No label defined (Q4474898)

The author surveys results on ordinary and graded polynomial identities of matrix algebras and algebras related with them over a field of positive characteristic comparing them with the known results in characteristic 0. Although some of the results are for matrices of any size, the main considerations are in the case of algebras which are ``not too big''. The first main topic concerns identities of \(2\times 2\) matrices \(M_2(K)\) over an infinite field \(K\) of odd characteristic, including bases of the identities depending on the characteristic, and relations with the polynomial identities of the Grassmann algebra \(E\), as well as some open problems. Then the author considers graded identities of \(2\times 2\) matrices and of the algebras \(M_{1,1}(E)\) and \(E\otimes E\), with respect to some natural gradings. It is known that in characteristic zero \(M_{1,1}(E)\) and \(E\otimes E\) have the same (both graded and ordinary) identities and it turns out that in positive characteristic the identities are different. Finally, the author discusses the identities of tensor products of algebras generating prime varieties. For the entire collection see [Zbl 1027.00013].