Free group algebras in division rings with valuation I (Q2419481)

All rings and algebras \(R\) considered in this paper under review are supposed to be associative with an identity element \(1 \in R\). By an algebra over a commutative ring \(Z\), here we mean a ring \(A\) whose centre includes \(Z\) as a subring. This paper considers the following conjecture: (GA) Assume that \(D\) is a skew field with centre \(Z\), which is infinite dimensional over \(Z\) and is finitely-generated as a division ring over \(Z\). Then \(D\) contains a noncommutative free group algebra. Conjecture (GA) unifies the following well-known conjectures (posed by Lichtman and Makar-Limanov, respectively): (1) (a) If a division ring \(D\) is not a field, then its multiplicative group \(D ^{\ast } = D \setminus \{0\}\) contains a non-cyclic free group as a subgroup (see [\textit{A. Lichtman}, Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 63, 15--16 (1977; Zbl 0352.20026)]). (1) (b) Under the hypotheses of (GA), \(D\) contains as a \(Z\)-subalgebra a noncommutative free group \(Z\)-algebra (see [\textit{L. Makar-Limanov}, in: Methods in ring theory, Proc. NATO Adv. Study Inst., Antwerp/Belg. 1983, NATO ASI Ser., Ser. C 129, 281--285 (1984; Zbl 0539.16015)]). The main results of the paper under review concern the case where \(R\) is an algebra over a commutative ring \(Z\), which is endowed with a descending filtration indexed on an ordered group \((G, <)\), such that the restriction to \(Z\) is positive. They show that the existence of free algebras on a certain set of generators in the induced graded ring grad\((R)\) implies the existence of free group \(Z\)-algebras in \(R\). The best results of the paper, in the author's opinion, are obtained for division rings endowed with a valuation. They are presented in Section 5 and the main result therein is stated as Theorem 5.1. The research presented in the reviewed paper is motivated to a considerable extent by the author's observation that one of the statements in the second part of a paper of \textit{A. I. Lichtman} (namely, Proposition 4 in: [J. Algebra 90, 516--527 (1984; Zbl 0544.16010)]) is wrong. Lichtman's statement referred to (further denoted by (LP4)) implies that an affirmative answer to (1) (b) would provide such an answer to (GA); the author gives a counter-example to (LP4) in Appendix A of this paper. As to Theorem 5.1, it is viewed by the author as a corrected version of (LP4) and a generalization in some aspects. In Appendix B, the author gives an account of some sources in the literature where: the existence of noncommutative free subalgebras in certain division rings has been proved; it has been claimed on the basis of (LP4) that the implication (1) (b) \(\to\) (GA) holds for these division rings; Theorem 5.1 cannot be used for proving this implication.