Group algebras. (Q2392670)

Let \(KG\) be the group ring of a group \(G\) over a ring \(K\). An element \(\alpha\in KG\) is said to be algebraic over \(K\) if there exists a non-constant polynomial \(f(x)\in K[x]\) such that \(f(\alpha)=0\). In this paper the author makes a survey of the main results in the theory of group rings for algebraic elements which are obtained in recent years. The algebraic elements of most interest are the nilpotent elements, the idempotents and the torsion elements. Of special interest is the case when \(K\) is the field of complex numbers, the field of rational numbers or the ring of integers. The author analyses the problem of the characterization of finite groups whose integral group rings have additive (resp. multiplicative) Jordan decomposition or satisfy the Zassenhaus conjecture.