The inversion height of the free field is infinite. (Q2355000)

Let \(X\) be a set with at least two elements. Let \(H\) be the free group on \(X\) and let \(k\) be a field. Choose a total order on \(H\) such that \((H,<)\) is an ordered group, and consider the Malcev-Neumann series ring \(k((H,<))\) associated with the group ring \(k(H)\). In [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 66, 202-252 (1949; Zbl 0035.30401)] \textit{B. H. Neumann} conjectured that the inversion height of the embedding \(kH\hookrightarrow k((H,<))\) is infinite. In the article under review, the authors study the inversion height of the embedding \(k\langle X\rangle\hookrightarrow D\), where \(D\) denotes the universal skew field of fractions of the free algebra \(k(X)\) and they prove that it is infinite. As a corollary this answers in the affirmative the Neumann conjecture mentioned above. Besides, the authors also give an infinite family of examples of non-isomorphic fields of fractions of \(k\langle X\rangle\) with infinite inversion height. There is an another particular result in this article which extends some previous result by A. Lichtman.