Structure theorems for AP rings (Q2456176)

An annihilating polynomial (AP) ring is a commutative ring \(R\) additively generated by a (not necessarily finite) subset whose elements are roots of a fixed monic polynomial \(q\in\mathbb{Z}[X]\), called the generating polynomial. Examples include Burnside rings of finite groups, group rings of abelian groups of finite exponent and their factor rings, hence also Witt rings of various types (abstract, of higher level, of central simple algebras). AP rings are shown to be integral, and structure theorems are obtained along the lines of the second author's proofs for Witt rings [\textit{D. W. Lewis}, Exp. Math. 7, No. 1, 83--88 (1989; Zbl 0665.10014)]. When the generating polynomial has the form \(X^{2^k}-1\), the authors obtain additional structure theorems relating prime ideals to signatures of \(R\), which are defined as ring homomorphisms \(R\to\mathbb{Z}\).