Algebraically closed skew fields (Q762589)

Let K be a skew field with centre C and denote by \(K_ C<x>\) its tensor K-ring over x (defined as the ring generated by K and x with defining relations \(\alpha x=x\alpha\) for \(\alpha\in C)\). The author constructs a skew field K of characteristic 0 such that for every \(f(x)\in K_ C<x>\), f(x)\(\not\in K\) there exists \(a\in K\) such that \(f(a)=0\) (he calls such K algebraically closed). The field K is obtained from a Mal'tsev-Neumann construction by an ingenious use of derivations, which is not easily summarized. As a consequence the author proves the following form of the Freiheitssatz conjectured by the reviewer [\textit{P. M. Cohn}, Free Rings, Lecture Notes, Yale Univ. (1962)]: Let F be the free algebra on \(x_ 1,...,x_ n\) over a field of characteristic 0 and let p be any element of F involving \(x_ 1\). Then the ideal generated by p contains no non- zero element not involving \(x_ 1\). He also observes that this entails the Freiheitssatz for Lie algebras of characteristic zero [of \textit{A. I. Shirshov}, Sib. Mat. Zh. 3, 292-296 (1962; Zbl 0104.260)].