On division rings generated by polycyclic groups (Q789509)

Let \(D=F(G)\) be a division ring generated as a division ring by a central subfield F and a polycyclic-by-finite subgroup G of its multiplicative group \(D^*\). Let n be a positive integer and \(\Gamma\) a finitely generated subgroup of GL(n,D). Implicit in the work of \textit{A. I. Lichtman} [J. Algebra 78, 548-577 (1982; Zbl 0498.16016), Isr. J. Math. 42, 318-326 (1982; Zbl 0504.16013)] is the fact that \(\Gamma\) is residually finite. The object of this paper is to investigate this further. It is proved that if \(\Delta\) is any subgroup of the group of units of a finitely generated subring R of the ring of \(n\times n\) matrices with entries in D then either \(char D=p>0\) and there exists a normal subgroup of \(\Delta\) of finite index that is residually a finite p-group or \(char D=0\) and there exists a cofinite set \(\pi\) of rational primes such that for each p in \(\pi\) there is a normal subgroup of \(\Delta\) of finite index that is residually a finite p-group. This result is an easy consequence of the fact that there exists an ideal I of R of finite index with \(\cap_{k\geq 1}I^ k=0\) and, in case \(char D=0,\) there exists a cofinite set \(\pi\) of rational primes such that for each p in \(\pi\), I can be chosen with \(p\in I\). The proof uses the notion of plinths [see \textit{J. E. Roseblade}, J. Pure Appl. Algebra 3, 307-328 (1973; Zbl 0285.20008)] and various applications of the Artin-Rees property. Examples are given to show that in general finitely generated skew linear groups need not be residually finite.