Non-noetherian down-up algebras (Q4519210)

For a field \(K\) and elements \(\alpha,\beta,\gamma\in K\), the down-up algebra \(A(\alpha,\beta,\gamma)\) is the \(K\)-algebra generated by \(u\) and \(d\) subject to the relations \(d^2u=\alpha dud+\beta ud^2+\gamma d\) and \(du^2=\alpha udu+\beta u^2d+\gamma u\). These algebras were introduced by \textit{G. Benkart} and \textit{T. Roby} [J. Algebra 209, No. 1, 305-344 (1998; Zbl 0922.17006)], as generalizations of algebras generated by a pair of operators, the ``down'' and ``up'' operators, acting on the vector space \(\mathbb{C} P\) for certain partially ordered sets \(P\). In the paper under review the authors consider the non-Noetherian down-up algebras. By a result of the first author, \textit{I. M. Musson} and \textit{D. S. Passman} [Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 127, No. 11, 3161-3167 (1999; Zbl 0940.16012)], these are precisely the down-up algebras of the form \(A(\alpha,0,\gamma)\). It is shown that these algebras have global dimension \(3\) and, unlike the Noetherian down-up algebras, they are never Auslander regular. It is also shown that \(A(\alpha,0,\gamma)\) is prime, unless \(\alpha=\gamma=0\), and that it is never primitive. (Also submitted to MR).