Multiplicative invariants (Q798383)

Let \(R=k[x_ 1,...,x_ n]\) be the polynomial ring over a field k. The classical invariant theory considers the ring \(R^ G\) of fixed elements of G where G is an automorphism group of R. Now let \(S=k[x_ 1,x_ 1^{-1},...,x_ n,x_ n^{-1}]\) be the ring of ''Laurent's'' polynomials that is polynomials of the form \(\sum\alpha_{i_ 1...i_ n}x^{i_ 1}...x^{i_ n}\) where \(i_ 1,...,i_ n\in {\mathbb{Z}}\), \(\alpha_{i_ 1...i_ n}\in k\). The multiplicative invariant theory considers \(S^ G\) where G is an automorphism group of S. Mention that S is the ring of polynomial functions on a torus. - It is convenient to consider S as the group ring k[A] of a free abelian group A of rank n over k. In according to Bergman-Roseblade's result for any group \(G\subset Aut(S)\) we have \(S^ G=k[B]^ H\) where B be a subgroup of A and H be a finite group in Aut(B). Here B and H depend on G, of course. Thus the invariant theory of S is essentially the one of finite groups. In particular \(S^ G\) is always a finitely generated ring by Noether's theorem. - Further results of this article concern the question for which G the ring \(S^ G\) is isomorphic to a polynomial ring. As the author notes in proof these results happen to be known.