On some Euclidean properties of matrix algebras (Q2362576)

Let \(R\) be a ring and let \(O\) be the class of all ordinal numbers. We say that \(R\) is right Euclidean if there exists a function \(\phi: R^{*} \rightarrow O\) such that for all \(a,b\in R, b\neq 0\), there exists \(q\in R\) with \(a=bq\) or \(\phi(a-bq)<\phi(b)\). Similar definition for left Euclidean ring. Now if \(R\)is a commutative ring and \(n\in\mathbb{Z}_{>1}\), then the set of all \(n\) by \(n\) matrices with coefficients in \(R\), denoted by \(M_{n} (R)\), is an algebra. A ring \(R\) is called a \(K\)-Hermite ring if every element in \(M_{n} (R)\) admits a triangular reduction. \(R\) is called an elementary divisor ring if very element in \(M_{n} (R)\) admits a diagonal reduction. A ring \(R\) is called a right Bézout ring if for all \(a,b\in R, aR+bR=dR\), for some \(d\in R\). The author of this paper proved that the algebra \(M_{n} (R)\) is a left and right Euclidean ring if and only if \(R\) is a principal ideal ring (i.e., every ideal is generated by one element). Now the ring \(R\) is called a \(k\)-stage right Euclidean if there is a function \(\phi:R^{*} \rightarrow Z_{>1}\) such that for all \(a,b\in R, b\neq 0\), there exists \(q\in R\) with \(a=bq\) or \(\phi(a-bq)<\phi(b)\). Starting from the pair \((a,b)\), continue with a pair \((b,a-bq)\) for some \(q\in R\), and so forth. \(R\) is called a \(k\)-stage right Euclidean if for all pairs of elements of \(R\), we can obtain a \(k\)-stage division chain with \(r_k=0\) or \(\phi(r_{k}) < \phi(b)\). \(R\) is called \(\omega\)-stage right Euclidean if for all \(a,b\in R, b\neq 0\), there exists a terminating division chain starting from \(\left(a, b\right)\). The author also showed that if \(R\) is a \(K\)-Hermite ring, then \(M_{n} (R)\) is \(\left(4n-3\right)\)-stage left and right Euclidean. He obtained shorter division chains when \(R\) is an elementary divisor ring, and even shorter ones when \(R\) is a principal ideal ring. If \(R\) is an integral domain, then \(R\) is a Bézout ring if and only if \(M_n (R)\) is \(\omega\)-stage left and right Euclidean.