Finite generation of units in alternative loop rings (Q2502193)

A loop \(L\) is called an RA (ring alternative) loop if for an arbitrary commutative associative unital ring \(K\) the loop ring \(K L\) is alternative, but not associative. The standard reference on RA loops and their loop rings is [\textit{E. Goodaire, E. Jespers, C. Polcino Milies}, Alternative loop rings. North-Holland Mathematics Studies. 184. Amsterdam: North-Holland (1996; Zbl 0878.17029)]. Given a finite RA loop \(L,\) the authors focus on the loop of all invertible elements \({\mathcal U}( {\mathbb Z} L)\) of the integral loop ring \({\mathbb Z} L.\) This ring is an order in the rational loop algebra \({\mathbb Q} L,\) and the latter has a Wedderburn decomposition, in the sence that \({\mathbb Q} L\) is a direct product of simple alternative algebras. As in the theory of group rings, it is reasonable to impose restrictions on the Wedderburn components in order to avoid major difficulties caused by division rings, when dealing with generators of the units. The main result of the paper under review says that \({\mathcal U}( {\mathbb Z} L)\) is finitely generated provided that any noncommutative division algebra which appears as a Wedderburn component of \({\mathbb Q} L\) is the classical Cayley-Dickson algebra over \({\mathbb Q}.\) As a consequence, if \(L\) is a finite indecomposable RA loop then \({\mathcal U}( {\mathbb Z} L)\) is finitely generated.