A characterization of minimal varieties of \(\mathbb{Z}_p\)-graded PI algebras (Q2326452)

The authors work with algebras over a fixed field of characteristic 0. Let \(p\) be a prime and let \(G\) be the cyclic group of order \(p\). Suppose \(A\) is a \(G\)-graded algebra satisfying graded identities. One of the most important numerical invariants of the ideal of the graded identities satisfied by \(A\) is its codimension sequence. This sequence is extremely hard to compute explicitly, and this has been done only in a few simple cases. Hence one wants to study the asymptotic behaviour of the codimensions. A first step in this direction is describing the PI exponent of the algebra (or its T-ideal). The main result of the paper under review concerns varieties of \(G\)-graded algebras of finite basic rank. The authors prove that such a variety is minimal of graded PI exponent \(d\) if and only if it is generated by certain upper block triangular matrix algebra whose blocks on the diagonal are \(A_1\), \dots, \(A_m\). This algebra is \(G\)-graded, the diagonal blocks are equipped with suitable elementary \(G\)-gradings and are \(G\)-graded simple. Moreover one must have \(\dim(A_1\oplus\cdots\oplus A_m) = d\). Recall that a variety is minimal of (graded) PI exponent \(d\) if its graded PI exponent equals \(d\) and every proper subvariety is of PI exponent less than \(d\).