Entropy and Følner function in algebras. (Q661381)

The paper under review is inspired by a paper by \textit{M. Gromov} [Groups Geom. Dyn. 2, No. 4, 499-593 (2008; Zbl 1280.20043)] where he introduced the notion of entropic Følner function. It is also a continuation of the author's previous work [\textit{M. D'Adderio}, J. Algebra 322, No. 1, 177-209 (2009; Zbl 1201.16025)], where the author observed that the isoperimetric profile is a finer invariant than the lower transcendence degree introduced by \textit{J. J. Zhang} [Adv. Math. 139, No. 2, 157-193 (1998; Zbl 0924.16015)]. Now the author introduces the notion of entropic Følner function for algebras and studies its relation with the isoperimetric profile, the Følner function and its entropic counterpart. As a byproduct the author establishes a theorem on the lower transcendence degree of the tensor product of algebras, extending results of Zhang. Then he develops his entropic methods and, under the assumption of a technical conjecture, uses techniques like the Shannon inequality to prove an inequality relating the entropic Følner functions of a domain \(A\) and of a division subalgebra of \(A\): Let \(A\) be a domain over a field \(K\) of characteristic 0 and let \(D\supset K\) be a division subalgebra of \(A\), assuming the conjecture. If \(A\) is not left algebraic over \(D\), then \(\text{Ld}(A)\geq\text{Ld}(D)+1\), where \(\text{Ld}\) denotes the lower transcendence degree. For example, the conjecture holds if there is an element \(x\in A\) which is left transcendent over \(D\) and such that \(xD=Dx\). More generally, the author establishes results on Ore extensions extending other theorems of Zhang. Finally, the author discusses applications to old conjectures of M. Artin and J. J. Zhang, and of L. Small, indicating that the lower transcendence degree may be the ``right'' notion of transcendence degree for division algebras.