Maximal quadratic modules on \(*\)-rings. (Q2479822)

Let \(R\) be an associative ring with an involution, \(S\) the set of symmetric elements. A subset \(M\) in \(S\) containing the unit element is a quadratic module if \(M+M\subseteq M\), \(rMr^*\subseteq M\) for all \(r\in R\). The ring \(R\) is semireal if \(-1\) cannot be represented as \(\sum r_ir_i^*\). If \(-1\) does belong to a quadratic module \(M\) then \(M^0=M\cap(-M)\) is the support of \(M\). Put \(J_M=\{a\in R\mid auu^*a^*\in M\) \(\forall u\in R\}\). It is shown that for a maximal proper quadratic module \(M\) the ideal \(J_M\) is prime and \(*\)-invariant. Moreover \(J_M=S\cap M^0\). The behavior of quadratic modules under Ore localization is examined. For a semireal \(R\), a symmetric element \(x\) and a quadratic \(M_0\) such that \(-1\notin M_0\) there is found a criterion under which \(x\in S\setminus (-M)\) for every maximal proper quadratic module \(M\) containing \(M_0\).