The theory of prime ideals of Leavitt path algebras over arbitrary graphs. (Q372659)

The theory of prime ideals of a Leavitt path algebra is developed. The graph to which the algebra is associated is completely general (no finiteness assumption on vertices or number of edges emitted by a vertex is made). A complete characterization of prime ideals in terms of their generators is given. Also primitive ideals are described and furthermore the stratification of the prime spectrum \(\text{Spec}(L_K(E))\) with information on its individual strata (many of which are homeomorphic to \(\text{Spec}(K[x,x^{-1}])\)). The author proves for instance that nongraded prime ideals are necessarily primitive. He also gives necessary and sufficient conditions on the graph \(E\), under which any prime ideal is primitive. Some of the results in this paper generalize a previous work by \textit{G. Aranda Pino, E. Pardo} and \textit{M. Siles Molina} [Indiana Univ. Math. J. 58, No. 2, 869-890 (2009; Zbl 1189.16014)] in 2009 in the context of row-finite graphs. In that paper a bijection is given between the set of prime ideals of \(L_K(E)\) and a certain set which involves subsets of vertices called maximal tails. Some of the applications of the main result in the paper are: --- Description of the graphs \(E\) for which every nonzero prime ideal of \(L_K(E)\) is maximal (which leads to a characterization of Leavitt path algebras whose Krull dimension is zero). --- Construction of Leavitt path algebras with various prescribed finite or infinite Krull dimensions. --- It is proved that a graph \(E\) satisfies condition (K) if and only if every prime ideal of \(L_K(E)\) is graded. --- Description of the minimal prime ideals of a Leavitt path algebra. --- Characterization of the height \(1\) prime ideals of \(L_K(E)\) (and also of the co-height \(1\) prime ideals). --- Study of conditions under which a homomorphic image of a prime Leavitt path algebra is again a Leavitt path algebra.