Characterization of matrix types of ultramatricial algebras. (Q2581065)

The author establishes three main results, the first of which is Theorem 1.1. Let \(H\leq\mathbb{Q}_+^\times\) be a subgroup of the multiplicative group of the positive rational numbers. Then there is a dimension group \((D,\leq,u)\) whose group of order-preserving automorphisms is isomorphic to \(H\). Let \(M_n(R)\) denote the ring of \(n\times n\) matrices over the ring \(R\). The matrix type of a ring \(R\) is the equivalence relation on the positive integers that describes which matrix algebras over \(R\) are isomorphic: \(\text{mt}(R):=\{(n,m)\mid M_n(R)\cong M_m(R)\}\). Braun's second result establishes a connection between a type of equivalence relation on the positive integers and matrix types of ultramatricial algebras. Theorem 1.2. Let \(F\) be a field or principal ideal domain and \(\equiv\) be an equivalence relation on the positive integers. Then (i) For all positive integers \(n,m\), and \(k\), \(n\equiv m \Leftrightarrow nk\equiv mk\), if and only if (ii) There exists an ultramatricial \(F\)-algebra with matrix type \(\equiv\). Let \(\text{End}(G)\) denote the endomorphism ring of the Abelian group \(G\). In the case when the ground ring is \(F=\mathbb{Z}\), the last of the main results is obtained. Corollary 1.3. Let \(\equiv\) be an equivalence relation on positive integers with the property that \(n\equiv m\) if and only if \(nk\equiv mk\) for all positive integers \(n,m\), and \(k\). Then there is a torsion-free Abelian group \(G\) such that \(\text{End}(G^n)\cong\text{End}(G^m)\) if and only if \(n\equiv m\). Moreover, \(G^n\cong G^m\) if and only if \(n=m\).