Krull and global dimensions of Weyl algebras over division rings (Q762586)

The paper starts with the study of the Krull dimension of the iterated operator ring extension \(T=R[\theta_ 1,...,\theta_ u]\) of a right noetherian ring R of finite Krull dimension k; in more detail, \(T=R[\theta_ 1;\delta_ 1][\theta_ 2;\delta_ 2]...[\theta_ u;\delta_ u],\) where \(\delta_ i\) is a derivation on \(R[\theta_ 1;\delta_ 1]...[\theta_{i-1};\delta_{i-1}].\) It is shown that \(r.K.\dim T=k+u\) if and only if \(h_ u(M)=k\) and \(K.\dim (M\otimes_ RT)=u\) for some simple right R-module M. Here, the height, \(h_ u(M)\), of M is defined in terms of finite sequences of finitely generated u- clean R-modules starting with M, a u-clean R-module being, basically, a critical R-module which remains critical when tensored with T. Next, necessary and sufficient conditions to have \(K.\dim (M\otimes_ RT)=u\) are developed. Specializing to the Weyl algebra \(A_ n(R)\) (so \(u=2n)\), where R is right noetherian, these conditions amount to the embeddability of \(A_ n({\mathbb{Z}})\) in some matrix ring over \(End_ RM\). The corresponding formula for r.K.dim \(A_ n(R)\) has various simplifications when R is a division ring for, in that case, \(h_{2n}(M)=k\) for any simple right R- module M. In particular, a well known formula of \textit{J. C. McConnell} [Proc. Lond. Math. Soc., III. Ser. 28, 89-98 (1974; Zbl 0275.16005)] for r.K.dim \(A_ n(D_ t)\) is obtained, where \(D_ t\) is the quotient division ring of \(A_ t(K)\) and K is a field of characteristic zero. Further results are obtained when R is fully bounded noetherian and when R is a noetherian P.I. ring. Concerning global dimension, formulas for the global dimension of \(A_ n(D)\), D a division ring, are obtained which lead to a proof of the equality of the global dimension and the Krull dimension of \(A_ n(D)\). Moreover, if \({\mathfrak g}\) is a finite dimensional Lie algebra over a field K of characteristic zero, it is shown that \(gl.\dim A_ n(U({\mathfrak g}))=\dim_ K{\mathfrak g}+n.\) When K has positive characteristic, n must be replaced by 2n in this formula.