Ideals in computable rings (Q2456205)

Suppose (for all of the following) that \(R\) is a commutative ring with identity. If \(R\) has no nontrivial proper ideals, then \(R\) is a field. The authors analyze this statement in the setting of reverse mathematics. Over RCA\(_0\), they show that WKL\(_0\) is equivalent to ``if \(R\) has no nontrivial proper ideals then \(R\) is a field'' and also to ``if \(I\) is a maximal ideal of \(R\) then \(R/I\) is a field.'' They show that over RCA\(_0\), the system ACA\(_0\) is equivalent to ``if \(R\) has no nontrivial proper principal ideals then it is a field,'' and also to ``if \(R\) has no nontrivial proper finitely generated ideals then it is a field.'' Their work includes some computability-theoretic upper bounds, showing that for any computable ring, the nilradical is \(\Sigma^0_1\)-definable and the Jacobson radical is \(\Pi^0_2\)-definable. Applications of these results to the study of vector spaces can be found in [\textit{R. G. Downey} et al., J. Algebra 314, No. 2, 888--894 (2007; Zbl 1127.03036)]. The article includes some discussion of the history of computable algebra and reverse mathematics of algebra, and a substantial number of pointers into the literature in these areas.