod-\(p\) Iwasawa algebra \(kG\) is controlled by the center \(Z(G)\) of \(G\). Furthermore, a complete decomposition for \(\mathrm{Spec}\, (kG)\) will follow. The principal technique that the author adopts to study the convergence of Mahler expansions for inner automorphisms, which was developed by \textit{K. Ardakov} [Invent. Math. 190, No. 2, 439--503 (2012; Zbl 1263.16026)].