Associative power series (Q2350276)

Let \(R\) be a commutative ring with identity. A formal power series \(F(x,y)\in R[[x,y]]\) in two indeterminates is called associative if \(\mathrm{ord}F(x,y)\geq 1\) and \(F(F(x,y),z)=F(x,F(y,z))\in F[[x,y,z]]\). A formal group over \(R\) is an associative power series \(F(x,y)\in R[[x,y]]\) satisfying \(F(x,y)\equiv x+y\pmod {\mathcal M(x,y)^2}\), where \({\mathcal M}(x,y)\) is the ideal of \(R[[x,y]]\) generated by \(x\) and \(y\). In this paper, the author presents new and simpler proofs and generalizations of some well known results. This deals with a complete characterization of associative power series wich are not formal groups.