Separable algebras over commutative rings (Q2545717)

When we consider the classical ring theory, we often encounter the structure theory of separable algebras over a field, and more frequently in the number theory. G. Hochschild showed in 1945 that an algebra \(A\) over a field \(K\) with finite dimension is separable if and only if \(K\text{-}\dim A = 0\) as \(K\)-algebra [\textit{G. Hochschild}, Ann. Math. (2) 46, No. 1, 58--67 (1945; Zbl 0063.02029)]. He developed his good idea to find relations between homological dimension one of \(A\) and derivations and homological dimension two and the Brauer group \(B(K)\). \textit{G. Azumaya} studied separable algebras \(A\) over a commutative ring \(R\) with an assumption that \(A\) is \(R\)-free [Nagoya Math. J. 2, 119--150 (1951; Zbl 0045.01103)]. Unfortunately, at those periods we had not yet the concepts of projective modules, especially of homological algebras treated nowadays. \textit{M. Auslander} and \textit{O. Goldman} succeeded, in 1960, to extend those ideas of separable algebras to algebras over any commutative ring \(R\) with assumption that \(A\) is \(R\)-finitely generated and projective, instead of \(R\)-free, in [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 97, 1--24 (1960; Zbl 0117.02506); 97, 367--409 (1961; Zbl 0100.26304)]. After those, many algebraists have studied separable algebras and separable extensions. This lecture note is collecting many results concerned with Galois theory and Brauer group and is well prepared for the beginners. We shall start to introduce its contents for each chapter: Chapter I: It contains well known basic properties of projective modules over a commutative ring [\textit{N. Bourbaki}, Algèbre commutative (Chapitre 1: Modules plats. Chapitre 2: Localisation; Paris: Hermann (1961; Zbl 0108.04002), p. 138, theorem 1] and Morita theorem with progenerator [\textit{H. Bass}, Lectures on topics in algebraic \(K\)-theory. Lectures on Mathematics, No. 41. Bombay: Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (1967; Zbl 0226.13006)]. Chapter II: The basic idea of this chapter is due to Auslander and Goldman (loc. cit.) and the contents is a reproduction of the well organized note by H. Bass (loc. cit.) and \textit{A. Rosenberg} and \textit{D. Zelinsky} [Pac. J. Math. 11, 1109--1117 (1961; Zbl 0116.02501)], and they define the Brauer group \(B(R)\) over a commutative ring \(R\). In the last part we have a criterion of separability concerned with localization and residue rings, which is due to \textit{S. Endo} and \textit{Y. Watanabe} [Osaka J. Math. 4, 233--242 (1967; Zbl 0189.03303)]. However, they use a slightly difficult idea of Henselization for the beginners to show it. Hence, we expect an elementary proof of it, which is given in the reviewer's book, ``Introduction to the ring theory'' (Kyoritu syupan) (Japanese) Japan 1971) . Chapter III: The first part of this chapter spends pages to introduce C-H-R Galois theory of commutative ring S without non-trivial idempotents [\textit{S. U. Chase}, \textit{D. K. Harrison} and \textit{A. Rosenberg}, Mem. Am. Math. Soc. 52, 15--33 (1965; Zbl 0143.05902); \S\S 1--3]. Further, it contains an imbedding theorem of separable algebras to Galois algebra, whose method is different from those in the 1961-paper by M. Auslander and O. Goldman (loc. cit.) and \textit{O. E. Villamayor} [Osaka J. Math. 4, 161--171 (1967; Zbl 0168.28802)]. The second part is spent to reproduce the separable closure (due to Harrison), of \textit{G. J. Janusz} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 122, 461--479 (1966; Zbl 0141.03402)] and separable polynomials and their roots. Finally, it contains a Galois theory of infinite group developed by \textit{T. Nagahara} [Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 18, 334--340 (1967; Zbl 0152.02902)] and \textit{Y. Takeuchi} [Osaka J. Math. 3, 195--200 (1966; Zbl 0143.26804)]. Chapter IV: It spends all pages to prove the well known six (seven) terms exact sequence for a Galois extension [see the memoir of S. U. Chase, D. K. Harrison and A. Rosenberg (loc. cit.), page 31]. The authors prove it by a direct computation [\textit{T. Kanzaki}, Osaka J. Math. 5, 175--188 (1968; Zbl 0202.04202)]. Chapter V: After giving some classical results in separable algebras, they prove \(B(R) = \cap B(R_p)\) if \(R\) is a Dedekind domain, where \(p\) runs through all prime in \(R\). This book is well ordered for the beginners and is useful as a textbook for the graduate students.