The Noether bound in invariant theory of finite groups (Q5927528)

Let \(R\) be a commutative ring and \(A\) a commutative graded \(R\)-algebra generated by finitely many elements of degree one. Suppose that the finite group \(G\) acts on \(A\) via graded \(R\)-algebra automorphisms. Denote by \(\beta(A^G)\) the minimal number \(m\) such that \(A^G:=\{a\in A\mid g(a)=a\) for all \(g\in G\}\), the \(R\)-subalgebra of invariants, is generated by its elements of degree at most \(m\). It is a classical result of E. Noether that when \(R\) is a field of characteristic zero, then \(\beta(A^G)\leq |G|\). It was also known that the proof of Noether can be adapted to work over any ring \(R\) such that the factorial of the group order, \(|G|!\) is invertible in \(R^*\). In the present paper the author proves the following interesting result: If \(H\) is a normal subgroup of \(G\) whose index \(|G:H|\) is invertible in \(R^*\), then \(\beta(A^G)\leq\beta(A^H)\cdot |G:H|\). In particular, Noether's bound \(\beta(A^G)\leq |G|\) holds under the weaker assumption that the group order \(|G|\) is invertible in \(R^*\). A proof of this result has also been found by \textit{J. Fogarty} [``On Noether's bound for polynomial invariants of a finite group'', Electron. Res. Announc. Am. Math. Soc. 7, 5-7 (2001)].