Formal matrices (Q516082)

Generalized matrix rings were considered for the first time by \textit{L. W. Small} [Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 54, 1035--1036 (1965; Zbl 0138.26801)], who constructed for any rings \(R,S\), and any left \(R\), right \(S\)-bimodule \(M\), a ring \(\begin{pmatrix} R &M\\ 0& S \end{pmatrix}\) with matrix like addition and multiplication. Such rings have been useful for providing examples to show that certain ring properties (for example noetherianity or artinianity) are not left-right symmetric. More generally, a formal matrix ring \(\begin{pmatrix} R & M\\ N & S \end{pmatrix}\) of order 2 is associated with any Morita context \((R, S, _R\negthinspace M_S, _S\negthinspace N_R, \varphi, \psi)\) connecting the rings \(R\) and \(S\), where \(\varphi:M\otimes_SN\rightarrow R\) is an \(R\)-bimodule map, and \(\psi:N\otimes_RM\rightarrow S\) is an \(S\)-bimodule map. The objects of study of this book are formal matrix rings of arbitrary finite order. Given an integer \(n\geq 2\), some rings \(R_1,\ldots ,R_n\), and a left \(R_i\), right \(R_j\)-bimodule \(M_{ij}\) for each \(1\leq i\neq j\leq n\), such that for any \(i\neq j\), \(j\neq k\), a morphism \(\varphi_{ijk}:M_{ij}\otimes_{R_j}M_{jk}\rightarrow M_{ik}\) of left \(R_i\), right \(R_k\)-bimodules is given, and the \(\varphi_{ijk}\)'s satisfy certain associativity conditions, one can construct a formal matrix ring of order \(n\), with \(R_i\) on the \((i,i)\)-position, and \(M_{ij}\) on the \((i,j)\)-position for any \(i\neq j\). The operations are of matrix type, with multiplication involving the \(\varphi_{ijk}\)'s. A ring is isomorphic to a formal matrix ring of order \(n\geq 2\) if and only if it contains a complete system of \(n\) orthogonal idempotents. The book consists of five chapters. Chapter 1 is an introduction. In Chapter 2, the construction of formal matrix rings is presented, the Jacobson radical and the prime radical are computed, and certain ring properties (including finiteness properties, von Neumann regularity, cleanness, the \(k\)-good property, Dedekind finite) are investigated for such rings. Chapter 3 discusses in detail modules over a formal matrix ring \(K\) of order 2, and the structure of certain submodules (for example small, essential, the socle, the Jacobson radical); some indications are given about how things work for formal matrix rings of higher order. It is established the structure of injective \(K\)-modules, and under certain conditions on \(K\), the structure of flat modules, projective modules and hereditary modules. The maximal ring of fractions of \(K\) is described. Some applications to endomorphism rings of abelian groups are obtained. In Chapter 4, formal matrix rings \(K\) are considered such that \(R_i=R\), a given ring, for any \(i\), and \(M_{ij}\) is the \(R,R\)-bimodule \(R\) for any \(i\neq j\); each bimodule map \(\varphi_{ijk}\) is the multiplication of \(R\) up to multiplying by a central element of \(R\). Thus the multiplication of \(K\) is determined by the multiplication of \(R\) and a family of central elements of \(R\), satisfying certain conditions; this family is called a multiplier system. Several characterizations and properties of such formal matrix rings \(K\) are presented. In the case where \(R\) is commutative, a determinant function on \(K\) is constructed and studied. Chapter 5 investigates the Grothendieck group and the Whitehead group of a formal matrix ring \(K\) in terms of the similar groups of the rings involved in the construction of \(K\). The book is written in a friendly style. The presentation is clear and many good examples are given to illustrate the main concepts and results. The book is useful to researchers in ring theory and linear algebra. It is also suitable for graduate students.