Classification of algebras with minimal quadratic growth of identities. (Q2390126)

Let \(A\) be an associative PI algebra over a field of characteristic 0. One of the most important numerical invariants of the T-ideal \(T(A)\) of \(A\) is its codimension sequence \(c_n(A)=\dim(P_n/(P_n\cap T(A))\) where \(P_n\) is the vector space of all multilinear polynomials in the variables \(x_1,\dots,x_n\) in the free associative algebra. The growth of the codimension sequence of a PI algebra has been extensively studied by many authors. Thus \textit{A. Giambruno} and \textit{D. La Mattina} [J. Algebra 284, No. 1, 371-391 (2005; Zbl 1071.16021)] produced a list of seven remarkable algebras called \(M_1,\dots,M_7\). They proved that for an algebra \(A\), its codimensions are bounded by a constant \(c_n(A)\leq k\), if and only if the first three algebras of their list do not belong to the variety of algebras determined by \(A\). They also showed that \(c_n(A)\leq kn\) if and only if the algebras \(M_3\) to \(M_7\) do not lie in the variety determined by \(A\). For the first six algebras of the list they also computed the exact values of the codimensions and bases of their identities. Here we recall that \(M_7\) is the subalgebra of the \(3\times 3\) upper triangular matrices whose \((2,2)\) entry is 0 and whose \((1,1)\) and \((3,3)\) entries are equal. The paper under review fills the gap in the following sense. The authors produce a basis of the identities of \(M_7\), and compute the codimensions and the cocharacters of this algebra. Furthermore, they prove that the varieties generated by the algebras \(M_3\) to \(M_7\) are the only minimal varieties of quadratic growth of their codimensions.