On some extremal varieties of associative algebras. (Q2508714)

Let \(A\) be the free nonunital associative algebra of countable rank over a field \(F\) and let \(\mathbf V\) be a variety of associative algebras with T-ideal \(V\). A vector subspace \(U\) of the relatively free algebra \(A/V\) in \(\mathbf V\) is called a T-space, if \(\alpha(U)\subseteq U\) for all endomorphisms of \(A/V\). T-spaces are generalizations of T-ideals and their use was one of the key steps in the construction of counterexamples to the finite basis (or Specht) problem in positive characteristic. In the paper under review the authors construct a minimal variety \(\mathbf V_p\) of algebras over a field of positive characteristic \(p\) such that \(A/V_p\) contains an infinitely based T-space and every T-space of the relatively free algebra of a proper subvariety of \(\mathbf V_p\) is finitely based. For odd \(p\) the variety \(\mathbf V_p\) is generated by the infinite dimensional nonunital Grassmann algebra and is defined by the polynomial identities \([[x_1,x_2],x_3]=x^p=0\). For \(p=2\) the variety \(\mathbf V_2\) is defined by the identities \([[x_1,x_2],x_3]=x^4=0\). In the process of the proof the authors obtain that every proper subvariety of \(\mathbf V_p\) satisfies the polynomial identity \([x_1,x_2]\cdots[x_{2n-1},x_{2n}]=0\). This is an analogue of the well known result in characteristic 0 that such an identity holds for the proper subvarieties of the variety generated by the Grassmann algebra (and defined by \([[x_1,x_2],x_3]=0\)). The next main step of the proof is that every T-space generated by polynomials of bounded degree in each variable in the relatively free algebra of the variety defined by \([x_1,x_2]\cdots[x_{2n-1},x_{2n}]=0\) is finitely based.