Prime Jordan algebras. II (Q790233)

[For part I, see Algebra Logic 18, 103-111 (1979); translation from Algebra Logika 18, 162-175 (1979; Zbl 0433.17009).] The author proves that a prime nondegenerate Jordan algebra J, over a field containing \(frac{1}{2}\), is either special or an Albert ring. Moreover, one of the following holds: 1) J is an Albert ring. 2) J is a central order in the Jordan algebra of a symmetric bilinear form. 3) J contains a nonzero ideal I isomorphic to the algebra \(A^{(+)}\), where A is a prime associative algebra. The algebra J can be embedded in the two- sided Martindale ring of quotients \(Q_ 0(A)\) of A, i.e., \(A^{(+)}\triangleleft J\subseteq(Q_ 0(A))^{(+)}.\) The ideal I is invariant under automorphisms and derivations of J. 4) J contains a nonzero ideal I isomorphic to the algebra H(A,*), where A is a prime associative algebra with involution *. The algebra J can be embedded in the two-sided Martindale ring of quotients of A, the involution * can be uniquely extended to an involution * of \(Q_ 0(A)\), and \(H(A,*)\triangleleft J\subseteq H(Q_ 0(A),*).\) In particular, since a simple Jordan algebra is known to be nondegenerate, this result implies such an algebra must be isomorphic to one of the four classical examples. The article also contains results concerning PI-algebras. For example, a primitive Jordan PI-algebra is simple, and any simple Jordan PI-algebra is either finite-dimensional over its center or isomorphic to the Jordan algebra of a symmetric bilinear form.