On a question of G. Bergman and L. Small on Azumaya algebras (Q792419)

Let R be a ring which satisfies the polynomial identities of \(n\times n\)- matrices. One says that \(p.i.d.(R)>m, (m<n)\) if R does not satisfy the identities of \(k\times k\)-matrices for any \(k\leq m\). The author proves the following result: Let R be an associative algebra with unit over a field F which satisfies the standard identity \(S_{2n}\). Suppose that one of the following conditions holds. 1) p.i.d.(R/\({\mathfrak m})\geq n-2\) for any maximal ideal \({\mathfrak m}\) of R, \(n\geq 6\) and char \(F\neq 2,5,\) 2) p.i.d.(R/\({\mathfrak m})>n-1\) for any maximal ideal \({\mathfrak m}\) of R, \(n\geq 4\) and char \(F\neq 2.\) Then R is a central simple algebra over F. As a corollary he obtains the following generalization of the Artin-Procesi-Theorem: Let R be a ring with unit such that 1) R satisfies the standard identity \(S_{2n}\), 2) \(p.i.d.(R/{\mathfrak m})=n\) for any maximal ideal \({\mathfrak m}\) of R. Then R is an Azumaya algebra of constant rank \(n^ 2\). The results are related to the following question of \textit{G. M. Bergmann} and \textit{L. W. Small} [J. Algebra 33, 435-462 (1975; Zbl 0264.16013)]: Let R be such that R satisfies all polynomial identities of \(n\times n\)-matrices and \(p.i.d.(R/{\mathfrak m})>n/2\) for all maximal ideals \({\mathfrak m}\), is R an Azumaya algebra? The author also shows that to answer Bergman and Small's question affirmatively for a given n, it suffices to check the nonvanishing of a polynomial \(S^*_{2n}\) on the matrix ring \(M_ k(F)\) for \(k>n/2\).